Keeping your feet happy during the warm months

Dear Readers: Sandals and bare feet are everywhere this time of year, but so are blisters and athlete's foot! Don't despair! I have the hints to help.
I don't know about you, but when my feet are "happy," so am I. That's why it's important to take care of your tootsies during these warm summer months.
To keep blisters away:
Avoid shoes that rub or don't fit.
If you have areas that tend to blister easily, treat them before the blisters happen.
When a blister pops up, ease the pain with over-the-counter moleskin or blister pads.
To prevent athlete's foot:
Keep your feet dry and clean.
Wear socks made with an acrylic fiber to help wick away moisture, and change your socks at least once a day.
If your feet sweat a lot, cover with antiperspirant. The active ingredient will help keep your feet from sweating.
Don't wear the same shoes every day. Shoes need about 24 hours to completely dry out. Heloise
P.S. Baking soda is a great deodorizer -- just sprinkle a little in tennis shoes to keep them from smelling.
Dear Heloise: Here's what I do with those dang external power supplies that come with some electronic devices -- you know, those black things that always use one outlet and cover the other one, and you have no idea what device they belong to once they get put in a drawer and are separated from their partners?
I write on a small slip of paper what device it belongs to and tape it to the power supply. I don't have to guess what it belongs to anymore. It would be nice if the manufacturers did it for us, but this will do for now. Larry, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I find that keeping a notepad and pen on my dresser in my bedroom to be invaluable when I'm upstairs and I want to remember something (chores, groceries, whatever). Lord knows I'll forget by the time I get to my notepad in the kitchen downstairs! Kim Hoover, Woodbridge, Va.
Dear Heloise: My 90-year-old mother has limited eyesight and must use a walker. It's very important that she has enough light when she is trying to get around. We added an inexpensive bicycle light to the handlebar of her walker. Now, whenever she needs extra light, she just turns on her bike light. Barbara Zielsdorff, Palmdale, Calif.
Dear Heloise: I use the greeting cards that I can't bear to toss as bookmarks in my cookbooks. When I make a favorite recipe, I have the pleasure of reading and enjoying the card all over again. Sally, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I keep a pair of scissors on my ironing board while I iron. They are handy in case I find any "extra" strings on the clothes as I'm ironing. Tammy Scanlan, Coral Springs, Fla.
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate