Shoe bag is handy catchall for odds and ends

Dear Heloise: I read about the canvas shoe bag used in the shower for shampoo, etc. My husband has a shoe bag hanging on the back of the door to his workshop. He puts cans and bottles like wasp spray, car-cleaning items, etc., in his.

Mine is on the back of the door to my craft room, where I store items such as bottles of various craft glues, glue guns, hole punches and even all my scissors and pinking shears.

The things used often are right at hand for quick retrieval, and putting them back is a snap. No longer do we have to hunt through shelves or drawers for the small things we use often. Linda in Arkansas

Dear Heloise: I have found a way to avoid paying those high prices the airports charge for bottled water that you must purchase on the other side of security. I pack an empty water bottle in my carry-on — it goes through security just fine. Then I stop at the first drinking fountain I come to and fill up my water bottle. Nancy in Ohio

I do the same, but now carry a sturdy, plastic, reusable sports bottle. It’s bright-yellow, and I don’t leave it behind by mistake.

Speaking of travel hints, here’s another one, from Hana in Hawaii: “I can’t say enough about the benefits of using bra extenders when traveling. Whenever I have a night flight and it’s time to sleep, I just hook on the extender. I can still wear my bra, but it’s looser by about three inches in the back and definitely more comfortable. Bra extenders can be found in the notions section of most fabric stores.” Heloise

Dear Heloise: When I get a paint mixed, I ask for an extra label with the formula, then save a small jar for touch-ups and put the extra label on it. This saves me from having to search for the can or taking up space saving an empty can. When I want to duplicate the paint if I move or use the color again, I have the mix formula immediately available. The label could also be kept in a book for reference later on. Debbie in Texas

Dear Heloise: I saw this hint at my house and thought my wife had a neat idea. After she runs the dryer, she puts the dryer fabric-softener sheet that is left in a facial-tissue cube box sitting on a shelf near the dryer in the laundry room. She then uses these leftovers to clean the dryer vent of lint. Lee, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Here are two more safety things to do before you go on a trip:

If you live alone, call the newspaper and have it stopped one or two days before you leave, to be sure it is stopped, and your mail, too. Martha in New Mexico

SBlt 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