If you have outdoor light bulbs, the next time you change them, coat the threads with a little petroleum jelly. Just a dab rubbed all over will do. It will keep moisture from making the bulb rusty and hard to replace. -- I.B. in Rhode Island

"When I cook steaks on the grill, I use colored toothpicks to identify the 'doneness' of the meat. I like mine rare, my wife likes well-done and the kids are in between. So, mine has a blue toothpick, the kids' are green, etc. The steaks can go right to the table, and we know whose is whose." -- E.R. in New Mexico

Shower curtains need to be replaced every so often, but they can still live out a full life in the garden. Try using one as a table protector when repotting plants. Or, use one to drag a pile of soil or mulch around the yard. They can even be draped to create a greenhouse type of effect if you are expecting an unseasonably cold night.

"If your broom or mop has a hole in the top of the handle, you can thread a shower curtain ring through that hole to hang it up better. Some of the loops are too small to hang, in my opinion, but if you get a nice-size shower curtain ring, you will have plenty of room." -- M.G. in Illinois

"I love vegetable soup, but I find that the canned soups don't have enough actual vegetables and are very high in sodium. My daughter will make me a great big pot of homemade veggie soup about once a month, and we portion it out into single-serving plastic containers. Once they cool, we freeze them, and I have a constant supply." -- V.B. in Ohio

When spray-painting a small item, tuck it into a paper shopping bag. You can spray it without the overspray being a big deal. You also can use this technique when spray-painting something outdoors on a windy day or when working in your garage. If the item is larger, try to find a comfortable-size cardboard box.

Wrap aluminum foil around doorknobs and wall-mounted lighting fixtures when painting. It will avoid drips and spray.

"To make salads for lunch, I wash and cut my salad greens and then portion them out into zipper-top plastic bags. I put an appropriate amount of dressing in a small, sealable container and stick it right in the bag with the greens. When I get to work (or to the park for a picnic), I pour the dressing into the bag and shake to distribute it. Then, I just dump the salad into my bowl." -- P.M. in Oregon

To clean and deodorize a microwave, spoon 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 3 cups of water in a Pyrex or heavy glass measuring cup. Boil for 2-3 minutes in the microwave; let sit for 2 minutes and then wipe out the inside of the microwave with a cloth. Rinse the cloth with the soda water and wipe out anything left behind. Pour the water down your drain with some vinegar to freshen that as well.

Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com.

(c) 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

* Keep a plastic garbage bag in your glove box or somewhere in your car. You can poke arm and neck holes for a rain poncho, cover a stuck or broken window to keep rain out or use it to corral all your things if you ever get into an accident and need to have your car towed.

* Have a squeaky floorboard? Try sweeping some talc or baby powder into the space between the boards. It can serve as a lubricant, and oftentimes will quiet the squeak.

* "Use small sticky notes to help with studying and learning in young children. You can cover up part of a flash card, making them easy for a child to practice on his own. You can use flags to cover up words in a story, then have the child write a new story by writing a new word on the flag. Kids can practice math or spelling on the go. There are hundreds of uses for these lovely paper tools." -- G.A. in New York

When treating wooden cutting boards, make sure you use mineral oil, not cooking oil. Cooking oil can go rancid and smell. This goes for wood counters as well.

* "Push the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels into a pot of sand or marbles to create a glove or hat drying station. They will be propped up and open. To dry a hat, I stick a plastic bowl upside down on the tube and put the hat on that. If the pot is big enough, you can stick more rolls in there to dry several items at once." -- A.L. in Nebraska

* Save it for the garden: tea leaves (including bags), coffee grounds, cooking water from starches like pasta and potatoes, club soda and mineral water that has gone flat, and even soapy dishwater. All have nutrients your plants will appreciate.

* "To keep yourself from sleeping on your back, get a T-shirt that has a pocket on it. Sew a racquetball into the pocket, and wear the T-shirt backward. This has worked wonders for my husband. He breathes much better when he sleeps on his side." -- I.L. in Oklahoma

* "The first time we painted the walls in our house, one of us had stepped in some paint while wearing socks and, not realizing it, had tracked some paint on the carpet. Since then, we always go barefoot when painting, since we can feel it if we step in paint and can clean it off before it gets tracked around the house." -- M.M. in Florida

* "If you have leftover bits of fabric that is pretty or still useful, save it in a box or bag for other projects. You can use fun fabric scraps to patch kids' clothes or for doll clothing. They also can be used to make sachets or for gift decoration. Quilters might appreciate these scraps for their projects." -- E.D. in Massachusetts

* "When threading a needle, spray the end of the thread with hairspray to make it stiffer and to hold the fibers together." -- O.A. in New Mexico

* It's important to clean your exterior windows and screens at least yearly, and many people do this in the spring. Here's a good way to make putting those clean screens back up a little easier.

* To make a great place for face cloths and even books in your bathroom, install a window box on the inside. Find a window box that will fit on the ledge and secure it in place. Bathroom windows usually are small, and it's a great place to stash stuff and keep it out of the way.

* "Some restaurants have really durable kid cups that come with a kids' meal. We tend to save these, like most parents. I have several in the car, washed and stacked with their lids. I've also stashed some individually wrapped straws with them. Whenever we go to the park, we can pull them out and fill them at the water fountain. It's really convenient, and we don't feel bad if they need to get trashed or we lose track of them." -- T.C. in Texas

* To protect a boo-boo that's on an awkward spot on your finger, cut the finger off a rubber glove and wear it. It can help to keep a slipping bandage in place, and if you secure it with waterproof tape, you can keep your wound dry.

* Plastic shower curtains make a wonderful dropcloth for under a highchair. If your little darling is into flinging food, it's especially helpful for cleanup.

* "Did you overdo it on credit? Give yourself a 'cool-off' period by freezing your charge cards into a block of ice. Now, when you want to buy something on credit, you will have to go home to your freezer to get the card and wait for it to thaw, buying you time to really make the right decision. It won't affect the card at all." -- A.L. in Georgia

* "If you get crayon on wallpaper, try this trick: Hold a paper towel or white cloth up to the crayon and iron over it on the low setting. Or heat the crayon marks with a hair dryer, then wipe off the wax." -- V.R. in Minnesota

* Puzzles are a great activity for sick children, since it's quiet and not physically taxing. To make a moveable workspace right on the bed, use a large piece of cardboard. Wrap a piece of fabric around it and pin or duct tape it to make it tight. The puzzle pieces will stay put on the fabric.

* Do you have drawers that stick? If they're made of wood, just grab a candle and rub the side over the tops of both rails. The wax provides just the right amount of lubrication to keep those drawers sliding in and out without a fight!

* "To cover the blades of our kids' ice skates when we transport them in the car, my husband cut a section of garden hose that is a little longer than the blade. Then he slit it down the side. We just slip one on each skate, and it protects the blade, as well as anything the blade might run into in the trunk." -- I.L. in Minnesota

* S.L. in Illinois writes: "Here is my tip. When closing a plastic bag, use a clip-type wooden clothespin with a metal frame. It holds much better than a twisty, and takes less time and effort to use."

* To get rid of mascara on clothing, try this trick: Use the dull side of a knife to flake any dried bits away. Moisten stained area and rub it with a bar of soap. Rub the area between your fingers and rinse. Repeat until stain is gone.

* "To keep my shower curtain from blowing around at the bottom, I used clear packing tape to attach a few large washers along the bottom edge. They weigh down the plastic so it hangs straight." -- T.V. in Maryland

* To make a temporary draft buster for a drafty door or windowsill, roll a small bath towel and secure with safety pins or tuck it into the leg of a pair of pantyhose or tights. Then lay it along the crack at the door or on the windowsill. Install proper weatherstripping as soon as you can.

* "If you like chunk cheese, use this tip to keep it from molding: Wrap it very tightly in plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil. No light and no air!" -- a Reader, via e-mail

* Finally found: A fantastic cure for foggy windows. Get a chalkboard eraser, which can be found at an office-supply store, and keep it in your car. When windows fog up and you can't wait for the defroster, use the chalkboard eraser. It works better than a cloth and is easy to hold in your hand.

* Go Green Tip: Even I am guilty of loving the big box stores, but for a nice gift alternative, check out your local farmers' market. Stalls are popping up with locally made treasures and handcrafts. Avoid the long lines and pick up something special while supporting your local craftspeople.

* Keep those special chains and necklaces untangled. Slip them through a drinking straw and then fasten the clasp. The chain will stay straight, and you can store many together this way.

* "Have you forgotten what you gave your friends or relatives on birthdays/Christmas/holidays? Simply use your calendar on the appropriate day, making a note of what and to whom you gave a gift. Where Easter/Christmas has a long list, there is usually space at the top or bottom of the page of the month." -- P.B. in British Colombia, Canada

* M.S. in Missouri writes: "If you are short a serving tray, use a large enough piece of cardboard and wrap it up in aluminum foil. You also can use holiday boxes lined with a coordinating-color tea towel to serve breads."

* "When cutting Christmas wrapping paper, I open my adjustable dining-room table just a crack so a paring knife fits in. Then lay the paper flat, and by following the crack, you can cut a straight line, and it is so quick to do." -- H.H. in Minnesota

* "To substitute for sprinkles on cupcakes at Christmastime, we freeze gumdrops and shred them on a fine shredder. They are so pretty, and really festive." -- B., via e-mail

* "We let the kids decorate our holiday storage tubs last year with a mass of stickers and permanent markers. It seemed like decoration overkill at the time (they were 3 and 5), but there was no mistaking those tubs when we went to get them from the attic this year. They stood WAY out!" -- T.C. in Tennessee

* You can get baskets and containers year-round at second-hand stores. And while you're at it, clean and save glass jars. Get yourself a nice bread, cookie or brownie recipe, and create a recipe gift for a personal touch. Stick a few utensils and perhaps canned ingredients in the basket, and you're ready to give the gift of yummy.

* "I love to cut coupons that might look like a good deal. Sometimes, when I get to the store, I find that I would do better with the store brand. However, some people love certain brands, so I always leave the coupon with the item if I know I'm not going to use it. I'm always happy to share!" -- A.J. in Missouri

* "You can create new Christmas postcards from last year's holiday cards. Print out a postcard template on adhesive paper and cut out matching-size pieces from the fronts of cards you received in the past. Write your message (or add it to the template before you print it), address and go. The biggest bonus is the price difference between first-class mail and postcards." -- P.C. in Minnesota

* "When making your favorite holiday cookie recipe, try this trick (if you can): Drop dough by spoonfuls on a small broiler sheet (or a plate covered with aluminum foil), then freeze. When frozen, the balls can be broken up and stored in a freezer-safe bag. To make a few cookies at a time, you can take them out and cook from frozen. It's magic." -- C.B. in Indiana