HELPFUL HINTS

By HELOISE

LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: Here’s a way to cut down on your chances of getting stuck with wobble-wheeled grocerycarts. Pick up a cart in the parking lot and “test-drive” it to the store entrance. If it rides straight and true, keep it. If it wobbles or veers off in one direction, exchange it for one at the door, and at least you’ve saved the courtesy clerks one cart pickup in the lot.

- Cathy L. from California

DEAR READER: Good advice! Not only are you making your trip easier, you are doing a good deed by taking a cart in.

DEAR HELOISE: When replacing your furnace filter, use a permanent marker and, on the outside border of the new filter (the edge that shows after the filter has been installed), write the date the filter was installed. This will enable you to determine when it should be replaced.

- Bill in Nebraska

DEAR HELOISE: Don’t lose those pierced studs in a jewelry box! Instead, stick the posts of two pair through the holes on a medium- to large-size button and attach the backs. This will help keep them visible, and they’ll stay together, too!

- Mona, via e-mail

DEAR HELOISE: My husband has a problem with colorblindness. I write the color with a permanent marker on the inside pocket of his trousers. The pockets usually are white. This makes it much easier for him to select pants and match with shirts.

- May P., Universal City, Texas

DEAR HELOISE: Are the cushions of your couch always sliding out from under you? Place a square of rubber shelf liner (the same size as the cushion) directly under each cushion to prevent it from moving out of place.

- James S., Artesia, N.M. Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail

HELOISE@CompuServe.com

Weekend, Pages 36 on 11/05/2009

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