Dear Readers: Where in the car is the safest place for your DOG TO RIDE? Despite the fact that your dog will probably want to ride in the front seat next to you, and perhaps with its head out the window, the dog’s safest bet is in the back seat, secured in a harness or crate.

Make sure the crate has good airflow around it, and for longer road trips, pack a bag: food, bowl, bags for waste, bottled water, first aid and any medications, a favorite toy and the animal’s shot history.

Safety is always the most important factor when traveling with your pet, and planning ahead should make this a smooth venture. — Heloise

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Cindy C., via email, wanted to share her dachshund Petey. She volunteers with All Texas Dachshund Rescue (www.ATDR.org), based in Houston.

Cindy enjoys finding new forever homes for dachshunds all over Texas that are in shelters or are strays. She adopted Petey in 2012 and adores him to the moon and beyond!

To see Petey and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.” — Heloise

CLEANING COFFEE CUPS

Dear Heloise: I saw where you wrote about cleaning coffee cups, but I didn’t cut out the hint. Would you please write it again? — Fran L., Fort Dodge, Iowa

Happy to, and it involves one of my favorite cleaning champions: baking soda! Safe, cheap and readily available, baking soda has a gentle but mildly gritty texture, perfect for forming a paste with a few drops of water.

Rub this paste into the coffee stains with a soft cloth, and let sit for a few minutes. A second application may be necessary. Rinse.

I’ve compiled a collection of my favorite uses for baking soda in a handy pamphlet. Would you like to receive one? Visit www.Heloise.com to order, or send a stamped (71 cents), self-addressed, long envelope, along with $5, to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda on top of your toothpaste for a mild but more thorough tooth-cleaning. — Heloise

SHEET SAVVY

Dear Heloise: After having several dog beds disintegrate after one or two washings, I came up with a better plan. I buy baby crib sheets and cover the dog beds with them. They have elastic all the way around them, so they stay in place. Cotton for the summer, flannel for the winter.

A regular crib sheet fits on a bed for larger dogs, and the mini crib sheets are perfect for smaller beds. On dog bath day, the sheets are changed so we have clean dogs and clean sheets! — Christine W., Beaumont, Calif.

HINT FROM HIM

Dear Heloise: I keep a pop-up box of tissues on my kitchen counter for small cleanups. This saves money on paper towels. — Ronald N., Alexandria, Va.

WASH THIS!

Dear Heloise: I make sure to wash my hands frequently when I’m in the kitchen and following a recipe on my phone or tablet computer — both germy! — Amy M. in Massachusetts

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Dear Heloise: The cost of air travel keeps rising. Airlines have increased BAGGAGE FEES, which we understand is a profitable source of revenue for the airlines. We already pay for seat selection, snacks, drinks, blankets, pillows and Wi-Fi. Why are we being asked to pay more for baggage? — Alma and Ken W. in Los Angeles

Alma and Ken, I looked into this, and yes, there is an increase in the baggage fees. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the airlines collected approximately $2.4 billion in baggage fees in the first half of 2018, but apparently this was not enough to offset the cost of fuel price increases. With the ever-increasing cost of air travel, maybe a road trip is in order. — Heloise

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING ABROAD

Dear Heloise: As a travel agent, I’ve seen and heard mistakes made by travelers that ruined their trip when they traveled abroad. Here are a few hints to help them:

¯ Don’t skip the car insurance when renting in a foreign country. If you’re in an accident, take photos of all damages or injuries.

¯ Don’t pay with large bills. Use smaller bills and coin in the country’s currency, which avoids the “I don’t have change” scam.

¯ Do obey the laws of the country you’re visiting.

¯ Do make copies of your passport, insurance policy, traveler’s checks and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in your luggage and leave one copy with someone at home.

¯ Do stay in touch with family and friends back home, and make sure someone at home has a copy of your itinerary.

¯ Do insist on contacting your nearest embassy if you are arrested or detained for some reason. Consular access is your right.

— Cassandra G., McLean, Va.

SEWING NEEDLES

Dear Heloise: I kept losing my sewing needles until I finally started putting them in empty pill bottles. Now I can find them instead of stepping on one hidden in the carpeting. — Lois F., Mason City, Iowa

READER RESPONDS

Dear Heloise: I read the suggestion from Linda W. about using foil and cooking spray in the pan when cooking meatloaf. Parchment paper works great, too! — Karen C., Riverside, Calif.

THIN HAIR

Dear Heloise: My daughter’s hair is just too thin to hold a cute barrette. Got any hints on what will make a barrette stay in her hair? — Julia V., Waterford, Mich.

Julia, glue a strip of rubber band on the underside of the barrette, and that should grip her hair. — Heloise

CAR WAX FOR MIRRORS?

Dear Heloise: A furniture salesman told me to polish my glass tabletops and mirrors with car wax. Now all I have to do is give them a once-over with a cloth, and they stay clean and shiny until the next time I wax them, which is usually once every other month. — Vanessa L., Oakmont, Pa.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Send your great money-saving or timesaving hint to to Heloise at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, Fax to 1-210-HELOISE, or email to Heloise@Heloise.com. She can’t answer your letter personally butv will use the best hints received in her column.