Dear Heloise: We just bought laminated floors for our home, but the guys who installed them didn’t leave any instructions on how to care for them. What are the do’s and don’ts of laminated floors? — June W., Gadsden, Ala.

June, here are some hints to care for your new floor:

1. Remember that the number one enemy of any floor is dirt. Those tiny grains of dirt or sand will eventually wear down the finish on your floor, so vacuum your floors frequently. Use a dust pad with a disposable pad.

2. Be sure to have doormats inside and outside at each place of entry. It’ll help keep some of the dirt off of your floors.

3. Area rugs should be large enough to protect high-traffic areas.

4. Clean with a damp mop. Never get your floors soaked with water. If you have some kind of spill, be sure to mop it up immediately. Your mop should be damp, not dripping with water.

5. Never use any thing that could scratch the surface such as steel wool, sandpaper or even the rough side of a sponge. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: My husband is a pack rat! He saves old coffee cans with the excuse that they’ll come in handy someday, but that “someday” never seems to materialize. What can I do with these old coffee cans to make them useful? — Catherine H., Dawson, Ga.

Catherine, there are some useful things you can use them for, such as:

• Use them to store extra grass seed or fertilizer.

• Use them to carry a small amount of potting soil.

• Store leftover paint or small paint bottles from craft projects in them.

• Cut a slit in the top of a can and use it to hold loose change.

• Use a can to store small items, such as clothespins, small children’s toys or dog leashes.

• Use what you can and place the rest of them in the recycle bin. — Heloise