Donated clothing should be fit to wear

Dear Heloise: I was pleased to read your advice to clothing donors about not donating stained and torn clothing that is not suitable for further wear. As a volunteer for an organization that distributes new and used baby clothing to mothers in need, we would never insult our clients by giving them clothing that we would not put on our own children and grandchildren.

I also have a few suggestions for your readers when they plan to donate clothing. I picked up three very large bags of donated clothing from a lovely woman with three children. I reminded her that the clothing had to have no stains or tears. She assured me that the clothing was in beautiful condition; some of it was unused and even had the price tags still on it. Unfortunately, her children were 25 to 30 years old, and it was their clothing from when they were infants! I wouldn’t embarrass her by checking the clothing out in front of her, so I just lugged the bags to my car and took it home to sort. Needless to say, the clothing was terribly outdated.

The hint about trying to avoid lugging heavy bags with donation items by keeping the bags in the trunk would be more helpful if smaller bags were used. Make it easier on yourself and make it easier for me by using smaller bags. We do appreciate everyone’s generous spirit, but we also appreciate your consideration for us and our clients. Susan F., via e-mail

I appreciate your good advice. Some charities sell torn and stained clothing for scrap material. So, folks, check with your charity to see what it will take. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I need to add to the letter regarding beach umbrellas that get caught in the wind. My husband got hit in the face by the end of an umbrella, and it put a hole through his lip. When he went to the emergency room, we were told that there are a lot of injuries from flying beach umbrellas. Lin from California

Dear Heloise: Our grandson was in Iraq for about 15 months. During that time, we sent him some nylon-net pot scrubbers, and he advised us that they worked well in cleaning his rifle. He also used them with a little water to get the sand off the windshield of the vehicles. Beverly Christiansen, Great Bend, Kan.

Nylon net has many uses, but this is certainly the first time I’ve heard of this. Maybe we can send Heloise nylon-net pompoms to our troops for use! Heloise

Dear Heloise: I get medications in small tubes. It’s hard to read the tiny writing. So, I take a permanent maker and write on the tube what it is for, and if I have room, I also write the doctor’s name. Belinda R., Marion, Texas

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