DEAR HELOISE: Regarding hard-boiled eggs, I’ve had a terrible time with them over the years and have tried several different methods. I finally found a method on the internet that actually works:

Put about three-fourths of an inch of water in a saucepan and heat it to boiling. Once it’s boiling, take the eggs out of the refrigerator and gently place them in the pan of boiling water, being careful not to burn yourself of course. They must be in a single layer. Do not stack them!

Then cover and continue to boil for 14 minutes. In the meantime, get your ice water ready. (I keep a frozen bottle of water in my freezer and use this along with regular water.) After 14 minutes, put the cooked eggs in the ice water and let them sit there for about 14 more minutes. Then use the eggs or put them in the refrigerator with a label to remember that they expire in one week.

I’ve had great luck with this. The eggs almost always peel easily, and I almost never get a green ring around the yolk, which I hate. It’s so quick to do, and I can cook them while I’m doing something else and not waste any time. Plus, there’s no fussing to get the eggs at room temperature. I read your column every day.

— Carol, via email

DEAR HELOISE: Sometimes you need a steel wool soap pad to clean a nasty pan. I cut mine in halves or quarters to save on waste and also save a few dollars.

— Kristin Logue, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

DEAR HELOISE: Many thanks to Bob for his hint about silencing unknown calls on my iPhone. My hint is that I save old plastic credit cards to use to spread glue over large surfaces. This is an old woodworker’s trick, but it can be used for paper and other things.

— Bill, in St. Louis

DEAR HELOISE: I have been reading “Hints From Heloise” for many years and have used many of them. I have two of my own to offer:

�–� When spraying bathroom deodorizer, rather than spraying it into the air, I spray it into the wastebasket. It seems to last longer and avoids residue on the countertop or mirror.

�–� I save plastic bags that our newspaper is delivered in. I use them when traveling to dispose of small trash or personal items. They take up no space in the suitcase and are very handy.

–Linda Bloom,

in Southlake, Texas