HELOISE Mesh shoe bag keeps shower supplies handy
Dear Heloise: I have had problems for years trying to organize the different shampoos, rinses, body washes, bath soaps, etc., in the bath. There was never enough room on the tub edge, and the holders that go over the shower head never stayed right, which left me very frustrated.
I bought one of those canvas-and-mesh shoe bags, put shower-curtain rings at the top and put it on a shower-curtain rod on the wall opposite the existing shower curtain.
That was two years ago, and I still love it. Because it is a neutral color, beige, it blends in, and the holder can be moved either closer or further away from the shower head by sliding it along the rod.
Because of the fabric, it dries quickly, and if you do want to wash it, just remove the items, wash and hang it back up.
After seeing the many ways canvas shoe holders have been used, it seems they are one of the most versatile creations ever. Cheryl Northern, Anchorage, Alaska
An extra shower rod is a super way to gain more space for all kinds of items. Its also perfect for hanging hand-washables to dry. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When we traveled to Ireland, I used a spiral notebook to make notes of every photo I took. When each roll of film was finished, I put it in a sequentially numbered canister and put the canister and the notes in a plastic bag. That method helped a lot to keep the photos in order for when I got home and was ready to put them in an album. Paula Price, San Antonio
Dear Heloise: Recently, our not-so-old dishwasher stopped doing a good job. After trying to clean it with vinegar and a chemical product, we had to call a serviceman.
When he took it apart, he found the filter clogged with, of all things, paper. The labels from jars had been torn off and got stuck in the mechanism. It cost us $100 to get the thing cleaned out. From now on, we remove all labels before washing. Jackie Hyman, Brea, Calif.
Jackie, who would have thought? Hopefully, this will help others prevent the same costly mistake. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When my husband was ill and could not get warm, I gave him a knitted cap to wear. It did the trick, and he was quite comfortable after that. It was still on the bedside table, so I put it on last night. Besides providing warmth, if you pull it down a little way it also blocks out some noise and light.
If you have a bedmate, he or she might prefer the occasional beanie to a restless sleeping partner. The old-timers and their nightcaps might have had the right idea after all. Carol Reynolds, Wayland, N.Y.
Dear Heloise: Store that extra blanket under the fitted mattress-pad cover on your spare bed. G.M.M., Dallas
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax to (210) HELOISE, or e-mail heloise@heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate