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Dear Heloise: I wanted to write in response to the suggestion from Mary M., about hearing-aid batteries and her keeping them in an empty medicine bottle. One of the reasons why hearing-aid batteries are separated onto a cardboard sheet is to keep the ends of the batteries from touching each other.
Batteries are polarized. If you get opposite poles touching each other, they’ll drain the battery. You could easily wind up with a medicine bottle full of dead batteries. -- Roy R., in Fullerton, California
Roy, thanks for the tip! This makes a lot of sense. I’ll make sure to keep batteries in their cardboard. -- Heloise
PACKAGING MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
Dear Heloise: In regard to the childproof packaging of hearing-aid batteries, I buy my 312 batteries online. If you look carefully, you can find batteries that are in an easy-to-open box, as opposed to the ones that need to be cut from the package. -- Jay, in Nebraska
Jay, thank you so much for this helpful tip! Finding easier ways to handle packaging makes such a big difference. I appreciate you taking the time to share this with me and my readers. -- Heloise
LIGHT BULB SAFETY
Dear Heloise: A number of people like to use petroleum jelly on the end of a light bulb to keep it from sticking. However, there are a couple of things that they need to remember.
-- Heat sensitivity: Petroleum-based products are highly flammable. High heat from a running bulb can cause the jelly to melt, become tacky, smoke or potentially ignite.
-- Electrical issues: Petroleum jelly is an insulator. If it gets on the contact points at the base or socket, it can cause the bulb to flicker or fail to work at all. -- Sandra, via email
OPENING SMALLER BOTTLES
Dear Heloise: I use a regular V-shaped nutcracker to open smaller bottles. I place the nutcracker around the cap, hold it tightly in place, and turn the bottle with my other hand, rather than trying to turn the cap. It works very well for me.
Also, before doing this, try tapping on the cap with the thick end of a table knife to loosen the vacuum seal. -- Rose S., via email
A PERSISENT RUNNY NOSE
Dear Heloise: I read the letter from Louise W., who suffers from a constant runny nose. Instead of living with the problem, she should consult her doctor and determine if she’s suffering from rhinitis. There are two types: allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. There are treatments for both that’ll make life easier for her.
I’d suffered with nonallergic rhinitis for years until I brought it up to my physician, and he prescribed a nasal spray that stopped my nose from running all day. This is an embarrassing condition that she may not have to live with. -- Dennis C., via email
Dennis, it could be caused by any number of different reasons, but she’ll need to see a doctor to determine what the root cause happens to be. I’m sure that a physician could help her, but she needs to make an appointment to see her doctor. -- Heloise
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.