Stockpiling food for the winter

Dear Heloise: It comes as no surprise that groceries are getting a lot more expensive. Where I live, we are often snowed in for a few days during the winter, or the roads get so bad that it's nearly impossible to get to a grocery store. So, starting in September, I begin to stockpile food that will not perish for a long time such as canned chili, canned soups, pasta and various sauces, or materials to make a sauce.Items such as laundry soap, hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and shampoo can be stored in large plastic bins or cardboard boxes in the garage, and food items are stored under beds, in closets, or in any place with a little extra room. I buy a little at a time, and this way, it's not such a strain on our budget. Even if it doesn't snow, and we have a rather "lean month," I can still feed my family. Casy J., in Montana Dear Heloise: I live in Arizona, where we go to the high mountains to play in the snow once a year if we are lucky. Most people here do not have snow clothing. Feet are the most important part of the body to keep warm and dry. With newspaper plastic bags that are placed inside shoes and socks, any regular shoe can work in the snow. The bags keep the feet dry, even with tennis shoes. Holly F., in Tucson, Arizona Dear Heloise: My hint is to save the air vent caps from very large jugs of liquid laundry detergent when it comes time to toss out the empties. These are the small screw-top caps that are usually on the top of the jug, and you can loosen them to let air in so that the liquid flows smoothly from the spigot.Inevitably, because the caps are kept in a loosened state, they often fall off and roll under the washing machine out of reach! So, just as I tend to also save the "main" caps (i.e. the larger screw-top or pop-on caps that seal the jug's main opening and often double as a measuring cup), I have started to save a few of the smaller air vent caps as well so that I have a ready replacement whenever I lose one. Angela M., in St. Louis Dear Heloise: A national drug retail chain (CVS) has a display near the pharmacy where you can dispose of medications. Place the pills into a zip-close bag first. Remove any personal information from the container before putting into the trash can. Marcy, in Menifee, California Marcy, good hint! And readers, if you cannot peel off a label, be sure to take a wide, black, felt-tipped pen and cross out all the information on the bottle. Protect your privacy. Heloise Dear Heloise: A recent column in the Houston Chronicle mentioned dusting lampshades. Many people have pleated white lampshades that you can buy at any hardware store or big-box store. I have three in my living room. I take the shades off the lamps, go outside with them and a big plain paintbrush in my other hand, and swipe down on the grooves from top to bottom. This releases all the dust inside the bottom of each pleat where the dust accumulates, and I shake the paintbrush off after each stroke. If it's been a while, I repeat the process. The dust ends up outside, and the shades are nice and clean. This also works on the vented covers on your AC vents and the return vent cover for your heater or AC unit. Wash and dry the large paintbrush afterward. Rusti S., in Houston