Movie madness!
First, it prolongs the life of the dishwasher (it’s not meant to be a garbage disposal). Second, studies have shown that dishwashers (properly loaded) save more water than hand-washing dishes.
Living with our California drought problems, we are all very concerned about water conservation. I hand-wash pots and pans, but can load an entire week of dishes prior to running the dishwasher. My previous dishwasher lasted 30 years and was only replaced due to a kitchen remodel. —
Mindy T., Valley Village, Calif.
New versus old
Help! My husband wants to buy an old Queen Anne Victorian home and fix it up. I want a new house. Please help us decide. —
Dear Heloise: Sidney S., Topeka, Kan.
Sidney, old homes have charm and character, but they also usually have old wiring, crumbling foundations, ancient plumbing and a long list of other repairs. Talk to a contractor who’s done a lot of remodeling of homes in your area to see what it would cost to remodel an old Victorian home, after you’ve selected the house you are considering buying. Then ask yourselves if you’re up for the mess and strain of a remodeling project. After all, it may take years to finish a home if you’re on a budget. —
Heloise
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise. com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.