HI SUN SPOTS: I am a granddaughter of Mrs. Nettie Briggs DeCoster. My grandmother was a midwife and delivered many babies in her home known as the Briggs farm next to the old East Auburn Baptist Church. She would keep the mothers and their babies for a week or two before they would return home. She delivered her last baby in 1937, K. Pike. — Betty DeCoster Goulet of Lewiston.

RESPONSE: Thank you very much for sharing this information. Sun Spots hopes that others who have information on private hospitals or homes where babies were delivered in Auburn write in and share that information.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I hope you or someone who reads your column can help. Last December my daughter, son-in-law and grandkids gave me a certificate from Merry Maids for my birthday. We live in Lewiston so the number was for this area. Apparently the Merry Maids have disenfranchised in this area. I called the main company, but have yet to hear anything.

My daughter told me that she got a call from the former Merry Maids owners. They have started their own company and are honoring any gift certificates people purchased from them when they were with Merry Maids. They left their new name and number. This was on my daughter’s voice mail and she accidentally deleted it and cannot remember their new name.

I’m hoping that there is someone out there who knows them and can help. My number is 207-713-5352. Thank you for all your help.– Ruth Cyr.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Occasionally you receive questions regarding laundry solutions. I would like to share a few of my favorites. Stains on silky blouses can be removed with a paste of baking soda and water. Rub paste into the material until the stain is gone. Wash by hand.

Stains made by ballpoint pen can be removed with hair spray rubbed in the material. The procedure may be repeated until the stain is dissolved and easily washed out of the garment.

I have removed mold stains from linen and cotton items via hot water and Clorox.

Before storage, all clothing should be washed or dry-cleaned to remove any body oils or sweat that may have settled in the clothing and which can bring on mold.

I have found dryer sheets can cause stains on clothing that may not be removed. To soften clothes before drying, I have found baking soda in the rinse cycle has done the trick.

To remove odors from clothing: Borax in washing cycle has been effective. Remember the 20-team Borax we used to see on TV? Even the most smelly socks had odors removed, even odorous T-shirts. I find dryers can set stains forever if the stains are not removed before drying clothes. — G.D., Lewiston.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for a battery for my garage door opener. The type in there now is 23A. I have looked in several area stores but have not been able to find this particular battery. Can you help? — David via email.

ANSWER: Many stores in the area sell them, whether or not they have them in stock on the day of your visit cannot be foretold. Stores known to carry batteries with the 23A designation include Walmart, Home Depot, and Best Buy. Brands include RayOvac, Energizer and Duracell.

Use the QR code to go to Sun Spots online for additional information and links. This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com, tweeted @SJ_SunSpots or posted on the Sun Spots facebook page at facebook.com/SunJournalSunSpots. This column can also be read online at sunjournal.com/sunspots. We’ve joined Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/sj_sunspots.

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