Heloise

Dear Heloise: Not too long ago, you suggested using a small paintbrush to dust lampshades. The best thing to use to dust a smooth lampshade is not a lint roller but rather a hand vacuum. A paintbrush will make the dust fly into the air, and it will eventually land on the floor. A lint roller does an OK job, but hand vacuums suck up the dirt and can be taken to a trash bin and emptied out.

I occasionally like to take the attachment on my rug shampooer to (very lightly) give my smooth lampshades a once-over, and it’s made such a difference in keeping my shades clean! — Tammy, in Alabama

Dear Heloise: In order to make food shopping trips faster and less frequent, I made a list of all the aisles in order in our local food store, leaving spaces in between the aisles for me to write in the items I need for our weekly shopping trip.

I make 15-20 copies of the list, then post one list on my fridge. As the week goes by and I notice items that we’re low on, I write them down under the appropriate aisle. The day before we go shopping, I check the fridge and cabinets for any other items we might be low on. I also select one of my lunch salad recipes and add the ingredients I need to the food list.

My husband cooks dinner every night, so he writes down what he’ll be cooking each night on the back of the food list and writes what he’ll need for his recipes that week. Then we go to the store and go up and down the aisles, knowing that everything we need is written down under the correct aisle on our list. No more running back and forth across the store or last-minute trips to the store for items we need for a recipe!

I post the list of dinners for the week on the fridge in case my husband forgets what he was going to cook, along with a new blank shopping list sheet for the coming week. I also have the shopping list saved on my computer, so if the store ever rearranges their shelves, I can easily make the changes and print out new lists. — Jan S., in Pennsylvania

Jan, wow! You really are organized with your shopping. Do any of my other readers use a method like this that reminds you of what you need to buy? — Heloise

Dear Heloise: Your column is the first thing I read with anticipation in my newspaper.

I need your expertise and advice. My grandson will graduate high school in May and move to a university two hours away. Which practical items does he need the most? — Seda, in Glendale, California

Seda, here is a list that might help you:

— Shower caddy

— Over-the-door organizer

— Shower shoes

— Laundry bag

— Clip-on dorm room lamp

— Desk lamp

— Lint roller with a few extra rolls

— Alarm clock

— Backpack

— Drawer organizer

— Small first aid kit

Do any of my readers have any more items to add that their kids needed for college? Let us know at Heloise@Heloise.com! — Heloise

Dear Heloise: Whenever I would hammer in a nail to hang up a picture, I would invariably hammer my finger once or twice. I finally found that if I hold the nail with a pair of pliers instead of my fingers, there was a lot less pain! — Roger R., Tempe, Arizona

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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.