Tips to make most of storage space

DEAR READERS: I don’t know anyone who has enough storage space, even though we may have attics and basements. We all seem to have too much stuff, and we hate to part with our family treasures and collections. So, we have to make space and find some place to store the items. My best hint: Use every nook and cranny in your house, and take these steps:

■ First rule of storage: Store items in the same room where you use them.

■ Second rule of storage: Make a specific place for everything

— and keep the right thing in the right place. If you do this, you will avoid a frustrating and time-consuming search for what you’re trying to find.

■ Use dividers: There are many kinds of dividers, like plastic cutlery trays, to help separate and organize objects.

■ Closed storage: Store as much of your stuff behind closed doors as you can! Buy furniture that has good storage capability, like an entertainment center, an armoire or a bookcase.

■ Go to retail and resale stores: Check out all the storage items they offer. You can find cheap storage containers that will help you organize your home and life!

DEAR HELOISE: We have so many new high-tech gadgets in my house, and we use a lot of different kinds of batteries. When batteries die, I don’t know how to discard them. Should I toss the batteries in the trash, or do I need to recycle them?

— Pamela from California

DEAR PAMELA: This is a good question. There are specific disposal recommendations for all of the different types of batteries we use today. States have regulations about handling this. You can call your local trash company or city recycling center for detailed information about what to do, but brief ly here is how to get rid of batteries safely:

■ Single-use alkaline batteries can be tossed into the trash, but if you are going to a recycling center, include them.

■ Rechargeable lithium ion batteries always should be recycled. Do not put them into your household garbage. These are used in smartphones, computers, power tools and digital cameras.

■ Dead car batteries, which contain lead acid, should be taken to hazardous waste recycling centers or auto stores (call first), which may have programs to ship off batteries for recycling.