Dear Heloise: For cat’s litter boxes, I use clumping cat litter. When scooping/cleaning the litter box, I had used plastic grocery store bags, but I found this wasteful and environmentally unfriendly. Now, I use the bags from food items (tortillas, bread, frozen vegetables, cereal, etc.). These are bags I have readily available, and reusing them seems less wasteful than just throwing them away. — Kelly Fontaine, Claremont, New Hampshire

BOX FAN HACK

Dear Heloise: Will you please tell your many readers who may not have central air conditioning and depend on portable fans, such as box fans, about this old-fashioned trick? To maximize the cooling effects of the fan, wet and wring out a large towel and hang it in front of the fan. The air will be much cooler as it blows through the towel. — Louisa Steel

BABY SHOWER

GIFT IDEAS

Dear Heloise: For baby shower gifts, I rarely ever get anything off the gift registry list. Instead, I go to the local dollar store and pick up a small plastic tub (any shape), or I’ll get a non-collapsible step stool and turn it upside down.

I start out outlining the tub/step stool with diapers, then fill it with practical items such as socks, bags for disposing dirty diapers when traveling, washcloths, teethers, safety pins, and a foldable potty seat (chain stores have these) to place on top of a toilet seat when the child is older so they don’t fall in.

This potty seat is great for traveling, when kids have to use a public restroom, or when visiting friends and relatives who don’t own potty-training chairs.

Once you know whatever theme the baby’s room will be, include a stuffed animal or toy to go along with that theme, such as a deer if the baby’s room is a camouflage theme. You can also include a small book to start their home library.

These are just a few of my favorites. The possibilities are endless. I often pick up items when I find them on sale and have them ready in advance for when needed. — Ruth C., Salado, Texas