Hints received recognition from friends and family

Dear Heloise: Although I have had publications in local, state and national works, I never received so much recognition as when featured in your column!
I even heard from a former student chastising me for a split infinitive -- not mine. On the other hand, my exercise class stopped in awe for the announcement! Jean Pruett, Camden, S.C.
Jean, your timesaving and organizing hints are very helpful. Folks, if you missed the column, visit www.Heloise.com and click on Special Columns to read Jean's hints. Glad your friends and students were impressed. Heloise
Fast facts
Dear Heloise: Here is another pantyhose idea. My mom cut the tops off (the elastic part) and used them as large rubber bands for boxes, etc. We always cut the legs off to tie around our plants. A Port Huron, Mich., Reader
And here are some of Heloise Central's favorites:
Use to remove pet hair from furniture.
Use to strain paint.
Can be used as stuffing for craft projects.
Store onions in one. Place an onion in and tie, and then place another. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When one of the earpieces on my eyeglasses broke, my husband and I discovered that getting it replaced ranged from free to 50. Unfortunately, the stores that replace it free as a courtesy did not have anything to match.
We came up with a great solution while at a store that sells stuff for a dollar. The store had a whole rack of reading glasses for a dollar. We matched my eyeglasses up with ones that would fit and purchased a set of jewelry screwdrivers to fit the small screws (also a dollar). My husband replaced both earpieces so they would match. The screwdriver set has also come in handy for other items with tiny screws. Elaine Adams, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I have a dear little friend who is 89 years young and totally blind from macular degeneration. I'm always trying to find new ways to help her. I've discovered a wonderful help. Her phone is programmed so she only has to punch one number, but today's phones have so many buttons that it is difficult for her, even with the programming.
One day while shopping, I noticed some small, heart-shaped, raised stick-ons designed for handicrafts. They have an adhesive back, and the smallest ones are perfect for the buttons on her phone. Others are a fit for her TV remote, microwave buttons, answering machine, etc. Johnette, via e-mail
Sound off
Dear Heloise: My sound off is about patrons who place their purses (which are deposited in and on many unsanitary places) and even babies in diapers on their restaurant table when they arrive.
So nowadays, unless we have a clean table linen to place our eating utensils on, we simply keep them rolled in the napkin until our food arrives. We do not want all the germs associated with the practices of many eating establishments and inconsiderate diners. Ella, Houston
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