Q I recently have seen a number of ads in magazines and on TV about mascara wands that vibrate as they apply the goo. It occurred to me that they must have batteries and may be a disposal issue. Is that true?
A It depends on the brand. Inside Maybelline's Pulse Perfection mascara is an alkaline button battery. The package says it should be recycled, and gives instructions on how to remove the battery. Doing that isn't as easy as it sounds. You must pull off the top of the wand and then "crack" open the battery case. An improvised hammer was needed to do that.
Estee Lauder's Turbolash has a battery that contains mercury and must be disposed of or recycled according to local environmental regulations, said Lauder spokeswoman Erin Leary. An enclosure in the package illustrates how to pull off the end cap that houses the motor and battery assembly.
No matter which you use, recycling batteries in Minnesota isn't as simple as it used to be.
Battery recycling programs have become spotty, according to John Gilkeson with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. However, some cities and counties make battery recycling easy. Hennepin County, for example, has collection sites in city and county buildings, libraries, schools, retail stores, senior centers, in addition to the county drop-off facilities. For collection points in a specific city, go to: www.hennepin.us . Search for "battery drop-off."
Stop silver tarnish Q Is there a way to keep silverware from tarnishing between holiday uses?
A Try anti-tarnish paper strips or Pacific silvercloth. 3M's anti-tarnish strips protect silver during storage by absorbing tarnish-producing sulfides in the air. Store polished silverware with the paper strips in a china cabinet, silverware chest or any enclosure for up to six months of protection. (The more airtight the container, the longer the strips will last.) The strips won't remove existing tarnish.
Pacific silver cloth is a fabric that absorbs tarnish-producing gases. It comes in slotted rolls for silverware, pouches for larger items or by the yard so you can line silver chests or cabinet drawers. It's effective for up to 50 years. One brand name is Silverguard ( www.silverguard.com ).
