HELPFUL HINTS

— DEAR HELOISE: Looking for a way to pack Christmas ornaments, I found that the divided boxes that winecomes in work great. The 12 sleeves hold a lot of ornaments and are the right size. I put as many large ornaments as wouldfit in first and then filled the top with smaller ones so all would be secure when the lid was closed. Small candleholders, etc., wrapped in paper filled up the rest of the box.

  • Carol, via e-mail

DEAR READER: You even can spray the boxes seasonal colors.

DEAR HELOISE: I was ironing a shirt and accidentally scorched it a little bit. Is there anything I can do to remove the scorch marks?

  • A Reader, via e-mail

DEAR READER: Depending on how bad the scorch marks are, you might be able to “lighten” them. Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and a clean, white terry cloth to gently buff out the singed area. Repeat the steps several times, and the mark should lighten. Be sure to test a hidden area of fabric first. If the garment is heavily scorched, it may not be salvageable. Check the care labels on all garments- the label should have ironing instructions listed. If not, the garment probably will not need ironing.

DEAR HELOISE: Tired of using the toilet tissue at rest stops, we save the “end of the roll” at home. Flattened and placed in a snack-size baggie, it easily fits into pocket or purse and makes travel stops more pleasant. We keep a bag of these “handy packs” in the car when traveling.

  • Mary Ellen in Mississippi

DEAR READERS: Here are some simple keyboard shortcuts that will help when using your PC:

Ctrl + A will select the complete text.

Ctrl + X will cut a selected item.

Ctrl + C will copy a selected item.

Ctrl + V will paste the selected item.

Ctrl + Home will go to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl + End will go to the end of the document.

Every computer is different, so check your owner’s manual.

DEAR HELOISE: Our ex-daughter-in-law was over for dinner, and she put a pasta scooper in the mashed potatoes. It worked perfectly for scooping out each portion.

  • C.C. in Colorado 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@Heloise.com

MovieStyle, Pages 38 on 11/30/2012

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