Ways to keep your kids and pets well hydrated

• “Summertime can be hard on dogs, especially here in the South. To give our dogs a cool treat, we make ice toys. Fill a small bucket with a little water, let it freeze, and then add a few dog treats. Add more water, then more treats as the layers freeze. When it’s done, it kind of resembles a Jell-O mold. Put it outside on a hot day, and dogs stay cool and occupied by licking the treats out!” — S.A. in Georgia

• “When we have our kids’ playgroup over to the house, we make a big batch of lemonade and keep it outside and handy. I make large ice cubes by freezing a portion of lemonade in muffin tins. I pop them out directly into the pitcher of lemonade, and it will keep the drink cold for several hours outside without watering it down like regular ice. They are fun, too!” — C.F. in Colorado

• “Dab clear nail polish on the threads of buttons. This will strengthen them and help to keep the button secured to the clothing.” — E.I. in Virginia

• You can clean the crusty buildup of battery acid on car-battery connections with a can of Coca Cola. Pop the top, pour it on and scrub gently with a brush. You’ll be surprised what a can of Coke can do. Rinse the battery and the ground below with some water afterward, as the sugar can attract ants.

• “Odd socks can be great cleaning tools, but they would sometimes get mixed back into the regular laundry. This was confusing, because I had to discover that they were odd socks all over again. I finally bought a fabric pen and now write a ‘C’ on all the odd socks. When I am sorting the laundry, it’s easy to tell which socks are cleaning socks.” — P.L. in Texas

• “For you hockey fans, take a clean puck and keep it in the freezer to break up the ice you have in a bag or container.” — S.H. in Ohio

• Relieve the itch of a bug bite by dabbing it with antiperspirant. The aluminum salts will reduce the swelling, and help to relieve the itch.

• “Birthday candles can be held in place with Lifesaver candies. They are the perfect size for your standard candles, and kids really like them. Also, for adults, they will catch any excess wax that drips. Especially if you have a lot of candles on your cake, like mine!” — U.D. in Tennessee