HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR HELOISE: Thank you, Mitch and Heloise! Where was this water-bottle hint when I was spending countless hours in traffic?
— Bernie in Fountain Valley, Calif.
DEAR READER: Bernie, thank Mitch the most. I was as happy to learn the hint as you. Readers, the hint? Use a plastic, disposable water bottle (filled with hot or cold water) for your back. It’s great on a bus, airplane, train, in a car or just in a chair at work or at home. We may be saving millions of these bottles from the landfills.
DEAR HELOISE: Every time I had to take my mother to her doctor’s appointments, she would have to pack up all her meds and take them.
Then I decided to take a picture of each of her medication container labels. I made sure the information on the label was readable.
At her next doctor’s visit, I presented the pictures to him and he was OK with viewing her meds this way. — Fran H. in San Antonio
DEAR READER: This can work as long as the physician is OK with it. Remember, too, that generally when you pick up a prescription, there is an information sheet included. Save all of these, and take them.
DEAR HELOISE: When I have a long plane trip in my schedule, I plan my time on the plane. I try bringing items that will occupy my time. I try to think about what to take and what I want to do while in flight. I keep it simple but creative, as I don’t like to have a lot of carry-on stuff, either.
— Darcy M., via email
DEAR HELOISE: I did a project a few years ago with my cloth couch. I now want to “undo” it. I need to remove spray glue from the arms without damaging the material or fading out any color. What’s the best way to remove spray glue?
— Bill R., via email
DEAR READER: Bill, you are asking a lot! Let’s give it a try. Wet a clean cloth with hot, soapy water and put it on top of and underneath the spot where the glue is sprayed. Repeat every 15 minutes. Keep the cloth hot (put in microwave 10-15 seconds to heat). The hot cloth might soften the glue.
Try this, too: Put aluminum foil on both sides of the fabric, and press with a warm iron (not hot) for 30 seconds or so. Try to slowly pull the fabric apart.