Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I was intrigued by a product I bought by accident at the drugstore. It’s the Walgreens house brand of what I usually call Q-tips. The box says, “Cotton Swabs Variety Pack” and had three different types of Q-tip-ish items — none of them the traditional teardrop-shaped white cotton ball on a white stick that I have used for many years.

Here’s what I found in the generic brand box:

*A standard shaped swab but the cotton parts at the ends of the white stick are black!

*A flat white canoe paddle-shaped swab not as round as the traditional, sort of like someone stepped on the Q-tip.

*A pointy white swab that I definitely wouldn’t use on a baby’s eye or ear.

Can any of these do something better than the old-fashioned, original Q-tip?

--Monae K.

Dear Monae: I now have purchased my own personal variety pack from Walgreens (walgreens.com, 305 swabs, $4.49) to examine for myself the three novelty swabs unlike the genuine Q-tips in my medicine cabinet. Here’s my assessment of the varieties you mention:

Black swab: This could be useful for precise application or removal of light-colored cosmetics like creams, foundation, concealer or eye shadow. Crafters could tell the exact amount of glue, paint or whatever they were putting on or removing from their project because of the contrast with the black tip.

Pointy: Precision makeup application or removal, especially for eye cosmetics.

Paddle: You got me. Seems to serve the same, versatile function as the traditional shape. I could see a crafter needing a flat cotton swab to get into a tight space.

Let’s hear from readers who have found these novelty shapes useful or solved a problem on a job where a regular white Q-tip isn’t up to the task.

A footnote: In my research on this topic, I discovered that there is another development in the original Q-tip department. In the grand retail tradition of “line extension” (tweaking a popular product to expand its shelf presence in stores) there is now a Q-tip with a “Hygiene Shield.” It is described on the packaging thusly: “Coated with an antimicrobial layer to help protect cotton from germs." ($4.79 for 300 at drug stores) Who knew?

Speaking of footnotes…

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: A recent story in the New York Times hailed the common toe with this headline: “For exposure, it’s a great time to be a toe.” So, the toe is back in style? I wasn’t aware that toes were ever passé. After all, where would we be without them?

--Michael Z.

Dear Michael: The accompanying story showed some feet—no men’s feet, incidentally—in shoes that highlighted the common toe. The photos underscored the point by calling attention to the fact that there are five toes per foot, picturing a popular shoe with an individual glove-like pocket for each toe. Or adorning the toe with what used to be called a cocktail ring—large, gaudy, sparkly. Or with a single stone using a classic engagement ring as the inspiration.

In a recent answer to a question about flip-flops, I offered the opinion that most people’s toes aren’t all that good looking (with or without pedicures). I stand by that harsh judgment. Babies have adorable feet. Grownups? Not so much.

Angelic Readers 1

Lots of readers wanted to share their experiences with washable rugs that I wrote about recently. Melissa M. raves about her Ruggable (ruggable.com) 10-foot circular carpet that she washes in her home washing machine: “It’s been four years now with two cats, two dogs and a husband who won’t take off his shoes and this rug has held up like a champ.” Sue R. said her carpet from Ruggables curls at the edges “although I was happy with the washable aspect. If you have elderly dogs like I do, a washable rug is the only option!” Sallie C. raved about her rug from My Magic Carpet (buymymagiccarpet.com): “I wash it in my home washer and dryer and it looks good as new.”

Angelic Readers 2

My response to a recent question from reader Pam S. about the “French tuck” style of tucking in a shirt, angered some readers because I used Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as an example of someone who wears this style. The photo with her French tucked shirt that accompanied the column prompted additional outrage. (I don’t choose the column photos.)

I quoted one reader who said, “Your column is dead to me.” Now, other readers have reacted to that reaction. “It wasn’t a political statement but a simple fashion comment,” wrote reader J.S. From Nancy M. “I hope you continue to feel free to use photos and examples of politicians and celebrities of all stripes.”

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