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—Lilian Reynolds New Orleans, Louisiana

Double Trouble

If you've been unsuccessful in trapping mice, try using cotton soaked in lard or bacon grease. Such bait will have a double attraction for the rodents. They like lard (or any animal fat) as food and will be tempted to use the cotton for their nests. Furthermore, the soaked puffs are easily fastened to the trap's bait pan.

—Russell Skinner Central Point, Oregon

Let it sit

Leaving water that you use for your plants out for a day or so will eliminate some of the chlorine and your plants will be the healthier for it.

If you can't find anything in the house to remove oil from your hands after working on your car, cut a piece of margarine or butter and rub thoroughly between your hands. The grease will come right off, and then you can wash with regular soap.

—Keith Brookes Orono, Maine

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Homemade cupcakes take on an added delight when they're baked in ice cream cones. I stand the cones upright on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2" apart. I then fill each mold half full with cake batter, and bake them for 10 to 15 minutes (or until they're done). Once the confections have cooled, I either frost the tops, or add a scoop of ice cream to each one! They're a hit at children's parties and don't dirty dishes or leave a bunch of paper wrappings to clean up.

—Mary Seigert Tucson, Arizona

A Winter Wax Job

Cold weather is almost here, and outdoor enthusiasts might be advised to forget a high-tech portable fire starter and remember a trick that my grandfather taught me years ago. He would dip the heads of a dozen "strike-anywhere" matches in melted paraffin wax and then roll up the matches in a 10" x 10" piece of cloth. The resultant "package" was then dipped into the paraffin and allowed to dry. The waxy bundle can be carried in a pack or pocket. The matches will stay dry through rain, snow, sleet, or worse, and the wax-coated cloth makes a fine fire starter.

—Barry Atkins Seattle, Washington

Editor's Note: In the June/July issue (#144), "Lore" included a short item by Walter Brooks of Bermidji, MT, in which he describes a way to recycle water from furnace condensation and use it for laundry purposes. MOTHER has since learned (principally from Thomas Miller of E. Lansing, MI) that such condensate often contains levels of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid in levels sufficient to cause damage to clothing. MOTHER would like to thank Mr. Miller for his words and encourage readers to curtail their recycling of furnace condensate in the future.

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