Dear Heloise: When you need to replace your vacuum cleaner, check to see if the extension wands from your old vacuum fit your new one as well. The basic ones included with your new vacuum probably won’t be long enough to reach high places, and you may have to pay more to purchase ones that will.

I do the same thing when I replace a dishwasher. I take out the silverware baskets from the old washer and see if they can fit in the new one, which provides extra space for utensils when I need it. This helps a lot when I am entertaining or when the baskets provided by the manufacturer of the new machine are inadequate. Thanks for your helpful column!

— Jennifer M., in

Paso Robles, California

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Dear Heloise: I read Katherine H. of San Antonio’s proposa

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