HINTS FROM HELOISE

DEAR HELOISE:

In your column, ask the people who deliver packages to please ring the doorbell when they leave the packages on the porch.

There has been much publicity about packages being stolen from porches, so one would think the deliverer would ring the bell in case someone is at home to pick up the package right away. It is quicker to knock (which we don’t hear unless we’re near the door) or just leave the package.

To help stem package theft, package delivery people should ring the doorbell.

— Sally H., Salem, Ore.

GOOD SAFETY HINT: thank you for writing in!

— Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: My husband and I were moving a TV from one room to another, and he was concerned about how to hook up the television after removing all of the cords.

I suggested that he take a picture with his phone of the proper placement of cords, and it helped him hook the television back up in the new room. This strategy also would work for computer cords.

— Cyndi R., Colorado Springs, Colo.

DEAR HELOISE: My pet peeve is telephoning businesses. Whenever I call any business these days, starting with “Press 1 for English,” I’m forced to listen to numerous automated prompts as to why I am calling. I must go through this routine before I can eventually access a real person, who then will ask you all of the previously requested questions again!

— Jean M., Torrington, Conn. DEAR HELOISE: When I know that a weather-related power outage is possible, I turn the temperature of my refrigerator and its freezer compartment to the coldest setting until the threat has passed.

— Mary H., Arlington, Va. DEAR HELOISE: My washing machine sits in a drain pan, and my dryer sits beside it. There is a space of an inch and a half between the two appliances.

To prevent things from falling between the two, I put a strip of duct tape over the space. Voila! No more mess on the floor.

— Judy C., Paragould, Ark. DEAR HELOISE: How often do you have to ask others in the house if they have read the paper or a magazine? My husband came up with this system: When he has read something, he just initials it.

If he wants it back because there is an article he wants to save, he prints “save” on it. That way, I know to give it back to him. Otherwise, when I see his initials, I know I can toss it after I read it. I do the same if I read the paper or magazine first. Saves a lot of time and questions.

— C.L., The Villages, Fla. SEND A MONEY-SAVING or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 782795000, or you can fax it to 1-210HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.