HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Here is this week’s Soundoff, about businesses and posting addresses:

“I work for a company that sends me to other towns and a neighboring state. Most of the commercial businesses do not post addresses or business names on their building,or they are too small to read from the street. Some towns do not even have street signs on the corners. Some addresses do not show on our GPS. How do they expect visitors to get around their town?” - Pat, via email

Pat, you must be reading my mind! Many times, I have had to park the car and walk up to the door to read the tiny print.

DEAR READER: Here are other uses for coffee filters:

Use to make crafts with children.

Make into sachets.

Dampen and use to cover food before microwaving.

Use to line the bottom of plant pots.

Use as a makeshift bowl for snacks.

DEAR HELOISE: I need some hints on what to do with old electric blankets. The controls no longer work, but the blankets are in good condition.

  • Tammy P., Ozark, Mo.

DEAR READER: Once the wires are removed, you still have a perfectly good blanket. In the colder months, you can layer it between the sheets and comforter on a bed for more warmth. You also can wrap plants in it to protect them. You can use it to cover furniture, etc., in storage, make it into a pet bed or fold it and use as a cushion.

DEAR HELOISE: This is in response to your comment on where the Box Tops for Education labels are found. Imagine my surprise when I found one on the bottom of a package of adult disposable underwear! I loved it - now they are targeting grandparents! And I’m saving them for my grandkids.

  • K.M., Tyler, Texas

DEAR HELOISE: College students should write their name and phone number on a sticky note and put it in each textbook just in case it gets lost. I usually put mine on the back side of the cover page.

  • Alison in San Antonio

DEAR READER: Great hint, Alison. You can write your information on an inside cover in pencil or ink, too. Then later just erase it, or cover over with marker.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email [email protected]

ActiveStyle, Pages 26 on 02/17/2014

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