Photos are handy when buying parts

Dear Heloise: I read in The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette the hint about taking an appliance part with you when purchasing a new one. May I expand on that? I sell automotive parts at a local dealership, and that hint works perfectly for me, also. You wouldn't believe how many people have no idea what kind of car they drive, much less what every part is called. So, when going to the dealer for parts, drive the car (if possible) or bring the part with you. Also, with so many options/accessories on today's cars, having the VIN (vehicle identification number) is almost required for finding the right part for a specific car. —Scott S., Colorado Springs, Colo.

Good advice! You can also take a digital photo of the part if you can't bring it with you. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: When traveling with children, it's a good idea to pack their tennis shoes in self-sealing plastic bags. If the shoes are dirty or smelly after wearing, use the bags to keep them separated from clean clothes in the suitcase.

Pack an extra bag or two "just in case." They don't take up any room and can come in handy to hold wet or soiled clothes, etc. —Katrina R., via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I accidentally brushed against the front of my dishwasher with a dry-erase marker and found that it erased very easily. That gave me an idea.

Since my husband and I are the only ones living at home now, it often takes us several days to completely fill the dishwasher. Many times when I've gone to put the clean dishes away, I have found that one of us has put a dirty dish in with the clean ones. To help both of us remember if the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or not, I take the dry-erase marker and write "DIRTY" on the front of the dishwasher door. When I start the dishwasher, I erase that and write "CLEAN." This has saved both of us a lot of frustration. —Tammy Harwell, Lubbock, Texas

Dear Heloise: A good way to use those beautiful Christmas cards we all save is to cut out the middle and use the pretty borders for mats on photos and frame them. Also, make your own gift bags by gluing the cut-out front over the writing on the bags you get from purchases at department stores. They are too pretty to throw away. —Joan Williams, Jacksonville, Fla.

Dear Heloise: Your hints for dusting are great. There is one I would like to add: Look at your room from a different angle by lying on the floor and looking up, then standing on a (sturdy) step stool and looking down. You'll find surfaces needing dusting and/or cleaning that you never dreamed you had! —Cathy Dee, Fort Wayne, Ind.