Teaching kids safety, maintenance pays off

Dear Heloise: When my children became of age to drive, I made it a point to show them the workings of their cars, how to do routine maintenance and change tires, etc. I also made emergency kits for them with gloves, a few simple tools and duct tape.
When my youngest moved 700 miles away, I was worried about her survival in the big, bad world. One evening, she called to tell me that she had been in an accident -- another car clipped her rear bumper as she crossed an intersection. She reassured us that she was OK and that she had handled the situation well. She got the names of witnesses, called the police and made a report, notified the insurance company and took the duct tape from her emergency kit and taped the bumper back on. After this, I didn't worry about her survival so much. Robert Watson, Akron, Iowa
Dear Robert: Very, very good advice for all new drivers. My daddy (the late Air Force Lt. Col. Marshal H. Cruse of Rosebud, Texas) did the very same thing when I went off to college. He taught me how to change a tire, jump-start a dead battery and check the oil. It served me well then -- and today, too. Thanks, Daddy, for all of your guidance. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Anyone who uses disposable wipes usually will end up with a container that begins to dry up. When that happens, I add some water and anti-bacterial dish soap and place the wipes in the bathroom for quick wipe-ups around the sink and commode between weekly cleanings. Mary Kim, Murrysville, Pa.
Dear Heloise: Take an old T-shirt and put it in the trunk of your car. The next time you go shopping and use the trunk, put the T-shirt over the back of the trunk, which is always dusty. No more dirtying the top and pants you are wearing when you lean into the trunk to put your groceries or other items in. L., Spring Valley, Minn.
Dear Heloise: My hobby is cake decorating, and I'm always looking for inexpensive cake plates that I can give away with the cake.
I've found that discarded turntable platters from broken microwave ovens make wonderful cake plates. I put a paper doily on them, and they look great! And, it recycles at least a small piece of a discarded microwave. Peggy, Raritan, N.J.
Dear Heloise: I have several pairs of bedroom slippers (cloth soles -- Heloise) that I like to wear around the house. Lately, I've noticed that the heel areas were getting holes in them. I took some iron-on patch material, cut the pieces to fit and ironed them on. I can put the slippers in the washer, and they come out almost like new. Agnes McClelland, Zephyrhills, 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