DEAR READERS: Did you know that TVs, appliances and furniture falling on children is an extreme hazard? According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, every two weeks (on average) a child dies from an unsecured item tipping over and landing on him. Here are some hints on how to prevent this tragedy from occurring in your home:
TVs should be securely hung (on a wall) out of reach, or placed on a stable, secure stand or base, and as far back as possible.
Keep electrical cords out of reach so children cannot pull them and the objects attached to them onto themselves.
Anchor any furniture, such as TV stands, bookcases and dressers, or any other high, heavy, free-standing furniture or appliance, to the wall so it cannot fall over.
Don’t place small items on the furniture that a child might try to reach for (such as remote controls).
DEAR HELOISE: At the big warehouse stores where merchandise is stacked on pallets, the stores put large cardboard pieces between each layer of merchandise. These make great poster board for kids’ art projects, science reports and other projects. The best part is that they are free!
- Gloria H. in Calif.
DEAR READER: Two warehouse stores that were contacted said absolutely people may have the cardboard! One asked that you call ahead so that it can be set aside, because the pieces don’t stay around for long. The other store stated that a customer can just take what he finds while walking around the store shopping. The cardboard is free for members, but one store reuses it in the store, and the other recycles it when not needed.
DEAR HELOISE: Years ago, a friend, after seeing all my necklaces tangled in a drawer, gave me an idea: Why not take the “head” off an old-fashioned rake? We did, painted it and hung it on my bedroom wall. The end of it has twisted metal to form a hole, which makes it easy to put a nail through. Hang it so the “teeth” face out, and then hang your necklaces on the teeth to keep tangles away.
- Virginia J. in N.J.
DEAR HELOISE: I hang my navy-blue tops on a blue hanger and my black tops on a black hanger.
- Neda T. in Pa.
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
Weekend, Pages 38 on 05/16/2013