Dear Heloise: I’ve never seen this hint before, so I thought I’d share. My hands no longer work the way they should, and getting flimsy poo bags open was a real chore until I came up with this:

When you tear them off the roll, don’t try to open them. First, cup the top of the bag loosely in your hand with about an inch of the top showing, then blow sharply down into the bag to expose the edges of the bag. Do this about five or six times, and this will open up the bag. Works like a charm for me!

I read you everyday in the Spokesman-Review. — Herb L., in Spokane, Washington

Herb, thanks for this hint! Another way that usually works for me is to hold the plastic bag between both hands and rub the bag back and forth near the top. The two sides open up just enough to allow me to grab the edges and pull them apart. — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com

FOR DEPOSIT ONLY

Dear Heloise: Today I saw in your column the advice to make checks for memorial donations in honor of a deceased person out to “the family of [the person’s name]” to make them easier to deposit.

When my mother became incapacitated and was still receiving social security checks, the bank told me to write “for deposit only” in the endorsement area. They told me this tells the bank what is supposed to happen with the check. — Dawn G., via email

MAKESHIFT DOGGY BED

Dear Heloise: My husband and I love to snuggle under a down comforter in chilly weather. After several years of use and cleaning, it was showing wear and tear. I bought a new down comforter but didn’t really know what to do with the old one.

While I was putting the new comforter in a cover, I loosely folded both sides of the old one toward the center, then rolled it up and placed it on the floor. My sweet little dog went over and curled up on the old comforter.

Since the dog loved it, I kept it as his bed, and now he sleeps on it all night or whenever he feels like taking a nap. As the old saying goes, “waste not, want not.”

I love your column and read it all the time. — Carol N., in Southfield, Michigan

CHEERFUL READING

Dear Heloise: I do volunteer work at a nursing home in Houston. Our residents sit in a circle, and I read the news to them from various sources because most of our residents have vision issues.

One day, one of the ladies asked me to read something other than the news because it was so depressing. I asked what they’d like to hear, and one person said “Hints From Heloise!” They all agreed, and now I read your hints to them because they said it cheered them up.

Now you’ve become a daily source of information, and sometimes you make them smile. Thank you for your wonderful advice! — Kathy, in Houston

TWO-IN-ONE HINT

Dear Heloise: I have two my hints! The first is that my husband and I keep a separate small trash can in our bathroom just for recycling. It is amazing the amount of things like tissue boxes, shampoo and conditioner bottles, pill bottles, and toilet paper rolls that might go into the landfill otherwise. The separate trash can makes it easy on trash day.

Second, when you empty the dishwasher, always start with emptying the bottom shelf, then work your way to the top. This helps you avoid getting the dishes wet again from residual water that might accumulate in the items on the higher shelves. — Pam C., Omaha, Nebraska