South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)

Straps for purses, backpacks

- Ellen Warren Answer Angel

Dear Answer Angel Ellen:

I bought a cute mini backpack — big enough to hold my iPad — from Target (Athleisure Mini Square Backpack — A New Day, target.com, $25), which I’m planning to use instead of a purse on a trip in the fall. It has a handle — to carry as a purse — but I’d like the option of wearing it as a crossbody bag. It has hardware for a shoulder strap, but that didn’t come with it. Where can I buy a strap with the appropriat­e clip hardware? I’ve looked at belts, but they don’t have the right attachment clips and there is no way I’ve got the do-it-yourself skills to fabricate one myself.

— Isabel B.

Dear Isabel: You are not alone in your quest for interchang­eable purse/ backpack shoulder straps. Many bum bags (aka fanny packs, belt bags), purses and backpacks have the hardware for a shoulder/ crossbody strap, but you’re on your own to provide one. A huge number of options are on etsy.com in an array of patterns and colors (stripes, plaid, camo, plain, chevron, floral). Some have leather or vegan leather accents. Search Etsy for “purse straps” and 10 different categories (leather, crossbody, replacemen­t, woven, etc.) appear at prices starting at $15, many with free shipping. Be sure to check that your backpack hardware is compatible with the Etsy clasps, and that width and adjustable length will suit your needs.

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am drowning in dog hair. My shorthaire­d rescue dog seems to have an endless

supply of white hair that is covering every pair of black pants, upholstery and tabletops in my apartment. Yes, I should have done a little reading before I fell in love with this otherwise perfect pet. Who knew that smooth dogs shed? Can you or your readers steer me to some products that will spare my dark clothing — and everything else the dog touches?

— Beth F.

Dear Beth: I’ve done some testing on this topic with mixed results. But the bottom line is your dog is going to continue to shed no matter how many times you bathe or brush it. (Every time my dog gives himself a shake, it is like a snowstorm in my apartment.)

But help is at hand. Lately, I’ve found two relatively inexpensiv­e tools that work pretty well. The Pet Hair Remover Glove (amazon.com, $7.99) collects handfuls of dog hair every time I use it (two or three times a week; outdoors only!). And the FURemover Broom (amazon.com, $12.98), which I used after vacuuming the carpet, pulled up an enormous amount of hair that had remained behind. Ick. Search for “dog shedding suit” online and you’ll see some videos of dogs in what appear to be onesies for $15 and up. I don’t know about your dog,

but no way mine would stand still for such an indignity. Many vacuums purport to be designed for pet hair on carpets, upholstery and wood, tile, etc. None are perfect, but read the reviews. Wirecutter.com will guide you. Readers: If you’ve got some miracle products to recommend, please let me know. Stat!

Angelic Readers 1

For cleaning the dirty footbed of her rubber flipflops, Brenda H. writes: “I find using a foaming bathroom cleaner that’s meant for fiberglass/acrylic tubs works well. Place flip-flops or rubber clogs in tub or pan, spray generously and wait five or so minutes. Comes right off.”

Angelic Readers 2

Kim W. introduced me to products I did not know existed for preventing loss of expensive hearing aids — especially helpful when flipping your mask on and off. They are “safety chains” and “safety rings,” which attach to the hearing aid and an earring (pierced) or a ring (not pierced) (deafmetalu­sa. com, $17 and up).

Now it’s your turn

Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerange­lellen@gmail. com.

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 ?? DREAMSTIME ?? Many purses have the hardware for a crossbody strap, but you’re on your own to provide one.
DREAMSTIME Many purses have the hardware for a crossbody strap, but you’re on your own to provide one.

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