Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here is a method that helps me when I descend stairs and am using both hands to carry something: I count the steps as I go down. Those of us over 70 need all the help we can muster, and this helps me to concentrate on the job at hand. – Careful, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: An age-old method for cleaning gunk out of glass bottles is to put some sand and water in the bottle and swirl and shake the bottle. The sand will scrub the inside of the bottle. I have no exact measurement, but perhaps a couple teaspoons of sand per cup of water so that it can swirl freely. – Karla Lodge, Phoenix

Dear Heloise: On regular 3-by-5-inch cards, I write the names, addresses and telephone numbers of family members and friends, and on colored cards, I write the names and addresses of doctors, medical labs and other important, quickly needed names. This makes finding numbers much quicker. – Mrs. P. Stiegel, La Mirada, Calif.