Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

To the editor,

Is it just me or has the packaging of today’s products become Enemy Number One for senior citizens?

I think things started to go astray with strapping tape. Its invention seemed harmless enough until the package it wrapped became impenetrable, without the use of an X-Acto knife and surgical skill.

Next came flesh-colored plastic tape that wouldn’t tear, just stretch, and then flesh-colored paper tape that tore but wouldn’t stick. Then, along came duck tape, man’s best friend, mending everything and anything in its silver-grey splendor, eventually finding its way to the hearts of women when it came out in beautiful colors and patterns after years of the dull silver-grey. I know I sported a couple of gorgeous handbags crafted from duck tape by granddaughter Angie.

Scotch tape, though wonderful, is totally over used. Some people just don’t know when enough is enough! It’s only a gift for Pete’s sake, going from your hand to mine. I’m expected to open it soooo, please, ease off the tape!

Remember that little pour spout on the salt box? Lift the paper, pull up the spout and pour…whatever happened to that? Oh, the spout is still there but the paper covering that spout must be glued with something from Nausau ’cause I sure can’t remove it on my own!

Whatever happened to the “press here” on cardboard containers of cereal and other household staples? More Nausau glue holds those box tops prisoner. I can’t even get a can of spray paint open. The instructions that read “Squeeze here to open” on the sides of the cans, plastic top weren’t meant for me on my best day!

And, we’ve all known for years that children are the ONLY ones capable of opening a “child-proof” cap!

I’ve had mayonnaise go out of date before I could get the protective cardboard seal off the jar, to say nothing of the dingy laundry I’ve had to rely on the sun to bleach while it hangs on the clothes line because I couldn’t pull the cardboard seal off the bleach bottle! Both of these everyday products have nice, tight, screw-on lids so why the unnecessary aggravation?

My head would hurt less and my house would be cleaner if I didn’t have to waste sooo much time trying to line up those little arrows on the jars before I can get them to open. Hey, my eyes aren’t what they once were…I throw up a little prayer every time I get those arrows lined up!

I also find the “Tear Here” a ruse. Truth to tell, the plastic-backed tinfoil or tinfoil-backed plastic is a nightmare to get into OR to reclose, if in fact you are lucky enough to get into them.

Zonia Dedloff

Starbuck