Hints from Heloise: Save newspaper carriers' bags

Dear Heloise: After reading the hint about how to remove foul odors from the freezer, I was reminded of the time I was in the same situation, except in my case it was a refrigerator freezer.

Then an appliance repairman gave me something new to try. He said to fill a saucer with fresh coffee grounds (straight from the can) and leave it in the freezer for several days. It worked like a charm. A combination of the newspaper and coffee could be an even greater solution. — La Vayne Johnston, Uvalde, Texas

Yes, this is a favorite hint of military families who must move or store appliances. And your suggestion of using both newspaper and dry coffee grounds is sure to do the trick! Here's to coffee and a newspaper! — Heloise

Dear Heloise: A recent column mentioned the hints for usage of newspapers' plastic bags. I understand that the newspaper carriers have to buy the bags, so I save them, and when I have a considerable amount, I hang a small plastic bag of them on my newspaper rack under my mailbox for his reuse.

The delivery person picks them up when he delivers. The carriers have to also buy their rubber bands, so I will include an envelope of those to return to him as well. Consequently, he does NOT throw our paper — he puts it neatly in the rack. We help each other! Springfield, Ohio

Note: Don't return bags that are dirty, worn or have holes in them, as the carriers will not be able to reuse them. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: To avoid wasting expired, dated coupons, write the month on an envelope that the coupons expire, then place them within. — Carmelina from Connecticut

Dear Heloise: Do you have trouble seeing the eye of the needle of your sewing machine? What works for me is to put a small piece of white paper behind the needle. It makes it easy to see. — Ginny Fenlong, Naples, N.Y.

Dear Heloise: I got aggravated with my black crew socks. I couldn't find a matching pair.

I don't have that problem now. Starting with the first new pair, when I took them off, I used a safety pin to keep them together. I also turn them inside out when washing them. I can report that each pair is fading and wearing out the same. — P.T. Gates, Urbana, Ohio

Dear Heloise: My neighbor told me that when she can't sleep at night due to cold feet, her husband warms a big, thick towel in the dryer for a few minutes, then wraps it around her feet. I tried the trick, and it was fabulous! — Laverne Wiles, Houston

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column. © King Features Syndicate Inc.