Dear Heloise: How can I get rid of the white chalky film on my stainless-steel sink in my kitchen? I tried everything, but this is an ongoing issue. — Cyndi D., Lafayette, La.

Cyndi, try this: Soak a cloth in vinegar and press it against the white area of the sink where the chalky white film is. Let it stay there for 15 to 20 minutes. Then sprinkle with baking soda and scrub off the caked-on mineral deposits.

You might also want to try spraying the filmy area with fresh lemon juice. Let it stand for five to 10 minutes; then scrub off with a steel wool pad that is infused with soap.

Mineral deposits are difficult but not impossible to remove. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: My son gave me some dollar bills recently that he had in his new leather wallet. His wallet has a terrible chemical odor that made the money stink.

There was no way I was going to put that money in my purse.

So, I decided to do some “money laundering.” I had a dish of baking soda that I had recently removed from the freezer.

I added cold water to the baking soda, put the dollar bills into the solution, sloshed them around a bit, rinsed in cold water and then draped them over a clothes hanger to dry.

I got rid of the terrible odor and found a good use for baking soda. — Pauline C., Piqua, Ohio

Dear Heloise: I love to make pound cake, and my family really enjoys it, too.

Lately, my kids asked if I could come up with some kind of topping to add a bit of new flavor to it.

I tried several, but none were a big hit. Got any hints that I can use? — Charity W., Augusta, Ga.

Charity, this is one of my favorite toppings for pound cake, angel food cake and bundt cake.

Heat about 1/4 cup of preserves and 1 tablespoon of flavored liqueur in a small saucepan. Dribble it over a slice of pound cake for a yummy dessert topping. — Heloise