Dear Heloise: We’ve all had the bleach spot problem! I went to a fabric and crafts store and bought an ink marker that matched my clothing. I happily blended the marker color into the bleach spot after laundering it, and everyone is none the wiser!
— Linda, in Richmond, Virginia
NICOTINE ADDICTION
Dear Heloise: Chewing tobacco was my dear late husband’s greatest regret in life. He was lucky enough not to get cancer, but for decades after he quit, damaged teeth and gums gave him pain. The teeth he lost had to be replaced with old-fashioned bridges because he didn’t have enough bone left for implants. Vaping (Dottie from Wyoming also asked about this) appears to be the least immediately damaging, but that’s not saying much. I vape because years of smoking made me a nicotine addict. It’s a step down that I both appreciate and look forward to stepping out of completely. But when vaping introduces people to nicotine, it’s a step up to addiction.
No amount of nicotine is safe. Even if it doesn’t give you cancer, it can make your life unnecessarily unpleasant.
— Roxane R., in Pennsylvania
CLEANING WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS
Dear Heloise: I read your column daily and get so much helpful information. Many of the cooking shows use wooden cutting boards for many different foods, but none explain how they clean them. So, how do you clean them?
— Sue, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sue, use hot water and a mild soap to wash your cutting board, then dry it. If it still has moisture in the wood, then let it air-dry.
You can use a combination of vinegar and lemon juice to kill surface bacteria and keep it from absorbing odors. Afterward, oil it with mineral oil to help keep it from absorbing other liquids and food particles.
Once in a while, give your wooden cutting board a light sanding with fine sandpaper. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and apply a coat of mineral oil to keep the wood from drying out.
Never place your cutting board in a dishwasher. This will shortly dry out the wood and cause it to warp.
— Heloise
RAW MILK
Dear Heloise: My husband and I have a difference of opinion about consuming raw milk. He bought some raw milk about a week ago and wanted to let our granddaughter try it. I put my foot down as I believe this is a dangerous thing to do. He claims it’s all natural, and it won’t harm her. But I’m not giving in! So, tell me, is it dangerous to drink raw milk?
— Gloria K., Red Oak, Iowa
Gloria, it is very dangerous to drink raw milk. Consuming raw milk from cows, sheep or goats can present a serious risk for Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria. You are nine times more likely to get sick from raw milk than pasteurized.
There is more information available at www.cdc.gov/food-safety/index.html.
— Heloise
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