Plastic bread wrap saves work

NOW HERE’S A TIP

• “When taking lunch or an overnight break while painting, tie a plastic bread bag over the roller and/or paint brush. This will keep the brush or roller loaded, and you won’t have to take the time to completely clean it. When you resume painting, the brush and roller will be soft and as fresh as when you took your break.” — D.M. in New York

• Items traditionally on sale in April: Spring clothing.

• “If you have a family member who would like a cell phone for emergencies but has a limited budget, consider pooling minutes in a family plan. We did this with my mother-in-law, and since the provider allows unlimited calls from one mobile number to another, she can talk with us anytime. She only dips into the minutes when traveling or in an emergency. We didn’t even have to raise the number of minutes we share!” — S.L. in Missouri

• “A group of friends and I have a monthly dinner date. We meet at either a restaurant or one of the group’s houses to share dinner and conversation, and keep in touch. One thing we have always done is to each bring a book that we have read in the last month. We exchange them and always have a great story to look forward to, in addition to great friends.” — H.W. in California

• You can remove nail-polish stains by dampening a white paper towel or cotton ball with nail-polish remover. Press the stain with the remover (don’t rub), and repeat with a clean piece of the dampened towel until the stain is gone.

• To sterilize your kitchen sponge, simply wet it, microwave it for three to four minutes, then let it air dry.