Heloise 5


Frugal Dividing


Dear Heloise,

I agree with that lady who cuts her scratchy sponge  pads in two,

so much that I cut mine in quarters, eighths, and so on,

which raises the question: Where to stop?


A person needs something to cling to,

namely a piece of scouring pad, so I recommend the following:


Take a new scouring pad and a pair of scissors to the kitchen sink.

Start cutting. Try out the pieces, as you make them, on a dirty pan.

When they reach a size where you say:

Am I out of my bloody mind?—

then the next size up is the right one for you. 

pH in Tucson