Plastic coffee cans come in handy for garbage

Dear Heloise: I hated throwing away those large plastic coffee cans, so I use them in the kitchen. Instead of going to the trash can every time I peel an onion or have something to dispose of, I line a can with a plastic bag from the produce department (another recycled item). When I’m done, I take the bag out, line with a fresh bag and I’m ready for the next meal. Also, I leave a bit of ground coffee in the bottom of the can to block any odors. Thelma, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I’m an avid gardener. Before putting on my gardener’s gloves, I spray my entire hands (especially the cuticles, nail surface and beneath the nails) with nonstick vegetable spray. If any mud or dirt creeps through, cleaning my hands is a breeze. A bonus is that my hands also feel really soft after this treatment. Susan D., a Hondo, Texas, fan

Dear Heloise: When I purchase tall kitchen bags for my household trash baskets, I take them all out of the package and place in the bottom of the can. When I empty the trash, I can grab another bag to line the can, and I always know where they are. Kathie Dollinger, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Fragrant dryer sheets will help the inside odor of a closed trunk. I also add the moisture absorbers from pill bottles, shoe boxes and food containers to absorb moisture. I change the dryer sheets once a year at the holidays, when I open the trunk to get my decorations out. Jean, via e-mail

X 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