Toweling Off Some Tough Mildew Odors

A.Z. of Van Nuys is looking for a product that removes mildew odors from terry towels and wash cloths; she doesn’t intend to rub it in, but evidently sun, bleach and vinegar, among other things, have not done the job. Can you help before our reader raises a real stink, or will this be a problem that won’t wash because you people out there decided to tarry too long?

Jimmie Cornejo of Oxnard is searching for a divided riding skirt , the type Barbara Stanwyck wore on television’s “The Big Valley”; no store in her area stocks anything even close. Can you help before Cornejo causes any more of a stirrup, or will she never be able to ride high because she’s been saddled with a problem that evokes nothing but a horse laugh?

For medical reasons, Margaret Chada of Huntington Beach needs to find small rubber slippers (not thongs) for wearing in the pool. Can you help before Chada really has to put her foot down, or will she end up crying “dirty pool” because nobody made enough waves?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: June Lenssen at (213) 487-4830 would love to locate a 1984 Los Angeles Olympic beach towel ; hers was stolen at the beach. Please give Lenssen another chance to be a beach bunny, or else she’ll be tempted to toss in the towel. . . . Helen at (805) 544-2702, whose husband is highly allergic, needs some Ultra 100 Code 3 100% combed cotton material, Pattern No. 106 ; the item was discontinued by Desire Mills; please help and make sure Helen’s husband keeps his shirt on. . . . Vaughn at (818) 712-4417 needs a copy of Charles Goren’s “Goren’s Bridge for One” ; so far, nobody has been able to offer him a deal of any kind. Please don’t pass on this situation; instead, fill a void in Vaughn’s life.

Note: The Reader-to-Reader Help Line is only for one-time items or for products no longer available in stores. And you must give us written permission to publish your telephone number, so that others may contact you directly.

R. Kutner of West Hollywood, who wanted someone to restring a string painting, may soon be back in the picture. Jim Price, a Malibu artist and designer, says he can help. In fact, he says the string painting might be one of his. Price’s number is (213) 456-8294. And Jean Berry of Laguna Hills says almost anyone with artistic ability--such as an art student at a college--should be able to repair the painting.

For Louise Hauter of La Canada, who was looking for turban netting, we may have a source. Shelia White of Los Angeles says to contact Walter Drake & Sons, 17 Drake Building, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80940.

M. Lewes of West Covina, whose mouth was watering for Yuletide chocolate drops, should soon have her fill of them. Mary Madsen of Havasu Lake, Margaret Young of Los Angeles and Mrs. S. H. Chandler of Glendale all said to contact the Vermont Country Store, P.O. Box 3000, Manchester Center, Vt. 05255; their catalogue lists a two-pound box of chocolate cream drops for $12.95.

For Betty Ellsworth of Pacific Palisades, who wanted some Marvalon shelf-lining papers, we have a line on a source. Claire Wikle of Indio says she saw that paper at Newberry’s in Santa Monica, but she adds that the quality was not as high as it used to be.

For Steve Buchler of Torrance, who needed a one-wheel lawn mower for trimming next to a fence, we have about a dozen readers who might be willing to cut loose of their mower. A stamped, self-addressed envelope will set the wheels in motion.

Herb Hain cannot answer mail personally but will, space permitting, respond in this column to readers who need--or have--helpful information. Write (do not telephone) to You Can Help!, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.