Dear Heloise: When the coffee can is close to empty, I turn the can upside down over a large bowl and hit the bottom and sides of the can. I can rotate it while hitting the sides until it looks clear of most of the grounds. Then I use a soft brush inside the can to collect whatever grounds are still remaining.

If the can is to be reused, it can then be wiped clean. I also make coffee in an electric 12-cup percolator that was purchased online. My husband and I have been making our coffee for several years this way, and it tastes great. All the parts are metal, so no plastic comes into contact with the coffee-brewing process. We order paper filters online to use with the percolator. This old-fashioned technique still seems to work for us.

-- Marlene S., in Tucson, Arizona

THE SILENT GENERATION

Dear Heloise: I just read the terms that are used for certain years of birth. Baby Boomers were born between 1946-1964. I was born in 1935, so what am I labeled? "Old"?

-- Grandma G., via email

Grandma G., the Silent Generation refers to people who were born between 1928-1945.

-Heloise

TAKING MEDICATIONS

Dear Heloise: I take a couple of pills in the morning and another one in the evening. Because I take them every day, sometimes I forget whether I have had the day's dosage. So, after I take the pills in the morning, I turn the bottle upside down. I know that I have taken them for the day whenever I look at the bottle.

In the evening, I turn them right side up again, take my nighttime pill, then turn this bottle upside down. In the morning, I turn it right side up and look to my morning pills. A couple of people know my system and found it helpful. So, I thought I would pass it on to see if anybody else could use it.

-- Kat B., in Phoenix

MAKING LIFE EASIER

Dear Heloise: I have found that as I am aging (I'm 71), there are some things that are becoming more constant pain-in-the-backs to do, specifically bending over. Since mywife and I don't generate much dirty dishes and such, I have found it much easier to just put everything on the top rack of the dishwasher except dinner plates and silverware.

This makes for a lot less bending over, and there are fewer dishes to put away when it's done. My back really appreciates it.

-- Brad Hinks, via email

MODERN VENDING MACHINES

Dear Heloise: The majority of vending machines in the Los Angeles area have been converted to cashless machines. This means that you can only use credit or debit cards. So, if you are a person who carries cash, you are out of luck. Parking meters have gone the same way.

-- Gary Kuepper, in Long Beach, California

GRABANDGO!

Dear Heloise: I took an unused cosmetic bag and filled it with a travel sewing kit, an eyeglass repair kit, various sizes of safety pins, paper clips, rubber bands, binder clips, clothespins, and a few adhesive strips. I use it for grab-and-go traveling. It comes in handy!

-- Dorothy C., in Manchester, New Hampshire

Send a great hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.