DEAR HELOISE: I do a lot of crafting and have many spools of ribbon. I found an easy way to store them in one of my crafting cabinets. I took an inexpensive tension curtain rod and ran all of the spools onto it. I then fit it into one of the cabinets, and now my ribbon is easily accessible. Not only does it keep them contained, but it also is easy to cut off just the amount I need. – Pam in Florida
DEAR READERS: Have you ever dropped an earring back, a nail or some other small thing and can’t seem to find it? Here is a simple solution: Take the vacuum hose or a hand-held vacuum and cover the opening with a piece of pantyhose. You then can use the vacuum to find your missing item without it being sucked up into the canister. – Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: After use, I always unplug my toaster. My friend’s toaster activated on its own one day, causing a fire in her home. – Gloria P., Bristol, S.D.
DEAR READERS: An appliance “starting” on its own happens more often than you know. When there are severe storms with lightning, it can trigger a power glitch and may turn on a plugged-in appliance. It’s a good practice to get in the habit of unplugging the toaster (or any other appliance, like a coffee maker) after each use or when leaving home for some time. – Heloise
Hints from Heloise is syndicated by King Features Syndicate. Send great hints to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; by fax, 210-HELOISE (435-6473); or by e-mail, Heloise@Heloise.com.
