THURSDAY TIPS

* “I found some really cool curtain tie-backs on a clearance rack. I bought several and mounted them as hooks (I used an extra anchor), and they work perfectly.” — S.L. in Ohio

* Mount a tension bar high up in your closet, and you can use shower hooks to hang pocketbooks and small bags, utilizing the dead space and keeping your bags from getting crushed.

* “Quick outdoor upgrade: Power wash a wood fence or your driveway before summer is over. As the weather cools down, I know I’m spending more time outside. With a pressure wash, your fence will look nice and clean.” — JoAnn

* “Use the clips on a pants hanger to keep curtains closed in a hotel room. This has saved me from getting woken up too early because my room is facing the morning sun.”

— Y.L. in New Mexico

* Be sure to clean earbuds and phone/table touchscreens regularly --especially as kids go back to school and face a new group of germs they might not have been exposed to over the summer break.

* Use a Tic-Tac container to store bobby pins or toothpicks for traveling. An Altoids tin makes a good holder for flossers.

* Great grapes! This tip will be a hit at your next outdoor barbecue: Serve wine (and punch, too) with frozen grapes as ice cubes. Wash and rinse a bunch of grapes and stick them in the freezer. They make a tasty snack all alone, but will keep a glass of white wine chilled while not watering it down.”

* “To charge your phone a bit quicker, try putting it in airplane mode. It really does help.”

— W.E. in Mississippi

* Get all the tomato paste out of the can with this kitchen hack: Open up one side of the can, then run a butter knife around the inside perimeter to separate the paste from the can. Finally, flip it upside down on a plate and open the other side of the can. Remove the can with a bit of a shake, and it should slip out just like cranberry jelly!

* Don’t remember how long you’ve had those eggs? Here’s a handy tip to check any egg: Submerge in a glass of water. Fresh eggs lay flat on the bottom. Aging but still good eggs stand up, but remain submerged. If your egg floats, better not chance it.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.