How to make your potatoes last longer

•To make potatoes last longer, don’t store them with onions. The onions give off a gas that can speed deterioration of the potatoes.

•“Whenever I walk my dogs, along with doggie bags for cleaning up their messes, I also bring an extra plastic grocery bag with me. I often see empty bottles, cans and other trash that has been haphazardly thrown to the side of the road by environmentally unfriendly motorists and passersby. I’ll pick up what I can along the route and throw the bag of garbage away in the Dumpster when the dogs and I return home.” — C.E. from Florida

•Another great icepack idea: Keep a bag of unpopped popcorn kernels in the freezer to use as an icepack for bumps, bruises and swelling. It’s easy to mold to any body part, and there’s no melting!

•To deter grass from growing in the crevices of patio stones, sprinkle the stones with a little salt, then sweep it into the cracks. Be careful not to use too much, though.

•“I mash my guacamole with a whisk instead of a fork. It does a super job.” — O.L. in North Carolina

•If you have an old rubber glove that has just about outlived its usefulness, don’t toss it yet. Cut off the fingers and slip the tips over the handles of brooms and mops. When leaned against a wall, the handle won’t slide down — it’s instant nonslip. You also can cut strips from the wrist portion and use them as large rubber bands for bundling newspaper or other materials.