Dear Heloise: I was feeling curious, so I checked the air pressure in the spare tire of an SUV that I bought four years ago. I had never even looked to see where the spare was stored, which was under a floor panel in the back. I discovered that it was functionally flat and would have been absolutely useless in an emergency. Accordingly, I urge everyone to monitor and maintain every vehicle’s proper spare tire pressure. — Jim R., in Houston

ROUGH TOWEL FIX

Dear Heloise: Regarding the inquiry of what to do about rough towels: After our traditional washing machine finally gave out after many years of use, we now live with an insufficient, energy-efficient appliance. Our laundry was not getting clean and was frayed. We discovered that there was not enough water to cover the laundry in the normal cycle, and everything was getting tangled.

We were using the same amount of laundry detergent as we would for a full tub of water. We now have reduced the amount of laundry detergent, use the deep water rinse, and use the cycle for bulky items and sheets so that every load can get the sufficient amount of water.

Also, to note, we have a dishwasher that requires hand-drying of dishes, an electric clothes dryer that requires two cycles to dry most loads, and a water-conserving toilet that has to be flushed at least twice. I enjoy your column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Thanks for the tips! — Sarah, via email