Dear Heloise: We travel with two young children who get bored if they don’t have a few toys to play with. However, our car looks so messy with toys scattered everywhere. Help! — Sherri, in Michigan

Sherri, hang a shoe storage bag over the passenger seat and, in the compartments for shoes, put toys they can play with. At the end of the day, put them away again in the compartments. — Heloise

AVOID ILLNESS WHILE TRAVELING

Dear Heloise: I’ve traveled all over the world, and people often ask me how I’ve never gotten sick on a trip. (Actually, I have a couple of times.) But the answers are really simple:

— Wash your hands. It sounds basic, but it will stop the spread of most viruses. People often forget about this simple step.

— Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it often.

— Check with either your doctor or the embassies of the countries that you plan to visit to find out if you need inoculations.

— Use bottled water or a travel water container with a filter. When in doubt, don’t drink the local water.

— Be careful about what and where you eat. Not all street vendors clean their equipment, and not all foods are safe to eat, such as shellfish or chicken. — Jake, in Toronto

UNIQUELY SHAPED ­COOKIES

Dear Heloise: When the grandkids visit, we bake sugar cookies. We have fun imprinting patterns on the cookies using ordinary kitchen items: a citrus juicer, a cooling rack, an apple corer, the bottom of a glass, a bottle cap, a drinking straw, a fork, uncooked bowtie pasta — anything with a pretty pattern or texture.

The cookies come out beautiful and delicious! — M.S., in Pittsburgh

A SURE SEAL

Dear Heloise: If I’m out and about and notice that I have a button coming undone, I have a fix: I dab some clear nail polish on the button, and this holds it in place until I can get home and reattach it properly.

By the way, I’m the woman in my group of friends with the big bag. Anything you need, I probably have it! — H.D., in Louisiana

CHEAPER MEDS

Dear Heloise: Getting prescriptions filled at the veterinarian’s office may not be the best or most cost-effective choice. Did you know that the pharmacy at the grocery store may carry your pet’s meds, and they may be cheaper, too?

One problem I’ve run into, though: The grocery store pharmacy may not have the correct dosage that the veterinarian prescribed. — Harold, in Illinois

CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC

Dear Readers: When navigating the bus routes in your city, keep this in mind: The direct route usually means fewer stops and a faster trip. Check out the bus system’s website to map out yours. — Heloise

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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.