Sunday, June 29, 2003
Dear Heloise: I found the perfect cabinet for the purpose I was looking for, and naturally it was in a box and needed to be assembled.
Upon opening the box, there were 100-plus pieces to be sorted and labeled. To do this with the least amount of confusion, I put the small screws, bolts, hinges, etc., into zippered sandwich bags. Instead of calling them "screws" or "bolts" (they were referred to by letters), I identified each type and wrote the corresponding letters on the outside of the zippered plastic bag with a permanent marker.
When the cabinet-assembly instructions called for screws "MM" or bolts "RR," they were easy to find. After several hours, my cabinet was in place. This worked so well that I will definitely use this method in the future. A.M., Via E-mail
Ahhh! "Some assembly required" -- it's never as easy as it sounds. This is a fabulous hint, especially with so many parts and pieces that you could have gone off the deep end. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I travel extensively for work. Because I wear business attire each day, I like to take several pairs of earrings as well.
I use a hard-plastic, seven-day pill carrier to organize my earrings. It also keeps them from being crushed in my luggage. Leslie M., Washington, D.C.
Dear Heloise: I have another hint to help those who own a car with a deep trunk.
I took a plain wire clothes hanger and pulled on the bottom center and the hook (away from each other -- H), straightening out the sides to form a long-handled hook. It reaches in and pulls almost anything that slips to the far end of the trunk, even heavy bottles of water or jugs of cat-box filler, etc.
I keep it in a net basket in the trunk, so it is handy at all times. I also keep one in my kitchen drawer to reach the Venetian-blind cords, as I have a corner sink and cannot reach them without this hook.
Thank you, Heloise, for passing on good, helpful hints to us! We need all the help we can get! Martha Vaughan, Duncanville, Texas
Dear Heloise: After reading a hint about the rust from a shaving-cream can, I found a more decorative way to prevent it.
I purchased a package of disposable coasters -- they are cheap and attractive. Put one under the can and change it as needed. These coasters can be bought to match most colors in a bathroom. Clara Knisley, Blythewood, S.C.
Dear Heloise: Another use for rubber mesh: I put three or four pieces between my mattress and box spring to keep the mattress from sliding around. Earl Bryant, Newport News, Va.
King Features Syndicate