Great idea!

• To avoid unsightly flour marks on the outside of a cake, just dust the pan with a bit of your cake mix.

• “Keep on top of correspondence and bills by creating an ‘action’ file. I used a three-ring binder and 32 plastic page protectors. I labeled the page protectors 1 to 31, with the final one labeled ‘Next Month.’ Whenever I get a bill or a school note that has to be acted on, I slip it into the appropriate day’s folder. Every few days, I preview the folders that are about 10 days ahead. That way, I can pay bills on time, make sure I have what I need for school meetings and send permission slips back in with time to spare. It’s kept me very organized.” — A.M. in Oregon

• “I keep containers of wet wipes in both our cars and in the kitchen. It’s amazing how often I need to use them. With three kids and two dogs, somebody is always needing a quick cleanup, and they are always handy.” — M.C. in North Carolina

• “To keep hands soft, mix a tablespoon of sugar into 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Give hands a two-minute massage with the mixture once a week. Rinse well with plain warm water (not hot) to remove the sugar, and wipe off excess oil.” — V.O. in California