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Dear Heloise: A suggestion was made to have your car key fob reprogrammed by a mechanic to only unlock the driver’s door so that it’s safer when refueling at a gas station. A mechanic isn’t necessary. The doors are programmed through the car itself in the vehicle’s utility menu. Each make of car has different ways of resetting the unlocked doors or other doors’ functions. The owner’s manual can walk you through it, or you can watch a video online, as there are many short videos on reprogramming car functions. — James J.M., Retired United States Army Veteran
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Heloise@Heloise.com
QUILTING HINT
Dear Heloise: As a quilter, I use empty toilet paper tubes to hold my quilt binding. I fold it accordion-style, tuck it inside, and write which quilt the binding is for on the outside. — Dixie A., in Auke Bay, Alaska
HEARING AID BATTERIES
Dear Heloise: This is in reference to the person who has trouble removing hearing-aid batteries from the package. I wear hearing aids and use scissors to cut around the battery. Also, I store my batteries in a small, empty medicine bottle. If there are small children around, one can use a childproof bottle.
I also keep a bottle with batteries in my purse. It’s always handy when I’m not at home and need to replace a battery. — Mary M., via email
Mary, keeping your hearing aid batteries in a pill bottle is such a good idea. This way, they can’t get lost, and I’m sure you know that they aren’t cheap. Thanks for your letter! — Heloise
TINY TRICK-OR-TREAT TOYS
Dear Heloise: Every Halloween, people buy bags of candy. While children enjoy sweets, I like to add other things as well. You can go to any dollar store and find small action figures, plastic dinosaurs (always a big hit!), yo-yos, and other tiny items that children love to place in their bags.
I have a very large wicker basket that I fill with these toys and candy. Then I just tell the little ones to take a hand ful. Needless to say, my house is popular on Halloween! — Irene W., in Bloomington, Illinois
CANDY AND CASH
Dear Heloise: My husband and I usually toss all our change into a large glass jar, and we use this for a number of places, such as a toll booth or car wash. We also use it on Halloween. I buy about 24 nylon bags (the smallest size they sell), and we place a little change in each one. It might be 2 quarters and 1 dime or 5 nickels and 1 quarter. Then I close the bag with its drawstrings and place it in with the candy. We don’t get as many children as we used to, but believe me, the ones we do get love receiving a little money of their own! — Krista J., in Connecticut
CAR SAFETY
Dear Heloise: Jean, in Arkansas, wrote to advise people to lock their cars while pumping gas to prevent possible handbag theft. You mentioned, Heloise, that you wear your bag on your person and have a friend who locks her handbag in the trunk. All are very good ideas.
I also lock my car when pumping gas to prevent possible theft, but more importantly to prevent someone from getting into my car for hijacking or kidnapping purposes. (The latter is of particular concern if a child is in a car seat.) If a carjacking or kidnapping were to happen, the theft of my handbag would be the least of my problems. — Kathleen G., in Central Pennsylvania