Dear Heloise: I read your column in the Patriot-News and have seen several letters suggesting that fabric softener sheets can be used to clean a dryer’s lint screen. I suggest that folks check the owner’s manual for their dryer. I checked mine and found that my dryer’s manufacturer does not recommend this because these sheets (new or used) can leave residue on the lint screen and cause clogging.

Their suggestion was a dry finger or one that is slightly moistened with water. Thanks for your attention to this problem. Have a great day! — Betsy Leister, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

DISPOSING PILLS IN ­COFFEE

Dear Heloise: Another answer to pill disposal comes from my pharmacist — coffee grounds. Just put your unusable pills in your wet, used coffee grounds. It will dissolve the pills, and then they can be thrown in the garbage. — Carolyn, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

REHEATING GRAINS

Dear Heloise: I’ve heard complaints from people who say that microwaving leftover rice or pasta dries it out. I add a dash or two of water to the bowl, cover it, then heat it up. The steam revives the food.

Similarly, to revive bread, wet a paper towel and wring the excess water. Then wrap it around the bread and seal it inside a plastic bag, removing any excess air for expansion. Heat for 20 seconds or less. — Mark Korba, via email

JEWELRY ORGANIZATION

Dear Heloise: Regarding jewelry organizers, I use a flat plastic fishing tackle box for earrings. The dividers can be moved to accommodate bigger earrings and can be organized by color. I also use a small one for travel. Everything stays in place! — Connie C., Melrose, Wisconsin

COUPON ANXIETY

Dear Heloise: I can definitely see both sides of the coupon debate! For me, using coupons tends to be more of a situational thing. While I love saving money, I’ve found that the time it takes to sort through them, match them to my shopping list, then use them at checkout can sometimes feel like more trouble than it’s worth — especially with the increasingly limited checkout areas in most grocery stores.

With fewer cashiers and longer lines, the pressure of using coupons becomes even more intense. There’s that subtle stress of feeling like everyone’s waiting on you, which can make the whole experience uncomfortable. The reduced number of checkout lanes means that when someone is carefully scanning and applying multiple coupons, the wait time for other customers becomes even more pronounced.

That being said, saving $14 in one trip is impressive, and I admire Dorthy’s dedication! Maybe I just need to get better at organizing my coupons ahead of time or finding stores with more efficient checkout processes. Perhaps using digital coupons or shopping during less busy hours could help minimize the social anxiety of coupon use. — James, in Virginia

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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.