Household tip creates quite a stir

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 19 July 2011 18:39

I’m thinking of changing my middle initial to the letter “H” for Heloise.

The item about no phosphate in the dishwashing detergent created a stir out there. One reader sent me a note that both she and her daughter-in-law were both fighting the white gunk on their dishes after using the dishwasher and were even using vinegar after the wash to fix the problem.

She also called a hotline of one of the dishwasher detergent companies and learned their phones are ringing off the wall about this problem.

She spoke to a “nice young man” whose answer to this serious problem was Cascade Action Paks and even offered to send her a sample. Another one, called Lemi Shine, is used with your regular detergent, I believe.

For the record, I...

Read more: Household tip creates quite a stir

Don’t fault dishwasher for gunk

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 12 July 2011 15:45

I’m finding out that more and more people are having problems with their dishes not coming out so clean in their dish­washers these days. I’m here to tell you that it probably isn’t your dishwasher’s fault.

And why would I care? Would you like to drink out of a supposedly clean glass with white caked-on gunk?

The dishes don’t come clean because phosphate has been removed from your dishwashing detergent. There is special stuff that works, but it isn’t the regular stuff you used to buy. We’ve learned that “All-in-1 Finish” gel packs seem to work well.

•

I knew when I walked out the front door Sunday afternoon that something was different: Searing heat like we don’t usually feel.

I turned to look at the...

Read more: Don’t fault dishwasher for gunk

Debt crisis has a long track record

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 05 July 2011 18:29

The debt crisis is upon us and those who can do something about it are on vacation. That really makes a lot of sense.

But why should anyone be surprised? This problem has been brewing for 40 years or more. There’s plenty of blame to go around for both Democrats and Repub­licans. Reckless decisions with the public trust have been going on for years and we’ve let it happen.

How do we stop it?

That is what no one has been able to accomplish lately and it doesn’t look like anyone will anytime soon.

We don’t need tax cuts, just tax fairness by removing all of the insider deals and loopholes created for special interests. Instead of raising or lowering taxes, why not just get rid of all of the tax breaks that some fat cats get and...

Read more: Debt crisis has a long track record

Our postal workers are so helpful

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 28 June 2011 14:56

It hit me while I was driving a postal route last Tuesday that I haven’t thanked the many dedicated, helpful and friendly folks we deal with at post offices around the county each week.

Once in a while I need to bat cleanup for our regular drivers, so I get to deliver the papers, after they have been verified at the Hillsboro post office, to the post offices in Durham, Ramona, Lincolnville, Marion, Florence, Burns, Peabody, Lehigh and Canton. The Florence post office takes care of Cedar Point; Ramona takes care of Tampa, and Lincolnville takes care of Lost Springs and Burdick.

When we occasionally are running behind because of electrical outages, weather and other obstacles, the postal folks do whatever they can to make our...

Read more: Our postal workers are so helpful