Journal helps identify photos

Dear Heloise: I have been traveling in Europe recently and have taken many pictures with my digital camera. I found that in downloading the pictures at a later date, I could not remember the names of the various attractions I had filmed.

I purchased an inexpensive notebook and decided to keep a daily journal. Each evening, I would sit down for a few minutes and record towns, attractions, restaurants and even food I had eaten. I found I could then easily identify the photos I had taken that day, and I also enjoyed reliving my adventures. — Roberta, San Antonio

Good hint, especially if your trip is a long one. I still have my journals from 30 years ago. My, things were cheap! — Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have found another use for that extra remote car-door opener that a lot of us have. I place it on my bedside table, and if I hear an intrusion, I can easily reach it, push the panic button, and my car horn immediately begins blaring. Hopefully, this will frighten intruders away. — Regina, via e-mail

We tested this hint, and some car-door openers didn't work from inside the office, so be sure to check this out first. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: I found a good use for a backscratcher in the laundry room. Use the claw end of the scratcher to rub stain-remover solution into a soiled spot. It saves ruining your fingernails, and it is not too abrasive on clothes. I especially like it for scrubbing around the collar. After that procedure, I use the handle end of the scratcher to push the clothes down into the washing machine. — Fransol, Kerrville, Texas

Here are two great hints from Jean Milici of Torrington, Conn.:

Dear Heloise: At times, paper-towel rolls are too short on my paper-towel holder. So, I take an empty toilet-paper cardboard roll, push it into the towel roll and extend it out as much as necessary to hold it on.

Also, I take canvas totes when grocery shopping.

Rather than take up space in my cart and to keep them together (all in one bag) as I shop, I loop the child-safety-seat strap through the handle and let them hang in front of me on the cart, out of the way and secure until needed at checkout. — Jean Milici of Torrington, Conn.

Dear Heloise: Please do not place garage-sale price stickers on the front of pictures, artwork, photographs, books or any other item. I just bought a lovely photograph album, but it was ruined when I tried to remove the price sticker and tore the album. — Morgan, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: To help prolong the cleanliness of pillows, I use double pillowcases; one may be a white one from linens no longer used, and then the current pillowcase that matches the sheets. — Connie Balmos, via e-mail

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-435-6473or 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.