Dear Heloise: The hinges of our microwave were squealing so loud that it was as if a poor lady was trapped inside. My husband was going to take apart the door and make a project out of fixing it.

Fortunately, I found that by putting some baby oil on each hinge with an eyedropper, the squeaks were completely quieted. I put cotton pads underneath the hinges to catch any drips and kept the microwave door open for about 15 minutes to let the oil sit.

At first, there still was some squeaking, but by the next day, there was silence! This also worked on our medicine cabinet hinges. — Peggy C., Tustin, California

SCHOOLING HAS CHANGED

Dear Heloise: In a recent column you asked for readers’ ideas about improving schools. I am for longer days and less vacations. When I attended school in Iowa in the ’50s, we began at 9 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m. with an hour for lunch. The only time we had off was the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I think we might’ve started school after Labor Day, but I knew it was always after the state fair was over. We got out during the last week of May.

However, the problem with a shorter vacation in the summer is that teachers often return to college to study for advanced degrees. This can be done online, but it would be a tough change to make for everyone.

I loved school, so I didn’t have any problem attending it. But now I think there are too many distractions, and kids don’t want to sit in a class. — Carolyn M., in Conneticut

A LINT HINT

Dear Heloise: Hello again from wild and wonderful West Virginia! Here is a laundry day hint for anyone who has a pullout screen filter in their dryer. Rather than picking the lint off with your fingers or breaking out the hand vac, just take an old toothbrush and run it through all the lint. It will pick all of it up in a ball that you can easily dispose of. — Marlyn W., Hedgesville, West Virginia

VOTING BY MAIL

Dear Heloise: This year, I need to vote by mail. Where can I go to get a ballot? — Irene T., Santa Fe, New Mexico

Irene, you can call your local city hall, the main courthouse, or probably any police station to find out how to register for a mail-in ballot. If they can’t help you, they will most likely know who to call.

You can also check the website of your county’s election office to see if they have any information. — Heloise