Preventing heartworm in pets

Dear Heloise: I took my dog to the vet and discovered that he had heartworms. My dog is now on medication to kill the worms, but my vet said dogs should be tested annually.Apparently, cats can also develop heartworms. But this is preventable! "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," as my granny used to say. Ask your vet if your cat or dog should be on heartworm medication, or check with HeartwormSociety.org for more information. Connie,in Tulsa, Oklahoma Dear Heloise: Thank you for publishing the reader's hint about using multipurpose cleaner with bleach to clean stains from mugs used for tea. Her hint works like a dream. I could never get my favorite mug clean; I've had it for over 30 years and was resigned to it being stained. Following your reader's hint, I sprayed it and put it in the dishwasher. It came out looking like new. Unbelievable!I read your column in the Colorado Springs Gazette. Elizabeth Fry,via email Dear Heloise: When the lights go out during a power outage, go into your front yard and/or backyard and bring some solar lights into the house. They last for most of the night with no danger of a fire or mess. My mother-in-law, at 103, was amazed. Joe Mastro,in Temecula, California Dear Heloise: I am an old man. I have increasingly had a problem with drying my back after I shower. Because of my limited flexibility, getting a towel back there is almost impossible. But I solved this problem a few years ago:My solution is to put on an oversized cotton bathrobe, then lay down on my bed. In less than 5 minutes, you find yourself nice and dry all over. Bobby Allen,via email Dear Heloise: After my handyman retired from his full-time job, he thought he'd do just a little handyman work for a couple of days a week to keep busy and earn a little extra money. He came over to my house to fix my faucet, and when he went out to his truck, he found 15 notes under the windshield wipers from people needing his services. Retirement over! Patty T.,in Wisconsin Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com