Now Here’s a Tip: Making life easier one idea at a time

“What’s on sale in April? Use your tax-refund check to get a great deal on spring clothing, bridal gowns, cruises and home-improvement items such as paint and wallpaper.

“You can give your coffeepot a great cleaning with dishwasher detergent. The powdered kind works best. Fill your glass coffeepot with hot water, add two tablespoons of powdered detergent, let sit for 15 minutes and watch even the toughest stains come off with a quick swish. Note: Do not run this mixture through your coffeemaker.

“”The other night, we had pizza and dessert with friends. I took a bite of a steaming piece of pizza and got a whopper of a cheese burn on the roof of my mouth. My friend grabbed a spoonful of whipped topping and told me to hold it in my mouth for a second. I did, and it soothed the burn right away. Crazy!” — P.D. in Washington

“”I have a favorite bedspread that I have had for a long time. It has been fraying for ages, and I finally had to replace it. But I cut it into four pieces and finished all the edges with ribbon. Now I have four GREAT throw blankets, and I didn’t have to give up my old favorite.” — I.L. in North Carolina

“”Recipe sorters make great receipt holders. I just now got through sorting my tax receipts, and I used a recipe holder for separating them. It’s just like the ones you might find in an office-supply store, and I put masking tape over the tabs that were already there (Dairy, Meat, etc.) so I could write my own categories for sorting. It beats buying a new accordion folder.” — Y.D. in Florida