Dear Heloise: Don’t forget to stock up on batteries for Christmas. Most gifts that need them don’t have them included. You want to be sure that folks will be able to use the item as soon as they unwrap it. This is especially important for children’s gifts.

P.S. I read your column in the Republican-American published in Waterbury, Connecticut. — Carolyn M., in Canaan, Connecticut

TOUCH SCREEN ­SENSITIVITY

Dear Heloise: Touch screens have transitioned from being pressure-sensing to capacitive. Because of this transition, the moisture of your fingertip determines the sensitivity. I find that I need to occasionally lick my fingertip to get the screen to detect my finger, especially in the winter. I even had to do this to sign for a delivery. (I then washed that hand.)

Hand lotion is not good as it leaves a residue. There are touch-screen stylus pens that may also work. — David B., New Ulm, Minnesota

A GREEN TIP

Dear Heloise: A green tip I learned is not to put anything down the drain/toilet that you don’t absolutely have to. Things that go in the trash also go to the landfill, but things that go down the drain must go through several caustic processes that take up a great deal of energy to get the waste to the point that it can actually be disposed of in the landfill. — Annie H., Missoula, Montana

BEING ­ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE

Dear Heloise: A couple of months ago, my husband and I were vacationing in Canada, and we were very impressed by how our neighbors in the north recycle items. We were also happily surprised that they take cloth bags to grocery stories and use paper bags instead of plastic. Everyone looks at an environmentally friendly and sustainable way of life as the correct way to live.

Why can’t this country do the same thing? We have graffiti everywhere. People throw trash in the ocean, which kills thousands of sea life that mistake it for food. Our public parks often have overflowing trash barrels. We all live on one planet, and as far as I can tell, it’s everyone’s responsibility to “take out the trash.”

We need to end plastic bag use in America and teach our children that being careless and throwing garbage in the ocean is not acceptable. We all need to show more pride in our surroundings and remember that we don’t own Earth. We’re merely stewards of Earth. — Rita B., Mount Clemens, Michigan

Rita, I think Americans have been slow to adopt environmental changes, and unless our government does more to encourage people to conserve, recycle, and take better care of the world around us, things won’t change. I’m hoping this will start with people at a grassroots level. — Heloise

INDOOR POLLUTION

Dear Heloise: Indoor pollution can be caused by many factors such as cigarette smoke, gas stoves, and off-gases from new furniture, paint, wallpaper or carpeting. If you find it easier to breath outside of your home, you may have developed an allergy from indoor pollution.

There are some things you can do, and the first is to see a doctor to isolate what it is that you’re allergic to, in order to stop the rash, coughing or other irritations. We finally found out my son was allergic to cigarettes, so we quit smoking. His lungs cleared up. — Victoria H., Eugene, Oregon

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.