Dear Heloise: I am a peritoneal dialysis patient and had initially experienced the mold growth condition similar to the one described in the “mold spores” letter you recently published.

When it initially happened, I simply poured a little bleach in the collection container, then swished it around. It killed the mold almost immediately. Unfortunately, unless I did this every day, the mold would come back.

Given that my wife didn’t like having the bleach odor in our house any longer than necessary, I ultimately chose to simply spray scented disinfectant spray into the container for approximately 10 seconds after emptying the container each morning. It has completely resolved the mold concern.

In addition, because the scented spray has the added benefit of not having a stronger odor than bleach, it has been a win-win situation for us.

— R.B., via email

REUSING NEWSPAPER

Dear Heloise: I still receive the Bakersfield Californian newspaper at home because I love the feel of it in my hands. When I have gathered enough papers for a couple weeks, I take the papers to a local boarding facility for them to use in bird cages! They are grateful, and the papers get reused.

— Shirley S., via email

Shirley, this is an excellent recycling idea! I’ve had readers who save their newspapers and take them to various animal shelters, along with old blankets and towels after they’ve washed them.

— Heloise

BATHROOM MATCHES

Dear Heloise: I love your column. I have read it and found many helpful hints during the many years of you and your mom’s column being printed in the Orange County Register.

My grandmother kept a book of matches and an ashtray in the bathroom to be used when needed. I learned this at an early age during the 1950s, and it still works today.

— Sandy L., in Southern California

REUSING JARS

Dear Heloise: I was saving plastic jars from the big-box stores that mixed nuts come in. They have a large mouth and a tightly fitting lid, and they are lightweight. These products now come in plastic bags, so I store rice, flour, sugar and pet food in them.

I love your column and read it in the Orange County Register.

— Gloria, in Mission Viejo

TRANSFERING SPICES

Dear Heloise: Thanks for your interesting column that I have followed for many years.

When refilling some of my smaller spice containers with spices from a larger container, I struggled with trying to get the dry ingredients through a funnel into the smaller jar. I discovered the best way to do it is to use cupcake paper.

Shake the dry ingredients into the cupcake paper, then pick it up, and curl it and the ingredients. This way, they will easily transfer into the spice jar with no spillage.

I also have started using this to remove tea from tea bags to put into a metal tea ball, since I recently read that tea bags can contain microplastics.

— T.E.I., An Avid Reader

Send a great hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.