HELOISE: Put corks from wine bottles to use

Dear Readers: Through the years, my readers have come up with many creative and fun uses for wine-bottle corks. Here are some hints to encourage you to reuse and recycle:

Make place-card holders for a party by cutting a small slit in them.

Decorate the border of a framed mirror and hang it above the bar. The names of the wineries normally are printed on them, so it makes a great conversation piece.

Carefully slice the corks thinly and glue to the bottom of a plant pot, a dish or furniture. This way, the items won’t scratch floors and patios.

Make a corkboard for notes or photos by cutting and gluing them to a piece of wood.

Although not a reuse for corks, writing the date, place and a short description of a special time on the cork itself can serve as a great keepsake.

Heloise

Dear Readers: Here are some uses for thoroughly rinsed dish-soap bottles:

Use to clean above the shower head.

Keep kid craft supplies handy. Fill them with paints, sand, glitter, etc.

Use to fill the water reservoir in a clothes iron.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: For years, I have reused those slender plastic bags that our daily newspaper is delivered in. They’re perfect for sliding over socks before putting on boots to keep feet from getting cold or wet when shoveling snow or walking or working in those big winter snowstorms. No more cold, wet feet.

R. Wilburn in New Jersey

Dear Heloise: I have found that leaving the door slightly ajar on my front-load washing machine solves the problem of sour smells. I place a small washcloth between the door and the machine between uses. No more odors, and no expense.

JoAnn in Tomball, Texas

Dear Heloise: When buying boxes of tissues that have a count of 200, it is difficult to get all of the tissues to come up after so many have been used. I keep my small, empty boxes, open one side, then open the side of the larger box. I remove enough to place in the smaller box and seal with clear tape.

Doris, via e-mail

Another tissue trick? When the box is nearly empty, don’t reach in to grab a tissue. Simply turn the box upside down and give it a gentle shake. The tissues are right there!

Heloise

SOUND OFF

Hi, Heloise: I recently bought a new toaster for my dad and discovered that it has the cord and controls at the same end. That makes it very inconvenient to plug in and set the controls at the same time. Any idea why the manufacturing company did this? All I can think of is the cost. It’s just one of those little things in life that is annoying.

Cheryl, via e-mail

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate