HELOISE

Dear Heloise: Using a sealed bin helps to keep mice out, but it doesn’t always work. The smell of birdseed can get through plastic, and mice are persistent. What finally did the trick for me was putting a lavender room freshener inside the bin, tucked in a corner away from the seed bag. There’s no contact with the seed, so there’s no risk of contamination — just a scent that mice seem to hate. I actually like the smell, so it’s a win for me.

The bin stays on my enclosed back porch during the colder months, and I haven’t seen any mice since I started doing this. If you don’t have lavender, peppermint is supposed to work, too, although I haven’t tried it. Either way, it’s cheaper than traps and much easier to deal with. — Diane C., in Connecticut

PLAN FOR THE PET YOU LOVE

Dear Heloise: People don’t talk enough about what happens to pets when their owners pass away, especially with seniors. I’ve seen this happen to friends, and it’s heartbreaking. Animals that spent their whole lives in one place get shuffled around, handed off to whoever will take them, or dropped off at a shelter — not out of cruelty, just because nobody made a plan.

One cat I knew had lived quietly with the same person since she was a kitten. After her owner passed, she landed in a loud, crowded house. She fell apart, and eventually, she was put out. Luckily, someone found her and helped, but not all pets are this fortunate.

If you have a pet, make a plan for when you can no longer care for them. Choose someone who can care for them, set aside money for their needs, and include it in your will. Your pet has given you years of love — give them something back. — Kathy W., via email

PACK THE CRACKS, SKIP THE WEEDS

Dear Heloise: Weeds that grow through cracks in the driveway and sidewalks are tough, and most solutions don’t last all season. But sand does! Every spring, I fill the cracks by hand, pressing the sand down until the gaps are full. Rain doesn’t wash it away; in fact, the sand settles in more tightly over time, blocking the light and space that weeds need to grow.

In the fall, when I power-wash the driveway and sidewalks, the sand washes out easily. Once everything is dry, I refill the cracks and start the process again. No chemicals, no spraying and no pulling. It takes about 20 minutes and lasts all season. I’ve tried many other methods, but this is the only one that really works. — Tom W., in West Virginia

WATER PRESSURE AND FLUSH STRENGTH

Dear Heloise: Water pressure and flush strength aren’t the same, although they often get confused. Most of the water in a flush comes straight from the tank, not the supply line. Water pressure mainly affects how quickly the tank refills after flushing.

Higher pressure refills the tank faster, which sounds like a good thing, right? But a faster refill means that the fill lines close sooner, reducing how much of the supply line actually reaches the bowl. More back pressure means weaker contribution from the line since the two pull in opposite directions.

If you’re having trouble with a weak flush, check the tank’s water level, the flapper seal, and the tank’s overall volume first. — Tim, via email

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.