Tips, Tips, and More Tips from January 2006

To remove sediment in the bottom of a ceramic vase or pitcher, put salt and crushed ice into the vase and stir. The friction will remove the stain. (Don’t do this to glass.)

Going away for the weekend? If you have a car at home, park it in the driveway and lock it. It makes it look as if someone is home and it blocks easy access to a back door.

Sniff your photograph album. If it smells, it probably is made of vinyl or some other unsafe material that could damage your photos over time. Don’t use the album.

Don’t eat or drink while you are working with your paper collectibles.