These helpful hints will save you time, too

Dear Heloise: I have several hints that I want to share. They are great time savers, too!

• I find that hair elastics are better than rubber bands around rolled items like wrapping paper, etc. They don’t cut into the items and are easily rolled off.

• In a hurry to bake a casserole that you want browned? Preheat for several minutes in a microwave oven on a medium setting, then put into a regular oven.

• Want a fast cappuccino? Pour regular coffee into a cup and add frozen whipped topping, stirring gently.

• Want to save time cutting purchased flowers that come wrapped in plastic? Carefully cut through the whole bouquet with a sharp, serrated knife — plastic and all — at the length you want for the vase.

Karen Nelson, Roswell, N.M.

Dear Readers: We’re all trying to save a few pennies whenever we can. So, recycle your makeup. Experiment by blending a small amount of powders, blushers, lipsticks, foundations and even pencil liners. Use whatever leftover makeup you have and aren’t using. Mix and match until you come up with a combination that works. You might discover a new look without having to spend any money at all! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have several friends who have stopped using their indoor electric grill (Do not use a charcoal or propane grill in the house — Heloise) because they say it is too hard to clean.

I have solved that problem! When I finish using the grill, while it is still warm, I take a couple of wet paper towels and put them between the grill plates. It is really easy to wipe the grilling plates clean when dinner is over. Teri Dykman, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: A co-worker said that his mother used to put some of their clothes, rolled up, in the freezer. What was the purpose of this? He doesn’t remember. Patti Bustamante, via e-mail

In the ’50s, my mom used to sprinkle the ironing with warm water. She would use an empty glass soda bottle that had a stopper with holes that fit into the opening of the bottle. This made it easy to sprinkle the warm water over the clothes and linens to be ironed. Then she would roll the items into an old, cut-up plastic shower curtain and put them into our refrigerator on the bottom shelf for a few hours or overnight. This allowed the moisture to dampen all the items and made it easier to iron out the wrinkles. By putting the items into the refrigerator, it delayed mildew and sour odors from developing until she had time to iron. It worked. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I always schedule my annual checkup on my birthday. This way, I never forget to make it. Eric Zetka, via e-mail

King Features Syndicate