Dear Heloise: I have a tip that may be of use to some readers. I have arthritis and back problems, so bending over is a real problem.

I keep a separate dust mop for dusting tables and chairs. The bottoms are really hard to get to, so I spray a little furniture polish on the mop and dust them. It works great and there is no bending over. It’s also good for removing cobwebs on high places and dust overhead on pictures and walls. - Phyllis Snyder, Spokane

Dear Heloise: Always make soup a day in advance. When well chilled, the fat hardens and can be removed. - Bernice Salamon, Abington, Pa.

A few fat calories easily saved. Doesn’t soup sound delicious, especially on a chilly day? I have put many of my favorite soup recipes together in a pamphlet. For a copy, send $2 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (55 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Soup, PO Box 795001, San Antonio TX 78279-5001. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: I arranged a group of paintings on my wall that took quite a while to look just right. When it was time to paint the room I thought there would be a problem putting the paintings back in the same order they were in, but I solved that by taking a picture with my instant photo camera before removing them. When the walls were dry it was so easy to look at the photo and put the paintings back where they were. It looks great and took very little time. - Gloria Fransen, Houston, Texas