DEAR READERS: With the recent wildfires and hurricanes happening around the U.S., it’s a good idea to prepare your family for a natural disaster. Put together an emergency plan for your family so each member knows exactly what to do in case of a disaster. Get everyone together to discuss the plan, and make certain everyone understands. Make a to-go kit for the family that contains key documents, IDs and health info. Each child can make his or her own to-go kit with the most important things they want to take.
Don’t forget to do the same for your pets. You should include a copy of vaccination info, vet records, pet medications, leashes, an extra collar, canned food and bowls.
You can store nonperishable emergency items (extra flashlights, blankets, etc.) along with the emergency items already in the trunk of your car.
Make sure all your family’s contact information is programmed into each child’s cellphone, and include a photo of the family too.
DEAR READERS: Getting your children organized can be quite an ongoing task.
Here are some ideas for helping to keep them organized. Place a basket on a table near the front door for children’s papers that need a signature and must be returned to school. Put a bin in each child’s bedroom to dump all the things they bring home from school like books, etc. Have a large plastic garbage can designated to hold all sorts of sports equipment. Give each child a different color laundry basket to put their dirty clothes in and take to the laundry room.
DEAR HELOISE: I always seem to have lots of leftovers from our dinner meals. I hate to waste the food and toss it out. Do you have any good ideas for how I can repurpose it?
— Maureen in Florida
DEAR MAUREEN: Here’s a fun and creative idea. To use up leftovers rather than toss them, have a buffet once a week. Set out all the leftovers on the dining room table buffet-style. Put out condiments and other goodies from the kitchen to enhance the dishes. Each family member can create their own meal and eat just what they want.
DEAR READERS: Microfiber cloths are such useful and effective cleaning tools all around our houses, but they do get dirty and need to be cleaned. Here’s how to do it safely.
Machine wash them in warm, soapy water, but not with towels or anything else that produces lint. Never use chlorine beach or fabric softener, because they will damage the cloths. Dry on low heat or air-dry. Do not iron them, because the microfiber will melt at high temperatures.
DEAR READERS: When you get a fresh flower arrangement, give it special care to make the bouquet last longer. Strip off the leaves and anything that goes underneath the water line. Change the water every other day. Snip off 1/4 inch of the stems too; the bottom of the stem absorbs the water. Do not place flowers in direct sunlight or near a heat source.
Write to P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.
