Dear Heloise: When it’s time to restock your pill dispenser from your personal pharmacy, it can be challenging to remember which time of day to take them or how many pills to take. To make this process easier, consider using a magic marker to write when to take each pill on top of the cap, such as “a.m.,” “p.m.,” or whatever time you need them.

For medications that need to be taken multiple times a day, you can write “a.m./p.m.” For medications that need to be taken at a certain quantity, you can add the quantity on the cap, such as “2x” or “1/2.” These markings should only be made on your “active” bottles.

When you receive a refill for a medication, place it in your pill bag/box without marking the cap. This helps keep the “new” bottles without cap markings easily distinguishable from the “active” ones. Once an active bottle is empty, simply transfer the cap from the empty bottle to the new bottle and return it to the bag/box. The cap from the new bottle should then be placed on the old empty bottle. Remove the label and recycle.

I use two bags; one is stored inside the other. The inner bag contains active pills, and the new pills are placed between the outer and inner bags. I hope this helps some of your readers.

—Michael Floeser, in Rochester, New York

MOVE IT TO JUNK

Dear Heloise: I am responding to Steve W. about unsubscribing. I have spent time unsubscribing to unwanted emails. If it’s a legit company, then I’ll consider it. But I’m finding that most of them are probably just phishing to find live email addresses. Recently, I read an article that suggested to instead move these unwanted emails to “junk.” Then your phone will start sending them there directly.

— Mark Hadley, via email

PEELING POTATOES

Dear Heloise: I love your column and have been a faithful reader for decades. This is a tip on peeling potatoes. After having a garbage disposal backup due to putting potato peelings into it, the plumber suggested not to do this in the future.

Now, after washing the potatoes for peeling, I open a few sheets of newspaper to cover the sink. Then you can peel away. When you’re done, just fold up the newspaper with the peelings, and you can safely dispose of the mess into the garbage. No more clogged drains!

— Jodi Fidler, via email

SLOW COOKER

Dear Heloise: I’m a culinary teacher, and I teach my students how to use a slow cooker. Among the things I tell them is to never peek inside while the slow cooker is working. You just add extra time to the food being cooked.

The slow cooker is a safe appliance and saves a lot of time preparing dinner. They can cut up vegetables the night before and store them in a plastic bag until they’re ready to be put into the slow cooker. In warm weather, it doesn’t heat up the whole house either.

— V.J., in Canada

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