* To soften food that is stuck on a pan, try soaking it overnight with fabric softener. Just fill the pan with enough water to cover the burned-on food, then lay a dryer sheet of fabric softener in the pan (poke it down so it will stay under the water). The next morning, you should be able to wipe the food right off. You can even use the fabric softener sheet as a scrubber. — A.S. in Maryland

* To keep thread straight when threading needles, I run the end across a cheap glue stick. It works very well, and the glue washes right out of the thread. Or, if you are afraid it will be sticky, you can just clip the end off before you start sewing. — T.E. in Kentucky

* To make butter easier to spread on bread or toast, we keep a stick in a plastic sandwich baggie. We just handle the butter a bit through the bag. It softens, but doesn’t overmelt, like when you put it in the microwave. You can just reseal the baggie and put it back in the fridge. — N.U. in Florida

* To make your carpets look clean in a hurry, like if you are having company over, just sweep them with your broom. — C.C. in Pennsylvania