Dear Heloise: You recently ran some ideas on what to do with old luggage, but you forgot one important use:

Give old luggage to foster kids so that they don’t have to move from place to place with plastic or garbage bags! Let them keep some dignity. — Carol Evans, via email

WADING POOL USES

Dear Readers: Small children can sit in a small, empty plastic wading pool when they snack in front of the TV. This way, there are no spills or food on the carpet to clean up. A hard, plastic wading pool with a pad in the bottom can serve as a handy playpen (with adult supervision). It can be stowed away under a bed when a child isn’t visiting.

Also, since they are so easy to slide under a bed, an outgrown, rigid plastic wading pool can be used to store toy bins, craft items, out-of-season clothing, or anything else that’s lightweight and fits under the bed. — Heloise

DON’T RECYCLE SHREDDED PAPPER

Dear Heloise: In a recent column, there was a hint about putting shredded paper out for recycling. Recycling centers do not take shredded paper. There are a number of reasons for this, which are all easily found on recycling websites.

I read your column in The Spokesman-Review here in Spokane, Washington. I’ve always enjoyed it. — Bonnie, via email

FACE SHIELD USES

Dear Heloise: I discovered I can use the plastic face shield that I bought during the pandemic when cooking bacon and eggs and chopping onions. Works great! — Sarah B., Houston

REMOVING BLACK SCUFF MARKS

Dear Heloise: I had to chuckle when I read the recent hint about using tennis balls to remove black scuff marks caused by the husband’s work boots. During our 49 years of marriage, my spouse has assisted me in learning that I am responsible for removing any scuff marks I put on the floor. And I can easily avoid the scuff marks (that I’m responsible for removing) by taking off my mark-scuffing shoes or boots and changing into my clean, in-house, non-scuffng shoes. They are right inside the back door.

I have learned from her that prevention is the easiest answer. In addition, I have also learned from her that as an adult, I am able to make my own breakfast and lunch. I worked 90- to 110-hour weeks as a family doctor, so I did not have a lot of free time. Her guidance has almost always been helpful. What a great spouse, partner and teacher she is. — Allen W. Ditto, M.D., Hagerstown, Maryland

HANDY HINTS

Dear Heloise: I am always looking for ways to make my life easier. One hint I read in your column bears repeating, since it is a great time-saver. It has to do with returning online items that come in plastic bags and have hard-to-peel-off labels: Simply turn the bag inside out and attach new labels.

I also have two other hints that I recently discovered: Most care labels are sewn on the left side of garments. So, just look for the tag, and you won’t have to worry about putting clothes on backward. The second hint is to put a microfiber cloth in your laundry and dryer, and it will pick up tissues that were forgotten inside pockets.

I enjoy your column in the Press-Enterprise, in Riverside, California. — D.F., in California

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.