Heloise, syndicated columnist

Dear Heloise: I have a suggestion for donations to food pantries. I usually donate nonfood necessities such as toilet paper, trial sizes or small sizes of shampoo, laundry detergent, feminine supplies, toothpaste, and more. Many people who use food pantries are living out of a backpack, so small sizes work best. Pantries have a higher number of customers when school is out, so this is a good time for an extra donation.

I also include zip-close bags to keep things dry in a backpack that isn’t water-resistant. Can you imagine needing toilet paper and not having it? Also, as far as clothing drives, I’ll pick up a couple packages of underwear that are my size to donate. Someone who’s my size may be in need of it. — Beverly P., via email

Beverly, these are useful items that we all need. However, some food pantries won’t accept anything but food items. So, it might be best to call and ask if your local food pantry or food bank is willing to accept and distribute nonedible items. — Heloise

REVIVING STALE CHIPS

Dear Heloise: The best way to make stale chips crisp again is to use an air fryer. It is fast and uses much less energy. — Ron T., via email

WIPE AFTER SHOPPING

Dear Heloise: Just wanted to respond to the comments that I’m seeing about using wipes at the grocery store. I do use them but on my way out of the store to clean my hands, not on my way in. — Kate, in Portland, Oregon

Kate, agreed! You never know how many times an item was handled by another person. When I get home from the grocery store (or any shopping trip), I always wash my hands before putting things away. Then I wash them again afterward to remove anything I may have picked up from handling the bags.

Sound excessive? Actually, it’s not. We all handle things that other people have touched, and without thinking about it, we then touch our eyes, our lips, or an earlobe. When doing this, we transmit bacteria to ourselves with the possibility of picking up a flu, virus or something worse. — Heloise

WASH YOUR FOOD ITEMS

Dear Heloise: We work in a large grocery store here in Texas, and we often see people handling items such as tomatoes, looking them over, putting them back, then examining another tomato, and so on. If you want the fruit and vegetables that have been handled the least, always reach as high up as you can. Most folks take from the lower options, as it’s easier to reach.

Before you eat these fresh foods, wash them well. Instead of soap, use baking soda to scrub off any germs and oil from a stranger’s hands. — Bobby, Jake and Luis, via email

BLISTER PACKAGING

Dear Heloise: I have a good way of removing medications from blister packaging. I use a basic potato peeler and use the end of the peeler to remove the eyes of potatoes. I push the end of the peeler through the foil at the edge of the blister, then I fold the foil over. The point of the peeler isn’t sharp enough to damage the medication. When I’ve finished peeling all of the blister’s packing material, I dump the contents into a bowl, and this way, my thumbs don’t get sore. — James A., via email

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