DEAR HELOISE: Are any of the cleaning chemicals you suggest harmful if mixed together?

– A reader, via e-mail

DEAR READER: This is a really good question! There are many cleaning products that should never be mixed together. Any product containing bleach should not be combined with those containing ammonia. This causes a poisonous gas that can make you sick and even can cause death. Always check labels on products. Bleach is in dishwasher detergents as well as products for mold and mildew.

One easy solution for cleaning grout is to mix 1/4 cup borax, 1/2 cup baking soda and enough hot water to form a paste. Apply this to the grout, scrub with a soft brush and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse. Your clean grout will appear!

However, if the grout is old and crumbling, no amount of cleaning will make it new again.

DEAR HELOISE: As per the letter about removing iron marks: I found that always using distilled water in my iron keeps it from spouting brown marks onto whatever I am ironing. And my iron has lasted for several years.

When I used just regular faucet water, my irons would last only a few months. My iron is not an expensive one, but the distilled water keeps it in good shape.

I enjoy reading your column and also reading your Web site.

– Juanita Rocha,

Malakoff, Texas

DEAR JUANITA: This is a hint that many have used and some manufacturers recommend. However, some of the newer irons are made to use tap water only! Adding any other type of water could damage it. Confusing, isn't it?

If you have a steam iron that you haven't used in a while, be sure to clear the steam channel first by pushing the steam button several times before you begin to iron. Just "steam" out on a washcloth on the ironing board. Many manufacturers also recommend completely emptying the water reservoir after each use. This keeps mineral deposits from building up, and may help your iron last longer.

DEAR HELOISE: Most people take the telephone number of their credit card and ATM card companies when traveling overseas so they can report it if the card is lost or stolen. But 800 numbers cannot be called from overseas, so make sure you take the card issuer's non-800 number with you.

– Ronald Narmi,

Alexandria, Va.

DEAR RONALD: How right you are! A previous reader hint is to let the card issuer know your travel dates and that you will be out of the country.

DEAR HELOISE: Most frozen pizzas come with a circle of cardboard beneath them. Dust this off and cover it with aluminum foil, and you have the perfect base for a round cake to take to a luncheon or to sell at a bake sale. It's better than a plate because it's easier to frost a cake on a flat surface, and you don't need to get it back.

– Alexandra Roth,

Falls Church, Va.

DEAR HELOISE: I read with interest your handy uses for a plastic laundry basket. For years I have kept a large, solid plastic basket in the trunk of my car. I use it when I get groceries or when I am taking several items to a potluck dinner.

– Della,

Colorado Springs, Colo.

DEAR READERS: Now is the time to show everyone (those old enough) how to turn off the electrical power for your house at the fuse or switch box in case of an emergency. Label the switches so that everyone knows where they are and what they are for!

Send a great hint to Heloise, P.O. 79500, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.