NOW HERE’S A TIP

• To clean out your coffee grinder in order to use it for spices, add about a half-cup of white rice, then pulverize it. Repeat until scent is gone and rice powder comes out clean.

• It’s food-smart to separate utensils and cutting boards used for veggies, meats, poultry, etc. Here’s a handy chef’s trick: Color code. Paint a different color stripe down the edge of cutting boards and around the handle of utensils for each variety: green for veggies, yellow for poultry and red for beef.

• Line the bottom of your dog’s food dish (underside) with silicone caulk. Use a crisscross pattern in the center. This will keep the dish from sliding around when your pet eats.

• “If you are painting your ceiling and are bothered by drips, try protecting your eyes with an old pair of swimming goggles. They will keep your eyes safe from drips and splatters, and fumes will be much less bothersome.” — E.G. in Virginia

• “I needed a hot water bottle for my legs, but I couldn’t find mine anywhere. My husband suggested filling a soda-pop bottle (the 2-liter kind) with hot water and wrapping a towel around it. It worked magically, and I think even better than the regular bottle.” — C.C. in Iowa