HELOISE: Be careful if mailing in thinner boxes

Dear Heloise: I’m responding to a previous column about mailing hints and wanted to add a comment. Please have your readers be careful when using cereal or cracker boxes for mailing or shipping. I have owned a private mail and shipping center for more than 23 years, and there are some things your readers should be aware of.

First, do not ship anything that could possibly break in such containers. Any item that is breakable needs a corrugated box — preferably new, if the item needs insuring. Some companies won’t insure items shipped in either bubble envelopes or thin cardboard.

Also, if you have any delicate items that need insurance, use air-filled packing material and foam peanuts.

Ed in Texas

Ed, thanks for the input. It was nice chatting with you. Another hint from Ed: Make sure the address is legible. My hint: Print, if possible, and be sure the ZIP code is readable.

Heloise

Dear Readers: Alternate uses for stale bread:

Make French toast.

Cube and season for croutons or bread crumbs.

Use to thicken meatloaf.

Make into bread pudding.

As a treat for wild birds.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Being a college student, my schedule is different every other day, which means that I get up at different times. I was constantly forgetting to change the time on my alarm clock and was either oversleeping or getting up too early.

I solved my problem by buying another alarm clock the same size as the one I already had but in a different color. They sit on my nightstand, one right behind the other. When I go to bed, I just turn the alarm on for the clock that I didn’t turn off in the morning. Now I don’t have to worry about setting the time on the clock before I go to bed.

Brianna, via e-mail

We love this hint!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have a lot of gold chains of various lengths and styles, and I had trouble keeping them organized and untangled, and finding the length I needed. I was in the crafts store one day and had a flash of brilliance!

I purchased several of the clear plastic boxes that crafters use to store their beads and other small items. Each chain coiled nicely into its own compartment. I labeled each compartment with the length of the chain. Now I can find the correct one at a glance.

T.D. in California

SOUND OFF

Dear Heloise: I think the bagless vacuum is the worst creation since stinging jellyfish. How do you clean those things? I empty the container and shake out the filter, but the dust floats everywhere, and I get dirty, too. I’d rather have the dirt in a bag that I can throw out.

Mary P., via e-mail

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