Dear Heloise: Many people have a fireplace in their home or cabin, and I have to admit that I love the feeling of being close to a fire on a chilly night. It just makes my home feel cozy.

However, too many home fires occur because people forget to have a chimney sweep check their fireplace for problems. They also don't have fireplace tools, and too many don't think of keeping a fire extinguisher close by. As a firefighter, I've heard of too many people who have no idea what to do if a log rolls out of their fireplace.

There are now fire-extinguisher blankets available. You can also use a bucket of sand, but if you have a fire extinguisher (the kind in a red canister), it's better for you to learn how to use it.

Read the instructions. Review the instructions with your family before a fire can occur. If your house is on fire, tell everyone where to meet if you happen to get separated. My family was told to meet across the street and down three doors by an old oak tree. Even my youngest knows she has to get out of the house and go to this tree, and she is only 4 years old.

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Believe me, nothing breaks a firefighter's heart like finding a dead child who got scared and hid in a closet or behind a door during a house fire. -- M., a firefighter from New Jersey

Reusing envelopes

Dear Heloise: Many of us find it necessary to wear a sanitary napkin daily. When disposing of the used napkin, I highly recommend wrapping it in the plastic of the new pad, then putting all of it in a "junk mail" envelope, which can easily be rolled up to conceal its contents when placed in the kitchen trash basket.

I keep a supply of envelopes handy in the bathroom drawer, so I no longer have to wrap the soiled product in toilet paper. This way, I put these envelopes to good use with no additional expense to me. -- B.H., in San Antonio

Holiday cards

Dear Heloise: When sending holiday cards or newsletters, be sure to include your current email address and cellphone number. So many people no longer have landlines and haven't let their friends know of the new ways to reach them. Hearing the voice of an old friend can mean so much.

I love to read your hints in the Houston Chronicle. -- C.W., in Texas

Two-in-one hint

Dear Heloise: Someone previously mentioned that facial tissue shouldn't be flushed down the toilet. Instead of using a tissue, I take some toilet paper to blow my nose and just toss it in the toilet.

And here's another hint: If you mistakenly get some permanent marker on a shiny counter surface, just spray the mark with hairspray, and it'll come right off.

I enjoy your column in the Westfield section of the Western Mass News. -- M.C., in Massachusetts

Removing white rings on clay pots

Dear Readers: The white rings from salt buildup that appear on many clay pots (both indoors and outdoors) can often be removed by wiping them over with a cloth that has been soaked in undiluted white vinegar. Just another great use of vinegar in the household! -- Heloise

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to [email protected].

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