Treasured keepsakes bring back memories

DEAR HELOISE: My mom was quite a collector of teacups. She had a wide circle of friends, and when we were cleaning out her house after her death, we took each of her teacups, wrapped it in a gift bag and presented it to a friend of hers.

They were pleased to have a little something to remember her by. It pleased us knowing the teacups would be enjoyed.

I kept my mom's favorite bathrobe. Whenever I put it on, it feels like a warm, motherly hug. -- C.K., via email

DEAR C.K.: My condolences on the loss of your mother, and I'm sure your mother's friends were quite touched by your kind gesture. Who wouldn't love a treasured keepsake from a friend or family member? -- Heloise

Lumpy chair mat

DEAR HELOISE: I, too, have a problem with the lumpy chair mat that protects our carpet from our office chair, as it curls up in places. We don't live in a warm climate, so I use my hair blow-dryer on high, and it works great to warm the plastic and get it flattened out to the original form. -- Carol, via email

Heloise update

DEAR READERS: To remove stubborn coffee or tea stains from cups and mugs, the older hints are to use a denture tablet, table salt or baking soda. There is a Heloise update: Take about a tablespoon of dishwasher detergent (powder), put it in the cup or mug and add boiling water. Let it sit for five to 10 minutes. When the time is up, with no scrubbing necessary, the stain usually is gone. -- Heloise

Vintage hint for gum removal

DEAR READERS: I am celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hints From Heloise column being nationally syndicated. Here's the latest flashback installment from a reader to my mother, the original Heloise (1919-1977):

"Dear Heloise: Having three kids in our family who are addicted to bubble gum, I had quite a problem getting this out when it became tangled in their hair. It was especially difficult with the girls, who had long hair.

"One day a friend handed me a jar of cold cream -- the kind any woman should have around the house -- and told me to try it. I put some on the tangled mess of gum and hair, rubbed it in well and then took a dry rag and pulled down on the strands of hair several times. Sure enough, the gum completely vanished. There was no sign of it at all, not even on the rag.

"This trick certainly is a boon to me. Now I don't have to cut the gum out of their hair and leave those ugly gaps! -- A Pennsylvania Reader"

This hint is as good today as it was 46 years ago. Nowadays, it's more common to use peanut butter (smooth, not crunchy) and work through the hair to gently get the gum out, but hey, anything "oily" will do. Don't you love "old" hints that ... well ... aren't old? -- Heloise, 2011

Hints from Heloise is syndicated by King Features Syndicate. Send great hints to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; by fax, 210-HELOISE (435-6473); or by email, Heloise@Heloise.com.