Dear Heloise: Renee recently commented about trying to read impossibly small print against similar colored backgrounds. This has been a thorn in my side for years! Additionally, the location, color and font size of a product’s expiration date is a problem. Expiration dates should be clearly stamped in contrasting ink on the top of the product, whether it’s a jar lid or a box top.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I select products by looking at the front of the label because this is what’s visible on the shelf. The presentation of the top of the package doesn’t matter. I don’t know why manufacturers won’t make this simple change.

Like Renee, I’ve stopped using some products because of this. I had a positive outcome by calling a customer service department about their impossible-to-find, let alone read, expiry date. It was a major brand of spaghetti sauce that comes in a glass jar. The sauce is dark red, and they used a tiny dark blue print on the shoulder of the jar. Until the jar was empty, I couldn’t see the date. I called and politely explained the issue, and I said that I wouldn’t buy it again.

Maybe mine wasn’t the only complaint because they started putting the date on the lid a few months later, and I started buying the sauce again. — Linda D., via email

Shorter mattresses

Dear Heloise: When I purchased a new bed, the mattress was 16 inches, and the box platform was 11 inches. I’m 60 inches tall, so I’d have to climb into my bed. The salesperson then notified me that they had a “half box size” (5 to 6 inches). This worked perfectly for me and was a little less expensive. So, ask the salesperson if they carry shorter (half-box) platforms when buying your next bed. I’m sleeping like a baby in New Carlisle, Ohio. — Nancy McF., via email

Leaving a burner on

Dear Heloise: This idea came to me as a way to help me from unintentionally leaving a burner on. When using a burner, position the knob slightly off the vertical or horizontal line at whatever setting you’re using it. This way, after you are done using the range, all you’ll need to do is quickly scan the stove to check that all the burners are off.

I was prompted to do this after my spouse unintentionally left burners on, and I could smell that something wasn’t correct. As we age, this is an easy check for us to do in the kitchen. — Jim, via email

Jim, thank you for this hint. It’s so easy to forget to turn the burners off, but it’s very dangerous to leave them on and unattended after we use the stove. — Heloise

Broken spaghetti straps

Dear Heloise: I have two dresses with spaghetti straps that I love wearing during a long, hot summer day. I hung up both dresses on hangers over the winter, but when I removed them from the garment bag, I saw that the straps were broken. How should I hang these two dresses when I get done repairing them? — Brianna, in Niagara Falls, New York

Brianna, if the dress manufacturer didn’t supply the dresses with side loops so that you could hang up your dresses, then either hang them over a pants hanger (usually at the waist), or clip the bodice to a skirt hanger. If you clip these dresses, be sure to use some foam under the clips to avoid crushing or marring velvet, silk or satin. — Heloise

Send a great hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. Copyright 2026 by King Features Syndicate Inc.