When organizing the closet

Dear Heloise: I use small paper tags that are hung by a string on each of my clothing hangers. These can be purchased from an office supply store. On one side, I write a short description of the clothing item, such as “long-sleeve black sweater with a V-neck.” On the other side, I write the name of the store and the month/year of purchase.

I started doing this because some items needed specific hangers. However, I have found this practical to know how long I have owned an item or where I have purchased it. I know this seems over-the-top, but it has been useful for me and could also be useful for others. — Linda Jacob, via email

DITCH LIQUID SOAP

Dear Heloise: I recently read that one bar of soap is equivalent to up to 20 plastic soap bottles. I went online to verify this and was startled to see how many celebrities and civic leaders are pushing the “back to bars” movement as a simple way to cut down on plastic.

Although I still use liquid soap to travel, I have eliminated it from my home, and I don’t even miss it! — Ann Hamilton, in Missoula, Montana

RECYCLING

CEREAL BAGS

Dear Heloise: In response to Rich’s inquiry about the bags inside cereal boxes, one size does not fit all. Recycling rules are contingent upon your local district’s guidelines. It all depends on the streams they have for recycling. It’s best to check with your local recycling office to verify what can be recycled. Otherwise, you may be contaminating the recycling. — Pat Smythe, in Corvallis, Oregon

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Dear Heloise: Hundreds of people die of carbon monoxide poisoning yearly, most of which is preventable. Since this gas is colorless and has no odor, it goes undetected from household items such as gas fireplaces, furnaces that run on oil, and generators and appliances that use gas, like a hot water heater or a gas stove.

Symptoms include a feeling of weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, breathing difficulties and mental confusion. When left untreated, carbon monoxide can cause brain damage and death.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, purchase a carbon monoxide detector, which can usually be found in a hardware store or home store. Whether it’s battery-operated or plugged into an outlet, it may save your life. While you’re at it, get one for an elderly person, too. — William and Roxanne, in Spokane, Washington

NEW IDEA

FOR THE TUB

Dear Heloise: I have this long wand, to which a soap-infused scrubbing pad is attached so that I can clean my toilet. After using it, I just push a small lever, and the pad can be ejected into the trash. I recently bought a second wand, and I use it with the soap scrubbers to scrub my bathtub.

I can’t bend over my tub as I did when I was younger, and this works like a charm. To tell them apart, I painted the bathtub wand with a wide ring of red nail polish. — Norma, in Michigan

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.