Dear Heloise: This is in regard to the reader who says that they don’t understand why people use antibacterial wipes when entering a store and suggests that they only use them on their hands after shopping. The reader obviously doesn’t know that grocery carts can be dirtier than a public restroom.

The most cited data on this comes from a study conducted by the University of Arizona, led by microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba (often nicknamed “Dr. Germ”). Here is the breakdown of what they found:

— About 72% of carts tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is a primary indicator of fecal matter.

— About 50% of carts specifically tested positive for E. coli.

Putting your groceries in a contaminated cart will subject them to these contaminants. I suggest wiping down your cart with antibacterial wipes before shopping. — Kurt Larson, via email

LEG CRAMP SOLUTION

Dear Heloise: When you wake up with a painful leg cramp, quickly place your other foot above the toes of the affected leg and press the toes of the affected leg upward toward your shin. This technique forces the contracted muscle to stretch, which is the best way to stop a leg cramp. — An Avid “Heloise” Reader, via email

Avid “Heloise” Reader, I usually just stand up and walk around for a couple of minutes, but I’ll give this a try! Thanks for writing in and reading my column. — Heloise

MILDEW SHOWER PROBLEM

Dear Heloise: For a couple of years, we’ve had a walk-in shower that includes plastic panes and a big door. I constantly fought with mildew therein on the edges of the slip-prevention mats, the rims of their suction cups, the corners of the walls, and the soap dish. I scrubbed things every day using a vinegar-soaked rag (shout-out to Heloise!), but the black traces of mildew persisted. At a point, I realized that humidity was fueling the problem because dank, moist air would get trapped in the space after hot showers.

So, I began leaving the shower door open as much as possible for dry air to circulate and alleviate the dampness. The mildew problem quickly subsided. There’s still a little bit of it, but vinegar continues working its wonders for easy removal. — Jim R., in Houston

SALAD SOUND-OFF

Dear Heloise: I’ve never responded to a hint before, but the one from Neater Eater in Omaha, Nebraska, really bothered me. If you’re already buying a premade salad kit, then please just use the plastic that the product already comes in! Why take it out and use another cup or spoon when eating it for lunch?

Also, if you’re already taking the time to separate it out from the original packaging, why not just get the ingredients to make your own salad? — Julie, in San Antonio

MARK IT UP

Dear Heloise: I’ve solved three frustrations with a simple permanent marker. When sheets and mattress pads are almost but not quite square, I write “top/bottom” and “side” on the appropriate edges. No more guessing which is which!

When I transition towels into rags, I place a black dot in the back corner of the item. This way, I always know which rags don’t belong in the drawer. And when I have a prescription tube of cream or gel where the directions are outside of the box, I write the directions on the tube and recycle the box. My doctor even told me that this was an ingenious idea.

Hope these lessen someone else’s frustrations, too! — Karen, in Newport Beach, California

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com