Dear Heloise: There has been quite a bit of discussion regarding lost house keys. The easiest way to avoid losing your keys is not having keys in the first place! You can get around this by buying a deadbolt lock for your house that has a combination pad.

If you have one, all you have to do to unlock your door is enter a four- to six-digit code, and the door unlocks. There is still a key hole for folks who feel like they have to carry a key. But I have not carried a house key in 20 years. In fact, I don’t even know where my house key is.

These locks are available at any hardware store. — Chris Kuzan, via email

GETTING THE LAST BIT OUT

Dear Heloise: I don’t know if anyone has suggested this in the past on how to get every last bit out of plastic bottles. When I can’t get anything more out of a bottle, I take out a kitchen knife and poke it in the middle and cut the plastic while rotating the bottle until I’ve cut it in half. (Leave the cap on.)

I then use a small rubber spatula to get out everything inside. It’s amazing how much can be salvaged, and it’s no more dangerous than cutting up a whole chicken. — D.H., in St. Louis

PROBLEMS WITH PILLS

Dear Heloise: I have difficulty finding pockets large enough to hold my prescriptions and supplements. I solved this problem by using a newspaper plastic sleeve. I sort my daily pills, put one day’s worth in the bottom of a plastic bag, tie a knot firmly, add another day’s worth, and keep repeating until I use up the bag.

Each morning, I snip off the top layer of pills. These travel much easier than a pill container, don’t have much weight, and don’t take up much space.

I so enjoy your column, as well as your mom’s for years. I have used lots of your hints, and I read your column in the Dayton Daily News. — Karen H., Centerville, Ohio

YARN COAT HANGERS

Dear Heloise: My recycling hint is to take leftover bits of yarn and cover metal coat hangers with it. I wind the small balls of yarn tightly then make a pretty bow at the end.

These hangers are great for hanging pants, blouses, dresses and other items. The yarn-covered hangers keep the clothes from slipping off and leaving poke holes or creases. I have been doing this for years.

I read your column in the New Hampshire Union Leader. — Frances Riel, Manchester, New Hampshire

STORING PLASTIC BAGS

Dear Heloise: We like to save plastic shopping bags to use for a variety of things, but storing them was an issue. We started folding them and putting them in empty paper towel rolls. It works perfectly. Each roll holds four to five bags, and they store neatly in a kitchen drawer. Less mess. — Holly G., in Florida

TWO HELPFUL HINTS

Dear Heloise: Here are two hints: I use a shower bench and a handheld shower head. I run the warm water over the bench first so that I have a nice heated seat to sit on.

The next hint is that when reading a book, I face the front of the bookmark toward the next page I will read so that I know where I left off. — B.A., in Connecticut

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

HANDY KITCHEN HINTS

Dear Heloise: A slightly moistened paper towel tucked into a bag of salad greens helps keep them fresh. This works for other veggies as well.

When I have liquid to discard that may have some fat in it, such as broth, I first let the liquid cool so that the fat congeals; then I lay a paper towel across the sink drain to strain the fat. — S.P., in Indiana

AIR DRAFT CHECK

Dear Readers: If you haven’t already, now is a good time to check the windows and doors around your home for air leaks and drafts. Blocking escaping heat will lower your utility bills this winter. — Heloise