Opening pesky plastic bags

Dear Heloise: I’ve never seen this hint before, so I thought I’d share.

My hands no longer work the way they should, and getting flimsy poo bags open was a real chore until I came up with this:

When you tear them off the roll, don’t try to open them.

First, cup the top of the bag loosely in your hand with about an inch of the top showing, then blow sharply down into the bag to expose the edges of the bag.

Do this about five or six times, and this will open up the bag.

Works like a charm for me!

I read you everyday in the Spokesman-Review. — Herb L., in Spokane, Washington

Herb, thanks for this hint!

Another way that usually works for me is to hold the plastic bag between both hands and rub the bag back and forth near the top.

The two sides open up just enough to allow me to grab the edges and pull them apart. — Heloise

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Heloise@Heloise.com

FOR DEPOSIT ONLY

Dear Heloise: Today I saw in your column the advice to make checks for memorial donations in honor of a deceased person out to “the family of [the person’s name]” to make them easier to deposit.

When my mother became incapacitated and was still receiving social security checks, the bank told me to write “for deposit only” in the endorsement area.

They told me this tells the bank what is supposed to happen with the check. — Dawn G., via email