"My baking sheet has a sticky olive-oil residue, even after a run through the dishwasher." — Carrie, via e-mail

THE FIX : Place the baking sheet in the sink, pour boiling water onto it, and mix in a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid, advises Julie Edelman, the author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife. Let sit for 15 minutes. Then dump out almost all the water and scrub the residue with the abrasive side of a sponge. In the future, sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the sheet right after you've finished using it, while it's still hot. The baking soda will absorb the oily gunk and you'll be able to wipe it off easily before you put the sheet in the dishwasher.