Dear Heloise: My four kids wreak havoc on my refrigerator! There always seems to be something sticky clinging to each shelf. I have to clean the shelves nearly every other day. Can you recommend a hint for my situation?

— M.R., in Oklahoma

M.R., here is a simple method that I use all the time: After cleaning all of the shelves, carefully wrap each shelf with clear cling wrap. When the cling wrap gets messy, just remove it and grab another sheet of cling wrap to protect your shelves.

— Heloise

CLEANING WALLS

Dear Readers: When washing your walls, dust them before washing and wash them from the bottom up so that the drips won’t leave their marks. Clean one small area at a time, then rinse and dry before moving on to another area.

— Heloise

CHARGING FOR A WEDDING

Dear Heloise: My first cousin and I were very close growing up, but now that her wedding is coming up in mid-August, she has gotten very demanding. I believe she’s forgotten her manners. She wants to charge people to go to her wedding.

We come from a large family, and the groom’s family is fairly large as well. Both of them want to have this huge blow-out wedding, but they really can’t afford it. She asked my opinion about charging people a fee, and I told her that I’m against it. I told her to scale back the wedding to a much smaller and simpler affair instead.

The future bride was so angry at the idea that she said I wasn’t invited. They plan on asking for $100 for single people and $150 for couples. I think the whole idea is tacky! Is this a “thing” or the “new wedding trend” these days?

— B.T., in Missouri

B.T., I hate to say it, but this is not the first time I’ve heard of a bride and groom charging for entrance to their wedding. From the letters I get, it never works out well.

People are invited to a wedding to help a couple celebrate the beginning of an important chapter of their lives. It’s a time to share the happiness and excitement of the moment with others. The bride and groom (or their families) pay for their wedding, so if they can’t afford the wedding that they want, perhaps they should wait and save until they can pay for the wedding that they’re dreaming of.

After all, there’s much more to a good marriage than just the wedding ceremony!

— Heloise

DISPLAYING FLOWERS CREATIVELY

Dear Readers: Want to display flowers, but don’t have a vase? Just about anything that holds water can work as a vase. For example, you can display flowers in a crystal ice bucket, fluted champagne glasses, mugs, or cocktail pitchers.

Don’t throw away your favorite crystal water glass or pitcher when it has a chip in it. Use it to hold fresh or artificial flowers. Silk flowers can be arranged in your favorite containers that don’t hold water.

— Heloise