HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Heloise: Please help! I have new vinyl flooring in my kitchen that is becoming yellow under my rugs. What can I do? -- Joyce Ridley, Langdon, N.D.

If your rugs have a rubber backing on them, this is probably the cause of the yellowing. It's the rubber backing that causes a reaction with vinyl-type flooring. (FYI: Yellow stains can also be caused by plastic flowerpots or corrugated boxes if they are left on the flooring for too long.)

Our friends at the Carpet and Rug Institute say that, unfortunately, there is not much you can do.

And if you must use a rug or walk-off mat, purchase one backed with jute or a non-rubberized backing. -- Heloise

TRAVEL TIP

Dear Heloise: My family spends a lot of time traveling. With three boys, a car can become very messy. Instead of using grocery bags for trash, I use birthday treat bags. They are very convenient, since they hang on the window handle, and come in all different designs. Once they're full, just remove and empty or replace them with new ones! -- T.L. Woodard, Lake Placid, N.Y.

HANDY PULL ROPE

Dear Heloise: Living alone and being partially disabled are good reasons for finding ways to easier living.

We recycle here and have plastic bins for most items. I found that drilling two holes in mine and inserting a rope made it easier to pull a bin to the curb after loading in my bags of papers, etc. -- Christina Sirtak, Woodstock, Ill.