Heloise

Dear Heloise: I’ve enjoyed and learned from your column for years. If you’re like me, tying a neck tie can be frustrating. When I get a tie with a knot that has the style and length I like, I’ll take it off by loosening it just enough to get it off my neck and over my head. Then I hang it up intact on a tie rack that I have on the wall. So, the next time I want to use it, it’s already tied and ready for me to put on. — Mike D., in Indiana

KEY FOB HINT

Dear Heloise: Most cars come with two key fobs, and the key fobs have a button to set off an alarm on your car. As single woman living by myself, I keep the extra key fob on my nightstand. If someone broke into my home, or I had a medical emergency and couldn’t get to the phone quick enough for help, all I need to do is press the alarm button on the key fob. All of my neighbors would immediately hear the noise.

I let my neighbors know about this plan, and if they hear the alarm sounding, they would call me to find out if I needed help. Most of my neighbors thought that this was a great idea and are doing the same thing with their extra key fob. — Cheryl M., in Omaha, Nebraska

PLATFORM BED BASE

Dear Heloise: Regarding the question that a reader had about thicker mattresses and challenges with getting in and out of bed, I had the exact same issue when I recently bought a new mattress. Even better than using a stool is replacing the standard bed frame and box spring with a platform base. A platform base eliminates the need for a box spring, reducing the overall height of the bed.

The platform base I purchased had legs that could be adjusted to a couple different heights. It worked perfectly to keep my thick new mattress at a height where I don’t need to use a stool or feel like a mountain goat just to get in and out of bed. — Jeanne, in Minnesota

DON’T DEPEND ON PLASTIC

Dear Heloise: Shampoo and conditioner are available in a bar form. Obviously, so is soap. (Look on the internet.) Additionally, you can buy dishwasher tabs in a paper bag, toilet tabs, and all purpose cleaner in sheets that you can mix with water. Even laundry detergent can be purchased in sheets in a cardboard container.

All these products are very cost-effective and may even be less expensive than plastic-wrapped products. Plus they take up less space than big plastic containers (for example, of laundry detergent). And I shouldn’t have to tell anybody to use reusable bags when they go shopping because there’s no excuse anymore for plastic. — Mary D., via email

Mary, more people are becoming worried about plastic and its affect on our environment. Plastic has even been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which is nearly 7 miles deep! This careless use of plastic is ruining our planet and needs to be eliminated. — Heloise

FREEZING MILK

Dear Heloise: I read about the woman who purchases two half gallons of milk and freezes one. I don’t drink a lot of milk, so I buy a quart. But sometimes a half gallon only costs a little more, so I freeze half of it. It freezes quite well. — Mary G., in California

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.