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reader to reader
clever ideas to make life easier
Tight En¼
If a knob or drawer pull becomes loose,
I paint the screw with clear nail polish
before I tighten it. When the coat dries,
the hardware stays firmly attached.
—Irene Burton, Alexandria, VA
Ea°y Fixing°
I grew tired of having to dig out the mayo,
mustard, cheese slices and more every
time I made sandwiches. Now I place all
the condiments and fillings in a plastic
bin on the refrigerator shelf. Everything I
need is in one spot—a real time-saver!
—Lynn Thompson, via e-mail
Overnight Success
My family loves to grill, but I hate the
messy cleanup. After I’m done cooking, I
leave the barbecue rack on the lawn for
the night. The combination of the dew and
enzymes from the grass loosens any
burned-on grease, so cleaning it the next
morning is a cinch. —Julia Smith, Canton, IL
Holiday Spirit
My Christmas ornaments are so pretty, I felt it was a shame
to use them only once a year. Now I put them on display in
a glass hurricane for all occasions. In July I use patriotic
colors, for Valentine’s Day I single out reds—and I save my
best for birthdays. It’s an inexpensive year-round centerpiece.
—Pam Hampton, Haymarket, VA
Command Center
To keep my collection of coupons and important
numbers in an accessible place, I glued cork tiles on the
inside of my kitchen cabinets. I also post reminders
and grocery lists to stay on top of my daily to-do’s.
—Anna Victoria Reich, Stafford, VA
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Tips, Family Circle, 375 Lexington Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10017. We’ll pay $50 for every tip we print. We cannot
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Prop styling: Lynda White.
18 family circle july.09
photography by Kate Mathis
