HELOISE Consider turning clutter into bingo prizes B-4 throwing it out

Dear Heloise: Many places (hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, etc.) run bingo games for their patients and residents. They are always in need of prizes.
By placing an ad in a church bulletin, school newsletter, etc., one can get an enormous amount of items. People always have small bottles of hand lotion, toiletries, costume jewelry and other knickknacks that they are happy to get rid of.
They make wonderful prizes and can help us clean up things that are cluttering up our houses, but are too good to throw away. Gloria, Madison, N.J.
You are right on the prize! Just give the people holding bingo games a call to see what they might like to have. Heloise
Fast facts
Paper clips can be used for a variety of things, and they come in all sizes. Here are some uses:
UHang Christmas ornaments and window sun catchers.
UKeep motel drapes closed while traveling.
UHold up a pants hem or skirt hem temporarily.
UUsing a heavy paper clip, keep pet tags attached to a collar.
UGlued to magnets, they can keep notes on the fridge.
Dear Heloise: No matter how many hammers my husband had in the garage, he always confiscated mine.
One day, I painted the wooden handle white and, when dry, painted flowers all over it. Then I glued seed pearls above the grip line. Problem solved. He never touched it again. Worked on screwdrivers, too! They also make nice shower gifts! G.L. Leonhardt, Ormond Beach, Fla.
How funny! I'm sure your husband wouldn't dream of using them again. I have some tools, too, and painted the handles pink. They might "walk off," but I can spot them in an instant. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Have you ever had a noisy appliance that stopped making noise the minute the repair person arrived? After many frustrating experiences, I decided to record the noise on a cassette tape. This proved very helpful the last time my dishwasher wasn't sounding right.
After listening to the tape, my very grateful serviceman knew right where to locate the problem. Saves time and money, too. Josephine Throne, Hazleton, Pa.
Dear Heloise: My friend's husband gave me the following tip when I had a chip in my ceramic-tile floor: He recommended finding nail polish the color of the floor and filling the chip in with it.
Well, I did it five months ago, and now I don't even know where the chip was originally! Reader, via e-mail
Sound off
Dear Heloise: Why do companies seem to think everyone owns a computer and can afford the Internet? They offer products, special offers, contests, etc., on a dot-com basis, especially on TV.
If they do show an 800 number, it is never on long enough to catch all the numbers. Gloria S., Kerrville, Texas
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate