Q: Is there any way to remove tomato sauce stains from plastic refrigerator dishes? Hope you can answer this one and thanks.

A: WE CONTACTED TUPPERWARE FOR YOUR ANSWER.

IT SAYS FOR LIGHT STAINS JUST USE A PASTE OF BAKING SODA AND WATER AND RUB THE CONTAINER LIGHTLY, THEN WASH IN SOAPY WATER.

FOR REALLY TOUGH TOMATO STAINS, YOU CAN PUT A QUARTER CUP OF BLEACH IN A QUART OF WATER, PUT THAT IN THE CONTAINER AND LET IT SOAK FOR 8 HOURS. AND THEN WASH IT WITH SOAPY WATER.

TO PREVENT TOMATO FROM STAINING YOUR CONTAINERS, SOAK THE CONTAINER IN COLD WATER BEFORE FILLING, OR YOU CAN SPRAY THE CONTAINER WITH COOKING SPRAY BEFORE FILLING.

Q: I KNOW CORN OIL COMES FROM CORN, PEANUT OIL COMES FROM PEANUTS, AND OLIVE OIL FROM OLIVES BUT WHERE DOES CANOLA OIL COME FROM?

A: WE FOUND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ON THE CANOLA OIL WEBSITE. CANOLA OIL COMES FROM AN OIL-SEED CROP THAT WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE TRADITIONAL RAPE-SEED PLANT. IT IS GROWN WIDELY ACROSS CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE U.S.

OBVIOUSLY THEY CAME UP WITH A MORE PLEASANT NAME, CANOLA, TO PUT ON THE BOTTLES.

Q: How do you get the static out of new carpet and new furniture? Every time I touch something I get shocked. Thank you very kindly. Have a wonderful day honey. Bye

A: WE GOT A SIMILAR QUESTION FROM ANOTHER NANCY IN RIVERDALE MARYLAND. AND THE ANSWER TO BOTH OF YOU CAME FROM OUR COPY OF HALEY'S HINTS, A BOOK WE USE OFTEN FOR ASK LIZ.

HALEY SAYS TRY THIS RECIPE. MIX 1/2 LITER OF FABRIC SOFTENER WITH 5 LITERS OF WATER.

POUR INTO SPRAY BOTTLE AND SPRITZ YOUR CARPET TILL IT IS FAIRLY MOIST. BUT NOT ENOUGH TO SOAK THROUGH. DO THIS BEFORE YOU HEAD TO BED SO YOU DON'T WALK ON IT, AND LET IT DRY OVERNIGHT. HALEY SAYS IT SHOULD KEEP STATIC AWAY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

Q: DO WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO EXPIRATION DATES ON FOOD AND PRESCRIPTIONS?

A: WE WENT TO THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO GET YOUR ANSWER.

AS FAR AS FOOD GOES, THE ONLY PRODUCT REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE IS INFANT FORMULA. HOWEVER THE F-D-A SAYS YOU SHOULD USE COMMON SENSE WHEN BUYING OTHER FOODS SUCH AS DAIRY PRODUCTS.

AS FOR MEDICATIONS, THE F-D-A SAYS PAY ATTENTION TO EXPIRATION DATES. HEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON. DRUGS USUALLY EXPIRE IN ONE YEAR.

HOWEVER WHEN THE F-D-A TESTED EXPIRED DRUGS FOR THE MILITARY, IT FOUND MOST WERE SAFE AND USEABLE EVEN THOUGH THE EXPIRATION DATE HAD PASSED.

THE BEST ADVICE WITH MEDICINE IS WHEN IT DOUBT, ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.

Q: A VIEWER DEVELOPED A SQUEAK IN HIS 5-MONTH OLD REEBOK WALKING SHOES. HE'S TAKEN OUT THE INSOLE AND PUT TALCUM POWDER IN BUT THE SQUEAK'S STILL THERE. HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

A: OUR FAVORITE "HOW-TO" BOOK, HALEY'S HINTS, SAYS YOU CAN SILENCE THE SNEAKERS BY PIERCING THE SOLE WITH A DARNING NEEDLE 4-OR-5 TIMES AT THE BALL OF THE FOOT.

OR, PLACE THE SHOES IN SALTWATER, JUST ENOUGH TO COVER THE SOLES AND SOAK FOR 15 MINUTES. THEN DRY THEM AND PLACE IN BOILED LINSEED OIL OVERNIGHT.

NEXT MORNING REMOVE YOUR SHOES, DRY THEM WELL AND THEY SHOULD BE SILENT. BUT BEFORE YOU DO ALL THAT, REEBOK SAYS CALL ITS CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE...YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN A DEFECTIVE PAIR OF SNEAKERS.

Q: I would like to know you never see a hairnet on any employee in any type of restaurant what so ever. I remember years ago that it was a Virginia law that you had to wear a hairnet. What happened to the law?

A: WE CHECKED WITH THE F-D-A AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE AREA. THE 1999 F-D-A FOOD CODE SAYS FOOD EMPLOYEES IN THE KITCHEN MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY HAIRNETS. THAT MEANS CAPS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR KITCHEN WORK.

NOW FOOD SERVERS AND HOSTS DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED. SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT SEEING HAIRNETS. NOT TO MENTION HOW UNATTRACTIVE THEY WERE.