Dear Heloise: I’ve had a lot of trouble opening bottles of nail polish. Some bottles have tops with a smooth surface or a shape that’s not easily grasped. And don’t forget bottles that have partially dried shut! My quick fix is to wrap a rubber band around the bottle cap. It’s so much easier to grasp the bottle to open it; even the stubborn dried-on tops frequently come loose. I just keep rubber bands on the bottle tops while they’re in storage so that they’re always ready to be used. — Sandy, in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Sandy, this is a good hint. I usually put on one of my rubber gloves to help me get the top off of a nail polish bottle. Do any of my readers have a special trick they use to open nail polish bottles that get stuck? — Heloise

SAVING THE EARTH

Dear Heloise: Years ago, on the original Earth Day in 1970, I was young and idealistic, and I wanted to do some small thing to “help the Earth.” So, while my toddler and I walked around the neighborhood picking up trash, I decided that I would sew some cloth napkins and avoid adding paper napkins to the landfill for the rest of my life.

I got laughed at by family and friends, but this custom has been continual for 56 years. My kids grew up with it (not always fancy napkins, just home-sewn 10-by-10-inch cotton napkins), and now they do the same thing out of habit. I wonder if I made any difference in the world.

I also used cloth diapers. Yes, paper diapers are convenient, but I’ve seen potty training happen much quicker and at a younger age because cloth diapers get wet and uncomfortable, unlike the paper diapers that are much more comfortable. — Ruth M., An Old-Timer in Michigan

Ruth, one of the nicest wedding gifts I received was a stack of 12 homemade napkins that were sewn by a dear friend. And let me add that it might have seemed to be a small gesture, but if everyone made an effort to keep the Earth healthy, clean up after themselves, and reduce waste, this world would be in much better shape. — Heloise

LATEX GLOVE HINT

Dear Heloise: I also use medical latex gloves for messy kitchen work. But then I wash them with soap and water and save them to wear for gardening. With regular gardening gloves, I always get dirt under my fingernails. But now I wear latex gloves underneath my gardening gloves, and this keeps my nails clean! — Dolores O., via email

DEALING WITH SPAM CALLS

Dear Heloise: Regarding spam calls, if an out-of-town area code shows up on your phone that you don’t recognize, don’t answer it. Let it go to voicemail. If it’s spam, it will stop on the third ring. If it’s a legitimate call, they’ll leave a voicemail. Not answering usually takes you off their list. I read your column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I love it and the great advice on so many topics. — Ed F., in St. Louis

Ed F., thank you so much! — Heloise

FIRE-STARTING SAFETY

Dear Heloise: In a recent column, a reader talked about using toilet paper cardboard rolls that are filled with lint to start a fire. This may be fine, but putting lighter fluid in the middle could be hazardous if they’re going to be stored. Most flammable fluids create heat as they evaporate, and if these lighter-fluid-laced tubes are being stored, they could self-ignite and cause a spontaneous combustion. Adding a shot of fluid at the time of use would be preferable. Safety first! — Curt F., via email

Curt, I agree with you. I’d also keep the cardboard rolls away from children. They might decided to light a fire with the rolls. — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com