HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: How old are the pillows on your bed? If you don’t know, or if they are feeling rather flat, it’s time for a pillow check. A comfortable pillow is imperative for a good night’s sleep.

The Better Sleep Council (bettersleep.org) recommends replacing pillows every year, but that’s really a bit much. Here’s how to test your pillows:

If you “fold” the pillow in half and it does not unfold or bounce back, it needs to be replaced.

If the pillow breaks apart into chunks, that’s bad.

They say punching and fluffing of the pillow should not be necessary, but again I say: “Bah! Humbug!” If it’s a feather down pillow, like I have, it’s fine to fluff it a little.

Don’t cheap out — you deserve a good pillow. Most people spend about one-third of their life in bed, so invest in your health.

DEAR HELOISE: Once a month, I sit down on the floor in my kitchen (or bathroom), open a cabinet (especially under the sink) and clean it out. When I started a few months ago, here is what I found: old bottles of cleaners, nasty sponges and towels, and grubby scrubbers. Now it’s not so bad.

— Ivy R. in Massachusetts DEAR READER: Hey Ivy, one cabinet or drawer at a time makes the “continual” cleaning process seem not so insurmountable.

Try my Heloise 120-second hit list: Spend two minutes (120 seconds) or a little longer tackling one thing. Clean out broken pens from the junk drawer, trash from your purse or almost-empty bottles under the sink in a kitchen or bathroom. You will be surprised how well it works in a few weeks.

DEAR HELOISE: Sometimes people have a hard time finding their TV remote. I use a big, beautiful cloth napkin and fold it into a square. I always place the remote on the napkin. It’s easier to find than a dark remote. — Gloria M., Monongahela, Pa.

DEAR HELOISE: I complained to my friend about having to make several trips from the car to the house with shopping bags, or lining the bags on my arms. She keeps a tote or laundry basket in the back of her car. I tried it, too, and now I place several bags in them and usually have to make only one trip.

— Jean in Fostoria, Ohio

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email Heloise@Heloise.com