HELOISE Static cling is a real problem in her home

Dear Heloise: I have a lot of static cling in my house. Is there something I can do to get rid of it? Tammie D., Via E-mail
Static cling is annoying, isn't it! During the winter months when we use heaters and fireplaces, they tend to take a lot of moisture out of the air, thus leading to more static electricity, which causes static cling. So here are a few ways to add that all-important moisture back into the air and help eliminate your problem:
Keep a pot of water simmering on your stove. Escaping steam adds moisture -- but don't let it boil dry!
Place cups, bowls or vases of water throughout your home. As the water evaporates, much-needed moisture is put back into the air. Just keep refilling them as needed.
Use a cool-mist vaporizer or a humidifier.
A tabletop water fountain can also add a little moisture back into the air. Also, with these you get two birds with one stone -- moisture as the water evaporates, and that soothing, bubbling sound it makes. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here's my hint for those trips involving long distances from home:
Before final packing, lay out all the clothes and money thought to be needed for the trip.
Next, pack half the clothes and double the money. Jim Igou, Salem, Ore.
This is just about right for most people! Nowadays (especially if you are flying), it pays to pack light. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I store and concurrently use several rolls of gift wrap. To help keep them neat, I stand them on end in small wastebaskets or plastic buckets. That also keeps them all in one place. Also, I store my bows in empty popcorn tins so they don't become flattened. Valerie K., Framingham, Mass.
Dear Heloise: To make an outdoor Christmas tree, take a tomato cage and turn it upside down. Pull the prongs together and decorate with lights. Bernita Jo Zvonek, Canyon Lake, Texas
What a great "off-season" use for those cages. Love it! Heloise
Dear Heloise: I am a bachelor living in a one-bedroom apartment. Cupboard space is limited, so to save space, I have to stack pans. I place a paper plate between skillets to avoid them scratching each other. I love your column! Doug Compton, North Little Rock, Ark.
Dear Heloise: My oldest son was extremely saddened when one of his sports idols died. He collected dozens of newspapers and magazines on the person's life and death. What we did to preserve them was vacuum seal them.
We bought several large rolls of the plastic wrap and cut them to size, put the papers in and vacuum sealed them. It worked great. That was more than a year ago, and they are fine so far. Debbie Crofoot, Boonville, N.Y.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate