Dear Heloise: I just read the suggestions regarding keeping celery fresh. You should cut off the leaves if there are a lot of them. Then wrap the entire unwashed “head” (as it comes from the store) in aluminum foil. Remove the stalks as needed and wrap them in the foil. Store it in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator so that it will stay fresh and usable for five to six weeks.

I never miss reading your column every morning in the Journal Gazette. — Nancy Shepler, Fort Wayne, Indiana

NAIL POLISH WHEEL

Dear Heloise: While going through some of my old nail polishes, I took a plastic plate and painted samples around the perimeter, eliminating the need to test and remove each polish on my nail. Now I can just simply slide my finger under the edge to see what each color looks like at a glance, instead of pulling out each bottle! There’s even room to write the color’s name.

Bonus: The plate holds all the items I need during my home manicure. — Stevie, in California

DON’T TOUCH

THE CHEESE

Dear Heloise: You have printed several letters about preventing mold on cheese. The usual suggestions include wrapping and storage. Those are all good suggestions, but I have never seen your column address the number one cause of mold on cheese: touching it.

Do not allow your hands to come into contact with the cheese. This is where the bacteria comes from that creates mold in the first place. — Lois McKinney, Winchester, Oregon

REHEATING PIZZA

Dear Heloise: I would like to suggest a hint to Micky C., regarding reheating leftover pizza and preventing soggy crust. Try using your air fryer to reheat your pizza for 2-3 minutes. My air fryer had a pizza selection button.

I enjoy your column in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. — Barb V., Terre Haute, Indiana

BAKING SODA

AND BUG BITES

Dear Heloise: While on my morning walk, a huge black bug bit me. When I returned home, I remembered one of your hints about baking soda, so I made a paste with water and applied it to the bitten area. Wow, what relief I got! Almost immediately, the pain disappeared, and the area became less red and sore. That stuff really works! Thanks so much for the “home remedy.” — J.S., in San Antonio

PLASTIC BAG

STORAGE

Dear Heloise: I used to have a bunch of plastic grocery bags stuffed into a big salad bowl, but the number of bags in there was getting out of hand. Now I save facial tissue boxes and stuff my plastic bags in there. It’s much easier to retrieve and reuse a bag this way, and it’s so much neater. — D.K., in Maine