Tips for packing a suitcase make the most of space

Dear Readers: Here are a few hints for you when packing a suitcase. I travel a lot and have learned how to pack a suitcase to make the most of the space. With all the security and restrictions on luggage when traveling today, make it easy on yourself if you can.

1. Put heavy items on the bottom of the suitcase so they won’t squash your clothes. “The bottom” means what’s the bottom when the suitcase is picked up.

2. Pack shoes soles out, with the heel of one shoe tucked into the toe of the other, and place small items like socks and underwear in the shoes to save space.

3. Roll clothes to prevent wrinkling by putting each garment inside a plastic dry-cleaning bag, then roll up.

4. Pack only travel- or trial-size toiletries to save space, even if checking luggage. Heloise

P.S.: Travel smart, travel safe. Leave expensive jewelry at home!

Dear Heloise: It’s too bad sweepers don’t come with attachments readily available. I had a little canvas bag big enough to carry two attachments for cleaning in corners or along the baseboard. I put a large rubber band through the straps of the bag and attached the whole thing on the handle of the sweeper. Voil ° — attachments ready for use.

As I sweep, sometimes I need to do some dusting with my little feather duster. I took a large rubber band and duct-taped it to the duster, and then attached this to another part of the sweeper handle. Pat Zoccali, Warren, Ohio

Dear Heloise: Most times when you buy linens, curtains or blankets (to name a few items), they come in clear, heavy plastic sacks that zip or snap shut.

Some even have built-in hangers, which will fit on wire-rack systems.

I use these in a variety of ways — small ones with hangers for scarves and decorated hair clips that can then be hung in the closet; large ones to store out-of-season sweaters or sweatshirts, or extra T-shirts. Not only do they keep things organized, but you can see at a glance what’s in them. Barb in California

Dear Heloise: I attended an evening wedding. The couple was given a marvelous send-off. Instead of birdseed being tossed, everyone lined up with sparklers! The effect was gorgeous against the night sky. Of course, for safety’s sake there were pails of water around to extinguish the sparklers. A fun and creative “spark” to a new life together! Sharon in Texas

Dear Heloise: Another use for newspaper sleeves is to stuff them with confetti-size shredded paper (or plastic packing peanuts), tie the top and use as cushioning when mailing a package or when packing to move. You adjust the amount of fill according to your needs. There is no mess when unpacking, and the shredded paper can then go to the recycler. Lynn in Indiana

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