Dear Heloise: My hint is for when your family is moving to a new home. Many of us have heard about stowing a fresh set of sheets plus blankets in your dryer when moving. It's a great place to stow whatever bedding fits in there, and then you know where it is upon arrival at the new home.
My favorite hint is when you have kids (ages 4 and up). Fill their travel bag with a complete set of clothes, pajamas, underwear, night light and personal-care items, as well as towels and toilet paper.
Parents can do the same and include all medications/vitamins safely zipped in. That keeps all meds with the parents and ready for dispensing as needed. It's kind of like getting ready to go camping, and the little ones can help carry their bag to their new bedrooms.-Judy K. in Georgia
NO NUTS
Dear Heloise: In recipes calling for nuts, if someone can't eat them, you can substitute raisins, dried cranberries or shredded sweetened coconut. You even can put the coconut in a chopper so it's in smaller pieces.-Shirley H., Bogalusa, La.
I'm nuts for your "no-nut" hint! Knowing how to substitute food products can save money, as well as an unplanned trip to the store. There are many baking chips now available beyond just chocolate chips. Look for butterscotch, mint or even hot cinnamon candies to add to your next batch of cookies or cupcakes.-Heloise
FRESHER SMELL
Dear Heloise: We have several kids who have after-school sports activities plus weekend activities, so gym and tote bags get tossed into the car and then into bedrooms.
To help TRY to keep the smell down, I throw a used dryer sheet or two in each. It sure does keep odor down between cleanings.-Heather E. in Pennsylvania
SAFE STEPS
Dear Heloise: When painting, I need a wet cloth to take care of those little "oopsies." I stuck the sticky side of fabric hook-and-loop fastener tape to the side of my ladder to hold the cloth. No more up and down the ladder.-Tony V., via email
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