HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: Never use a cash box at garage sales. Instead, use a carpenter’s apron (available at hardware stores). It ties around your waist, has two pockets and goes where you go. I use one pocket for change and one
for bills. Fold bills larger than $1 in half and put at the back of the pocket; put the $1 bills in the front. Coins and bills can be stored in the house periodically to lighten the apron. It is very, very easy for someone to distract you and make off with a cash box.
Do set up your sale the day before you open and put things on tables where they can be seen. Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at a sale only to see tons of boxes being unloaded or a box of merchandise sitting on the ground for you to paw through. Some of us just can’t get down there and shop. Loved your mother’s column and love yours too. We’re never too old to learn a new trick. Keep up the good work. — Gloria Gauntt,
Waco, Texas DEAR HELOISE: Some municipalities require a permit for a garage sale. Some HOA’s prohibit or limit them. And some neighborhoods sponsor community garage sales.
— Nancy Cross, via email DEAR HELOISE: I have always used nonsudsy ammonia in water to wash windows, and then dry them with crumpled newspaper. Since printed newspapers are becoming a thing of the past, what do you suggest to use for drying windows? Thank you.
— A Longtime Faithful Reader
DEAR READER: Today microfiber cloths have become indispensable cleaning tools, and you can find them at bigbox and discount stores. Just dampen the microfiber cloth to wipe the surface clean. And to dry, use a dry microfiber cloth to do the job. These cloths can be washed and reused.
DEAR HELOISE: When I have to disassemble something for repair, I use an old plastic ice cube tray to store the screws and small parts. As I am disassembling the item, I put each set of screws in one ice cube bin, and then the next set in the next bin. When I am reassembling the item, I don’t have to think about which screws go where, and they don’t get mixed up.
— Greg Tenhundfeld, Baton Rouge
DEAR READER: Love this hint because you are recycling a household item for another use.