HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Heloise:

I'm constantly forgetting what the universal laundering symbols mean on clothing tags, and my husband (who occasionally helps with the laundry) is even worse! I can't tell you how many times we've shrunk something in the dryer because we confused the no-dryer symbol with the no-bleach symbol.

I went to a Web site and printed out a copy of all of the symbols and their meanings, and I taped it to the wall next to my washing machine. No more ruined clothes, and now my husband can't use this as an excuse for not doing the laundry more often!

Valerie Sheridan, Germantown

They say a picture is worth a thousand words! Knowing what those clothing-care symbols mean might be worth thousands of dollars in savings, too. For anyone else who would like a copy of this handy chart, go to the Federal Trade Commission Web site at http://www.FTC.gov , where you'll find a printable version of the Clothing Care Symbol Guide in the Consumer Information area.

Dear Heloise:

I like to wrap gifts with things that can be reused again. For a wedding gift, I found a pretty piece of lace fabric, and for the ribbon I used pretty beaded trim, also found in my fabric stash. The fabric and trim can then be used again, maybe to cover a scrapbook or to make a small keepsake. Many things already come in nice boxes and really only need a ribbon and a small tag to dress it up. Fabric scraps can also easily be made into drawstring gift bags for reuse.

Christine Leith, Falls Church

Dear Heloise: