What can and can't go in the microwave

Dear Heloise: Is good-quality pottery mi-crowavable? How does one determine if plates and cooking items are microwavable? — D.P., in San Antonio D.

P., most microwaveable bowls and dishes will say on the bottom whether they can be microwaved. You might see three or four small vwavy lines on the bottom indicating that it is microwave-safe.



The wavy lines are often on plastic containers that are safe to use in a microwave oven. If you aren't sure, there is a test you can perform to see if the item is microwave-safe. Place it and a cup of water in the microwave, then heat for 1 minute.

If the dish or bowl is hot, but the water is not, it's not safe for your microwave oven. Here is a list of things that should never be microwaved: ■„ „ No metal (not even aluminum). ■„ „ Single-use plastic.

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■„ „ Takeout containers. „■„ Styrofoam. „■„ Eggs.

„■„ Frozen protein. „■„ Uncovered sauces. Hope this helps! — Heloise ■„ Makeup sense ■„ Dear Heloise: A few years back, I worked in Hollywood.

My job entailed working in the makeup and costume department, which gave me some ideas on what to do and what not to do with makeup. I thought I'd pass them along to your readers: ■„ „ To keep your eyebrows from looking shaggy, use some petroleum jelly on your brows and use a clean toothbrush to brush the hairs upward. You can also use hairspray in place of petroleum jelly.

■„ „ Don't wear perfume if you'll be out in the sunlight for over an hour. You'll possibly end up with a spot burn, and who needs that? ■„ „ When you're sitting, don't cross your legs at your knees. Instead, try crossing them at the ankle or not crossing them at all.

Crossing your legs at the knees causes poor circulation in your legs, which is very bad for the veins in your legs. ■„ „ Skip lip gloss in the daytime. Use it at night to give your lips a sexy shine.

■„ Out all day? Reapply your sunscreen every two hours. — V.N.

, in California Reusing yogurt tubs Dear Readers: Do not toss out margarine tubs or yogurt cups with lids. They can be reused to hold a variety of small items such as twist-ties, toothpicks, paper clips, magnets, push pins and corncob holders. — Heloise Replacing toothbrushes Dear Heloise: Please remind everyone that after you recover from COVID (or any flu or illness), you need to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head.

It's better to be safe than sorry. Thank you! — P.D.

, in Ohio Protecting family photos Dear Readers: Fires, floods and other disasters often happen, and all of your photos can get lost in the process. So, it's important to take steps to preserve your valuable family photos: Get an extra set made, or scan them into your computer. Be sure to store the extras in a safe place.

And also make sure to identify everyone in the photos! Write the date and place on the back of the photo. (Some cameras automatically do this.) — Heloise Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.

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