Make cast-iron cookware shine

Dear Heloise: Now is the season to bring out the cast-iron cookware for camping. If your pans have developed a bad smell from various forms of seasoning, scrub the pan with a small amount of water and baking soda. Rinse and coat with a small amount of vanilla by using a paper towel. This also works to remove a spoiled fish smell from the refrigerator. Vivian Derby in Rapid City, South Dakota Dear Heloise: It is not necessary to ruin kids' beliefs by parents telling them that "folk heroes" like Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy don't really exist! Let the kids believe as long as they can or want to. Eventually, they will figure it out. Why rush them? Plus it's hurtful to find this out! Let the kids be kids!If they finally come to you about it, and you can tell that they're fairly convinced, then you can tell them - but only when they are good and ready, and they approach you first. I write children's books, and having an active imagination makes all my stories believable! Jerry S. Hutter via email Dear Heloise: Your reply to J.T. in Wisconsin was spot-on! I learned the tip of using less laundry soap and white vinegar from a popular social media app a while back. I only use about 2 tablespoons of liquid detergent (skip the pods) and about ¼ to ½ cup of white vinegar (in the fabric softener container) when doing the wash. My towels are much more absorbent.Another tip: Instead of using fabric softener sheets in the dryer, use wool balls. (Three work well.) And to help minimize static from clothes, secure a safety pin to each dryer ball. I also keep an antistatic spray on my dryer for when I wash several synthetic garments together. I give a quick spray as needed when I unload the dryer. Kim in North Carolina Dear Heloise: By applying a tiny bit of petroleum jelly and a bit of lipstick to my cheeks, it makes for a great cheek color and always matches my lipstick. I can make it as dark or light as I like. I can even dig it out of the tube and put the lipstick in an old powder cheek-color container, along with a bit of petroleum jelly. Dotty via email Dear Heloise: During a cold spell last month, I became Mrs. Clean for a few days. I disinfected doors, cabinet knobs, phones, keys, wall light switches, the refrigerator, microwave and stove handles, water spigots, and handles on toilets. I did the car steering wheel, the gearshift, and all the buttons and door latches, too. E.H. in Florida Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.