Binder clips, air fryers and more ways to save
Dear Heloise: Thanks so much to you, your loving mother and your awesome readers for all the wonderful hints and ideas throughout the years! Here are a few of mine:
At 63, my hands are getting less useful, so I am using binder clips more often to keep things closed. I use the larger ones for dog food and chip bags; the medium ones for freezer items that also go into zipclose freezer bags; and the smallest ones to help me get out the last dab of toothpaste, lotion, etc., out of a bottle. Luckily, they’re found in any discount store!
Also, scaling down to toaster-oven and air-fryer cooking has saved me so much time and money; it helps with losing weight, too. When cooking, parchment paper works the best for us — and the environment!
I save so much money by using baking soda, white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for everything. They can especially be used for cleaning! My teeth have never looked whiter, by the way ... even after dental treatments!
Since I invested in a portable washer, along with a rolling rack, I hang up almost all of my clothes indoors. This adds to my indoor humidity, and I pay less than $1 for a load, even with the cost of electricity, compared to $2.50 (plus the cost of laundry soap) at our community laundry room!
But the biggest savings, besides using my public library to its fullest, has been with all of the free television available online, thanks to legal sites like Freevee.
Mom always said that I could watch the shows I liked as reruns when I was an adult. How did she know? Thanks again, and have a blessed 2024, everyone! — Erin, in Iowa
Microwave tricks
Dear Heloise: To loosen stuck jar lids, get a container large enough to accommodate the inverted jar and fill it with 1-2 inches of water. Microwave it for 1 minute. Next, place the inverted jar in hot water for about 15 seconds, then remove it and unscrew the lid easily.
To freshen stale bakery products, dampen a paper towel, place the bakery item on it, then invert a bowl or another container over the item. Microwave it for 10 seconds. — Barbara Griffith, Houston
Dog seat belts
Dear Heloise: I so appreciate A.T.’S letter advising the restraint of dogs in cars.
An additional reason to do this is in case the car were to lurch or swerve. Like any heavy object, the dog could be thrown against people, injuring them, or even against the driver, causing complete loss of control. — Louis Richter, Reseda, California
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise@ Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally, but will use the best hints received in my column.