HELOISE Film canisters recycled for odor removal

Dear Heloise: Here's a practical use for old film canisters. I cut a small hole in the lid of the canister and drop a tablespoon of activated charcoal pellets inside (activated charcoal is available at pet stores in the aquarium-supplies section). Before replacing the lid on the container, I stretch a small section of old pantyhose over the opening to keep the pellets from coming out.
What would you use this for? Drop a couple of these into stinky tennis shoes -- the odor will disappear (this is so much cheaper than buying charcoal shoe inserts). Pop a couple of canisters into your refrigerator or freezer to freshen and help remove odors. Also place canisters in clothing drawers to freshen.
As the pellets in the canisters become depleted, just replace them -- I usually do this about once a month. Julie Zvanut, Cypress, Texas
Julie, you just taught Heloise a hint! Anything to help stinky tennis shoes is a gold-star hint! Heloise
Fast facts: Other uses for an old credit card:
UCarry a spare key in your wallet by taping it to the old credit card.
UCut it into strips and use as replacement shirt-collar stays.
UUse to scrape cooked-on food off of non-coated pans.
UMake a name tag with it. Cut off the number portion and glue the name part on a pin.
Dear Heloise: I carry a large handbag. In it I keep a large-size, self-sealing plastic bag for bank deposits, etc. The contents are visible, clean and not lost or separated -- also easy to find.
I enjoy your hints. Pat E., San Diego
This would also be helpful in a briefcase or backpack. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here is another way to keep Internet passwords handy: I have created a file on a data-management program that is password-protected.
It has all my Internet passwords, and it is immediately available when I am on the computer. Bob Matsil, Via E-mail
Dear Heloise: I purchased a hat tree at a garage sale and placed it in a corner of my bedroom. I hang handbags from it -- clutch bags can rest on the "branches" next to the trunk! Angie Walker, Montgomery, Texas
I do almost the same. I use it to hang sweaters, and it's easy to grab and go. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My pet peeve is right-handed people who complain about left-handed things, such as stamps coming out the wrong way. Left-handed people have been living in the right-handed world forever and have to adjust to it all the time. When we do find things made just for our use, they are always more expensive, so to save a buck or two, we just buy the right-handed version and live with it. C.K., Billings, Mont.
Here's a right-handed solution from Mary A. of Coolville: "When you buy a roll of stamps, leave the band around the stamps and start using the roll from the middle. You always have a neat roll, plus the stamps are going the right way to put on the envelope." Heloise
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