DEAR HELOISE: How can I deal with plastic produce labels that won’t break down in compost?

— Gordon C., in Corona, California

Gordon, these stickers cause a lot of trouble for anyone who composts. Plastic fruit labels refuse to decompose, so you’ll find them scattered in your finished compost, even if one slips by.

Your best bet is to handle them right at the kitchen counter. Peel the labels off as soon as you put away the groceries and toss them straight into the garbage. Set a dish or cup nearby so that you have somewhere to drop them; otherwise, they get buried under peels and scraps. It only takes a couple of seconds, but it saves you a real hassle later when working through your compost pile.

— Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: My dishes keep coming out with these weird gray and black streaks, even after a wash. Could vinegar fix it?

–M.B., in The Villages, Florida

M.B., dish streaks usually stem from machine buildup, like hard water minerals or food debris. To fix this, rinse the filter and clear the spray arms. Next, run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack to dissolve mineral crust and haze.

Ensure that you use the correct amount of detergent for your water type and avoid overcrowding racks to allow the proper water flow. These simple steps should restore the shine to your dishes. Good luck!

— Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: How can I stop my young corgi from chewing up the corners of my new area rugs?

— Laurie, in Rapid City, South Dakota

Laurie, puppies explore by mouth, and rug corners are prime targets. Start by providing your pup with durable chew toys and rotate them regularly to maintain their interest.

To protect your rugs, tuck corners under furniture, or use grippers to keep the edges flat and inaccessible. Supervise them closely for a few weeks, redirecting the pup with a toy and offering praise for the right choice.

— Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: If you ever need to give your dog a pill, buy some pill pockets. These are little canisters that are filled with irresistible-smelling dog food. (Irresistible for dogs, anyway.) Put the pill into one pocket, then pull a second pocket into pieces. Call your dog and offer him a piece of the second one. If you’ve trained your dog by using treats, have him sit first. Give your dog the other pieces one at a time.

After a few bites, the dog’s excited and eager for his next treat. Now you can give him the pocket that contains the pill. Chances are, he’ll gobble it down without even noticing that there’s a pill inside of it!

— Carrie, in Orange, California

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