HELOISE Rubber gloves help move bulky objects

Dear Heloise: I think rubber gloves are the next best invention after baking soda and vinegar! I discovered a new use for them and wanted to share it with others.
I needed to move a TV set and was home alone. There were ridges on the bottom of the television that hurt my hands, so I searched my house for some gloves. All I had was rubber gloves. Not only did they keep the ridges from hurting my hands, they allowed me to get a much better grip on the bulky television -- moving it was a breeze.
Now, anytime I'm moving a bulky object, I wear my rubber gloves. Because they grip, it's not nearly so difficult to carry a heavy, bulky object. It's amazing how much of a difference the rubber gloves make. Maggie in Arkansas
A fantastic hint -- moving big or bulky objects can be hard. Thanks for writing. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My wife and I travel about 30 days a year on vacations and weekend getaways. We carry a travel alarm clock, but it seemed wasteful to purchase batteries that served little purpose for those few days in a year. Also, we had the worry that the batteries would leak or run down and be of no use when needed.
Our television remote control uses the same-size battery as the travel alarm clock. Since we don't need our remote control on vacation, using its batteries in the travel clock is a perfect solution to getting the most from the batteries. This tip might work well for other devices that use batteries but are not used frequently. John Stone, Arlington, Texas
Dear Heloise: I find myself hanging a lot of things from the ceilings (plants, wind chimes, mobiles), and many times they are heavier items that require a "butterfly nut" kind of hook. After many times getting a head full of plaster as I drilled, I finally got the idea to cut the bottom out of a cone-shaped coffee filter and slip it over the end of my drill. When I drilled a hole into the ceiling, no more plaster in my hair. Amanda Teigland, Via E-mail
Well, we tested this in the office, and it did work. One note: Don't forget to wear those safety goggles when operating power tools. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Most spray-lubricant cans come with a thin extension tube.
For storing the tube, I hit upon the idea of taking a plastic soda straw, cutting it to a length somewhat shorter than the tube and plugging one end. I taped the straw to the can and simply dropped the tube into the straw. A Reader, Via E-mail
Dear Heloise: Instead of buying pre-moistened sheets for my new-style mop when I want to wet-mop the floor, I do this: I use two unseparated sheets of sturdy shop towels and attach them as usual. Keep your favorite floor-cleaning solution in a squirt bottle, like any empty pancake syrup bottle. Just squirt the floor and clean. The shop towel holds up really well. Linda in Virginia
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