Granite countertops require special care

Published: 4/19/2013 6:57 PM | Last update: 4/19/2013 6:57 PM Hints from Heloise Dear Heloise: I love my granite countertops. However, I don't know how to clean/disinfect them without using chemical-based commercial cleaners. I use vinegar to clean/disinfect the sink, stove and other appliances. Can I use vinegar on granite, or is there another natural product I can use? - Lois McNamara, Cedar Grove, N.J.

Dear Lois: This is an often-asked question, and it may be a hard one (pun intended) to answer. There is much conflicting information about how to clean and "sanitize" granite countertops. So, it is best to check with the manufacturer or the installer of your granite to see what is suggested.

Also, when you spill something on the granite countertop, wipe it up as soon as possible to keep it from staining. You usually are safe with a drop or two of mild dish soap on a damp sponge. Wipe the surface, rinse with water and wipe dry. - Heloise

Dear Readers: Miriam Brown of Benton, Maine, sent a photo of her large black cat sitting up and begging for his food. To see the black cat, visit http://www.Heloise.com and click on "Pets." - Heloise

Dear Heloise: I broke a bone in my foot, causing me to have to wear "the boot." I'm an outside person, and it has been awful trying to keep the boot clean so I can wear it in the house.

To make it "waterproof," my husband and I took a dog-food bag, cut off the top, and I put my foot/boot inside. He folded the bag around the boot, took the leftover top part and doubled the bottom of the boot before wrapping it with duct tape.

FYI: A regular plastic bag won't work, as it tears because the boot is so hard. - Kathy Erwin, Cooper, Texas

Dear Kathy: As one who has worn "the boot" for a broken toe (for several weeks), I know what you mean! A health note from me about wearing a "walking cast," aka the boot: Be SURE that the heel on the other foot is the same height as the one on the boot! If not, you are walking like Popeye, and it can permanently affect your gait! - Heloise

P.S.: Ask your physician about this!

Dear Heloise: To avoid waste and practice good nutrition, I use a large-mesh sieve to remove the "fines" from cereal; they become my breading for salmon croquettes, chicken, etc. Sometimes I mix it with a bit of cornmeal or flour, depending on what I'm frying. It's important that the cereal not have much, if any, sugar or sugar substitutes! - A Reader, via email

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Granite countertops require special care