Skip the Store's Credit Card “Discount” by Mary Hunt on Creators.com

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Skip the Store's Credit Card “Discount”

Dear Mary: A friend lets stores issue credit cards so she can get special discounts, but she never activates them. Doesn't that still impact her credit rating? This doesn't seem wise to me. — Diana, Ohio

Dear Diana: You're right. When she accepts the store's offer of a discount on her entire first purchase in exchange for just completing an on-the-spot application, that new credit account is alive and very active. It may take weeks to get the store's credit card in the mail. And it may come with instructions to call a number from her home phone to "activate" the card, but that has nothing to do with the account being active on her credit report. Those are simply security measures to make sure the card was not stolen en route. Trust me, all of her new accounts are very much alive and "active." She's going to have a rude awakening if and when she checks her credit score or applies for a loan in the future.

Closing them, as difficult as that will be, is not a good solution, either. Just like opening new accounts, closing old ones will deal yet another blow to her credit score because closing accounts is as deadly as opening new ones (if you're a member of www.DebtProofLiving.com, read "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" in the online archives).

Dear Mary: How can I have fresher, cleaner-smelling towels? What am I doing wrong? Is there something like Nok-Out or a home remedy that I can try? I tried soaking them in vinegar, but that did not help much.

— Darlene, New York

Dear Darlene: That smell may be the telltale sign of mold and mildew that has built up in your washer. Front-loading machines are far more prone to this problem because the door is made to fit very tightly. Over time, dirt, grease and grime from clothes can build up on the inside. Detergent and fabric softener residue also accumulates, as does lint and organic matter. The combination leads to funky odors and often even mildew. The solution is surprisingly simple: You need to clean your washing machine.

Nok-Out, which you mention (www.NokOut.com), is what I would use to do that. It's very effective, and I keep it on hand for all of life's smelly problems. Fill the machine with hot water (no clothes) and 8 ounces of Nok-Out. As for the towels, Lou Osburn at Nok-Out warns that the residual vinegar in the towels cannot be used with Nok-Out as it is a very alkaline product. She suggests you do this: Mix 2 tablespoons 20 Mule Team Borax and 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of water. Soak the towels in this mixture for 30 minutes. Then run them through the spin cycle. Now wash the towels with no detergent, but with 8 ounces of Nok-Out in a regular short cycle. Dry as usual. If you have a front loading machine, always leave the door ajar between uses.

Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.