Dear Readers: School is well underway, kids are outside walking to class, and of course the big yellow school buses are out and about. Here are some safety hints and RULES FOR THE ROAD for the typical motorist, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.gov): 

• Always be watchful for kids walking, playing and darting about, especially when you are backing out of the driveway. Use caution.

• If you’re driving in an area you are not familiar with, look for clues like playgrounds and crossing guards, which will tell you that kids could be nearby.

• Slow down when the yellow lights flash on the school bus, and when the red lights come on, STOP 20 feet away. Wait until the driver turns off the lights to proceed.

Getting kids to class safely is so important. Slow down and look around. Check out the school bus safety laws in your state. - Heloise

BUCKET LIST

Dear Heloise: I use the trash can as a cleaning bucket. It serves a double purpose -- to clean the floors and the trash can. The trash can will be clean and smell fresh. It’s also useful because I live in a small space, and I don’t have room for a bucket. - Robin M., via email

WATER WASTER

Dear Heloise: Last month, my water bill was through the roof. Shocked, I contacted my water company. They told me to check for a leaky toilet or sprinkler system. 

Another source of dollars down the drain, according to the water company? Pump- and valve-containing units, such as the water softener and the swimming pool. The company has an online video that helped me figure out what was leaking. - John T. in Texas
John, glad you got a handle on your situation. Readers, did you know that one study states over 10% of the water “used” in your home is actually lost to a repairable leak? Contact your water company to learn more about leaks. - Heloise

PAJAMA POCKET PLUS

Dear Heloise: Why do the people who make ladies pajamas not always attach a pocket on every pair? We all need a tissue sometimes! I read your hints in the Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph and find them useful. - Edna M., Peterstown, W.Va.

ROACHES RUNNING RAMPANT

Dear Heloise: I have a terrible time with roaches in my home. I scrub and disinfect all my surfaces and never leave food out. What can I do? - Hailey G. in New York
Hailey, use my mother’s recipe: Combine equal parts boric acid powder (usually sold in hardware stores or drugstores) and sugar, and mix well. Put the powder in lids and place in the back of cabinets, under sinks, etc. Sprinkle in crevices, and for those of you who are building or remodeling, sprinkle inside your walls. However, keep children and pets away from this mixture. Boric acid can be harmful if ingested, even in small amounts. - Heloise

A ghost of a job

Dear Readers: Today’s SOUND OFF is about “job ghosting.” - Heloise

“Dear Heloise: Have you ever heard of ‘job ghosting’? It’s when an employee walks off the job without a notice to anyone and does not give the usual two-week warning that he or she has found a new job. In all the years I’ve worked in human resources, I’ve never seen job ghosting as much as I have in the past couple of years.

“Applicants don’t show up for interviews, a new hire becomes a no-show, or an employee leaves for the day and never comes back. That’s job ghosting.
“Ghosting is rude, unprofessional and can have negative results for the employee in the future. No one wants to hire someone who might just walk off the job. All too often that employee who ghosted us leaves us in a difficult position when we need to fill an opening immediately.” - Corrine W. in Miami

FAST FACTS

Dear Readers: Here are some additional uses for petroleum jelly:

• Use on earring posts to make them easier to insert.

• Use on a baby’s bottom to prevent diaper rash.

• Use on cuticles and nails to moisturize and soften.

• Use to take care of hinges that are squeaky.

- Heloise

WEDDING DRESS STORAGE

Dear Heloise: I would love to store my wedding dress. I had it dry-cleaned, and it looks nice, but how do I keep it from yellowing? - Joyce in Tennessee
Joyce, after cleaning the dress, wrap it in unbleached muslin or acid-free white tissue paper, then wrap in blue tissue paper and store in a sealed box in a cool, dry place. It should last for many years to come. - Heloise

CLEANING ORNATE PICTURE FRAME

Dear Heloise: I have a fancy picture frame that’s carved from wood, and I have a terrible time keeping dust out of the deep areas of the frame. What can I use to clean it? - Loretta V., Marietta, Ga.
Loretta, try using a hair dryer on high to blow out the dust, or a dry, clean paintbrush to clean out the frame. - Heloise

CARVING A PUMPKIN

Dear Readers: Here are some tools you can use to clean out a pumpkin before you carve it:

• potato peeler

• ice cream scoop

• metal round seal from a canning jar

• cookie cutter

• fish scaler

- Heloise

CLOUDY TEA

Dear Heloise: My family and I love iced tea but hate when it looks cloudy. My sister-in-law gave me this hint: Just add a small amount of boiling water to a pitcher of iced tea and stir, and the cloudy appearance goes away. - Linda W., Bear Swamp, S.C.

(c)2019 by King Features Syndicate Inc.