FITTING ADDITIONAL HANDRAILS FOR THE STAIRS
To Heloise,There are seven steps going up and seven steps going down in our trilevel home. On both sets of stairs, my husband added a second railing in the opposite direction of the one that was already there. Since we are getting near to 80, this has made it considerably safer and much easier for us to navigate the steps. Some of your readers who struggle to climb stairs as they get older might find this useful. — Dayton, Ohio’s Judy S.
DEBACLE OF MILK CHOCOLATE
To Heloise,Now that I’m eighty-one, I’m learning something new, and I’ve already taught eight people. All of them said, “Who knew?”
Despite my husband’s preference for milk chocolate, I have always liked dark chocolate more. Naturally, I use his favorite milk chocolate in my baking. Making the final batch of my mom’s refrigerator cookie recipe was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I suffered an unexplained stomachache after using milk chocolate.
What do individuals my age do, then? We look it up on Google! In fact, the term “milk chocolate” does not describe the softer flavor or hue. Of course! Since it contains milk, consuming it would undoubtedly cause stomach problems for those of us who are lactose intolerant.
I sincerely hope that others might benefit from this treasure of insight. Your piece in the Ventura Star is fantastic. — Nancy L. in California’s Simi Valley
Nancy, it’s true that lactose, the milk sugar in milk products, causes many adults to have trouble digesting milk or milk-based goods. Heloise
A SHARP DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE
To Heloise,As a plumber, my late husband was frequently asked to assist individuals in getting rid of foul-smelling garbage disposals. His favorite household tip, which he constantly recommended reading your column, was the usage of vinegar and baking soda.
To assist clear up drains and prevent an unpleasant odor, he would actually advise women to pour vinegar and baking soda down their drains roughly once a week.
P.S. He added that vinegar may help keep roaches from climbing up the drains because they detest it. — Lawton, Oklahoma’s Rhonda W.
SETTING KIDS AHEAD
To Heloise,I am aware that you advocate for education and reading wherever you can, and as a teacher, I much value this. However, please encourage parents to read to their children before they enter school and before they are able to form a whole sentence.
Children are inspired to read and learn when they are read to and have words they may not comprehend explained to them, according to studies. Helping our children study and pursue an education is one of the best gifts we can give them, but there are many more.
Graduation day is just the start of an education; it doesn’t end there. Numerous studies have shown that a youngster who despises reading or an adult who reads at a fourth-grade level by the time they are seventeen would have a disadvantage in the labor market.
Thus, have your kids read to you and read to you. Assist them in pronouncing unfamiliar words. Give your child a brighter future and a better chance at life. In Connecticut, Margaret E.
PROVIDE A SUPERIOR SUGGEST TO: [email protected]
(c) King Features Syndicate Inc., 2025.
