Dear Heloise: I buy yogurt that comes in square containers that have easy-to-peel-off labels. After I finish my yogurt, I wash out the containers and reuse them. I put rubber bands in some and paper clips in others, as well as staples and an assortment of other small items.

I also use them in my bathroom to hold small containers of eye makeup, hair clips, cotton balls, etc. Why buy expensive containers for these items when they so easily come with my yogurt? — L.T., in Oregon

A BEDTIME DRINK

Dear Heloise: Just before I retire for the evening, I drink some orange or apple juice to help with my acid reflux. It’s only a very small amount, but it really does help.

When I drove to see my folks in Ohio, I took some small plastic bottles of orange juice in a thermal container to keep them cool. It was so much handier than lugging around a huge jug of orange juice. — S.B., in Iowa

NO-CLUMP MASCARA

Dear Heloise: I have occasionally found that my mascara starts to clump up. It’s terribly difficult to brush a clump out of your lashes, but I did discover a trick to help get them out of the tube. Before I use the mascara and just after I brush my teeth, I microwave a glass of water so that it’s very hot. (Use oven gloves to remove it from the microwave.) I then place the lower half of my tube of mascara in the hot water. By the time I apply my mascara, the clumps have dissolved. — M.R., in Salt Lake City

FAMILY PHOTOS

Dear Heloise: I like to keep current photos of my kids on my cellphone, in case we are ever separated at a mall or some other event. It gives the police a clear idea of who they are looking for and is better than a verbal description.

I also do this for my pets, in case they ever get out of the yard or are somehow lost. — J.P., in Pennsylvania

HELPFUL HINTS

Dear Heloise: I love your column. I have a few hints that might be helpful:

­– I use a nutcracker to open soda bottles all the time.

— On small electronics, I mark one shiny side of the plug with a felt-tip pen so that I always know what side is up.

— If you need fancy buttons, go to a Goodwill store and find a garment with buttons that you like. You can use those.

— If you have to walk on a slippery slope, go to a thrift store or Goodwill for used soccer shoes.

— And lastly, instead of throwing away green onion roots, plant them, and you’ll always have green onions.

Thank you. — F.P., in California

CLEANING TILE FLOORS

Dear Heloise: I have sculptured tile flooring in my kitchen. I decided to clean off a few years of wear on them, and I used the baking soda approach with a bit of labor. I’ll preface this with the fact that I walk barefoot in my house. In summary, it did not work well and left residue that was very difficult to remove, especially on the grout, which still had residue from the baking soda. When I went to shower, my feet were very slick.

So, after this, I went with another suggestion from your column, which is sudsy ammonia. This, with elbow grease and a scouring pad, worked well. This approach also worked using my feet — shoes on, of course. –R.A.L., in Louisiana