A little help from friends

• You can fix a wobbly table by gluing a piece of eraser to the bottom of the short leg.

• If you have some old lemons, cut them in half and dip the cut sides in coarse salt or even baking soda. You can use them to scrub pots and pans or sinks, etc. This way, you don’t have to use harsh chemicals or abrasives. And it’s better for the environment. — J.P. in Florida

• This one seems so simple you’d think that everyone would know to do it: Clean the lint screen after EVERY use. I live in an apartment building with a community laundry room. I can’t even count the number of times I have checked the lint trap and found huge piles of lint that could not have possibly come from just one load in the dryer. It will help your clothes dry more efficiently (more quickly) and, besides, it’s a fire hazard. Clean it out! — H.O. in New York

• What is the best way to refresh a cedar closet? Sanding! Lightly sand the entire surface with a fine grit sandpaper. Wipe away or vacuum any fine particles of dust, and you are back in business.

• If you have a necklace chain that is knotted, try sprinkling the whole thing with a little talcum powder. Cornstarch also works. It will be easier to unknot with the powder providing lubrication, and the powder shakes off or can be rubbed off easily once the knot is undone. — F.E. in Washington

• When you barbecue, save the partially burned briquettes for the next time you grill. They still will work, and you can save them easily in a large coffee can with a lid.