diff --git a/auth.py b/auth.py
index c62dc8236..2deb93bf0 100644
--- a/auth.py
+++ b/auth.py
@@ -173,8 +173,7 @@ def storeBasicCredentials(baseDir: str, nickname: str, password: str) -> bool:
             os.rename(passwordFile + '.new', passwordFile)
         else:
             # append to password file
-            with open(passwordFile, 'a+') as passfile:
-                passfile.write(storeStr + '\n')
+            storeValue(passwordFile, storeStr, 'append')
     else:
         storeValue(passwordFile, storeStr, 'write')
     return True
diff --git a/blocking.py b/blocking.py
index a90a63953..e0c8ab767 100644
--- a/blocking.py
+++ b/blocking.py
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ def addGlobalBlock(baseDir: str,
             if blockHandle in open(blockingFilename).read():
                 return False
         # block an account handle or domain
-        blockFile = open(blockingFilename, "a+")
-        if blockFile:
-            blockFile.write(blockHandle + '\n')
-            blockFile.close()
+        storeValue(blockingFilename, blockHandle, 'append')
     else:
         blockHashtag = blockNickname
         # is the hashtag already blocked?
@@ -51,10 +48,7 @@ def addGlobalBlock(baseDir: str,
             if blockHashtag + '\n' in open(blockingFilename).read():
                 return False
         # block a hashtag
-        blockFile = open(blockingFilename, "a+")
-        if blockFile:
-            blockFile.write(blockHashtag + '\n')
-            blockFile.close()
+        storeValue(blockingFilename, blockHashtag, 'append')
     return True
 
 
@@ -70,9 +64,7 @@ def addBlock(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     if os.path.isfile(blockingFilename):
         if blockHandle in open(blockingFilename).read():
             return False
-    blockFile = open(blockingFilename, "a+")
-    blockFile.write(blockHandle + '\n')
-    blockFile.close()
+    storeValue(blockingFilename, blockHandle, 'append')
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index db2cffa52..32ee60d6e 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -432,10 +432,7 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                                         self.server.maxReplies,
                                         self.server.debug)
                         # record the vote
-                        votesFile = open(votesFilename, 'a+')
-                        if votesFile:
-                            votesFile.write(messageId + '\n')
-                            votesFile.close()
+                        storeValue(votesFilename, messageId, 'append')
 
                         # ensure that the cached post is removed if it exists,
                         # so that it then will be recreated
diff --git a/filters.py b/filters.py
index f7dc2193b..53c837bc9 100644
--- a/filters.py
+++ b/filters.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ __email__ = "bob@freedombone.net"
 __status__ = "Production"
 
 import os
+from storage import storeValue
 
 
 def addFilter(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, words: str) -> bool:
@@ -17,9 +18,7 @@ def addFilter(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, words: str) -> bool:
     if os.path.isfile(filtersFilename):
         if words in open(filtersFilename).read():
             return False
-    filtersFile = open(filtersFilename, "a+")
-    filtersFile.write(words + '\n')
-    filtersFile.close()
+    storeValue(filtersFilename, words, 'append')
     return True
 
 
@@ -35,9 +34,7 @@ def addGlobalFilter(baseDir: str, words: str) -> bool:
     if os.path.isfile(filtersFilename):
         if words in open(filtersFilename).read():
             return False
-    filtersFile = open(filtersFilename, "a+")
-    filtersFile.write(words + '\n')
-    filtersFile.close()
+    storeValue(filtersFilename, words, 'append')
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 0d447cf8f..9eb158491 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -276,8 +276,7 @@ def unfollowAccount(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     if os.path.isfile(unfollowedFilename):
         if handleToUnfollowLower not in \
            open(unfollowedFilename).read().lower():
-            with open(unfollowedFilename, "a+") as f:
-                f.write(handleToUnfollow + '\n')
+            storeValue(unfollowedFilename, handleToUnfollow, 'append')
     else:
         storeValue(unfollowedFilename, handleToUnfollow, 'write')
 
@@ -599,8 +598,7 @@ def _storeFollowRequest(baseDir: str,
 
     if os.path.isfile(approveFollowsFilename):
         if approveHandle not in open(approveFollowsFilename).read():
-            with open(approveFollowsFilename, 'a+') as fp:
-                fp.write(approveHandleStored + '\n')
+            storeValue(approveFollowsFilename, approveHandleStored, 'append')
         else:
             if debug:
                 print('DEBUG: ' + approveHandleStored +
diff --git a/happening.py b/happening.py
index 730b45162..1bc8685a5 100644
--- a/happening.py
+++ b/happening.py
@@ -118,11 +118,8 @@ def saveEventPost(baseDir: str, handle: str, postId: str,
             return False
 
     # append the post Id to the file for the calendar month
-    calendarFile = open(calendarFilename, 'a+')
-    if not calendarFile:
+    if not storeValue(calendarFilename, postId, 'append'):
         return False
-    calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
-    calendarFile.close()
 
     # create a file which will trigger a notification that
     # a new event has been added
@@ -245,9 +242,10 @@ def getTodaysEvents(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     # if some posts have been deleted then regenerate the calendar file
     if recreateEventsFile:
         calendarFile = open(calendarFilename, 'w+')
-        for postId in calendarPostIds:
-            calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
-        calendarFile.close()
+        if calendarFile:
+            for postId in calendarPostIds:
+                calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
+            calendarFile.close()
 
     return events
 
@@ -362,9 +360,10 @@ def getThisWeeksEvents(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str) -> {}:
     # if some posts have been deleted then regenerate the calendar file
     if recreateEventsFile:
         calendarFile = open(calendarFilename, 'w+')
-        for postId in calendarPostIds:
-            calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
-        calendarFile.close()
+        if calendarFile:
+            for postId in calendarPostIds:
+                calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
+            calendarFile.close()
 
     return events
 
@@ -427,9 +426,10 @@ def getCalendarEvents(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     # if some posts have been deleted then regenerate the calendar file
     if recreateEventsFile:
         calendarFile = open(calendarFilename, 'w+')
-        for postId in calendarPostIds:
-            calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
-        calendarFile.close()
+        if calendarFile:
+            for postId in calendarPostIds:
+                calendarFile.write(postId + '\n')
+            calendarFile.close()
 
     return events
 
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index 0c24e586c..e80fc9071 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -2816,10 +2816,7 @@ def _checkJsonSignature(baseDir: str, queueJson: {}) -> (bool, bool):
                     alreadyUnknown = True
 
             if not alreadyUnknown:
-                unknownFile = open(unknownContextsFile, "a+")
-                if unknownFile:
-                    unknownFile.write(unknownContext + '\n')
-                    unknownFile.close()
+                storeValue(unknownContextsFile, unknownContext, 'append')
     else:
         print('Unrecognized jsonld signature type: ' +
               jwebsigType)
@@ -2834,10 +2831,7 @@ def _checkJsonSignature(baseDir: str, queueJson: {}) -> (bool, bool):
                 alreadyUnknown = True
 
         if not alreadyUnknown:
-            unknownFile = open(unknownSignaturesFile, "a+")
-            if unknownFile:
-                unknownFile.write(jwebsigType + '\n')
-                unknownFile.close()
+            storeValue(unknownSignaturesFile, jwebsigType, 'append')
     return hasJsonSignature, jwebsigType
 
 
diff --git a/manualapprove.py b/manualapprove.py
index d89f23a79..7e97543b4 100644
--- a/manualapprove.py
+++ b/manualapprove.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from follow import followedAccountAccepts
 from follow import followedAccountRejects
 from follow import removeFromFollowRequests
 from utils import loadJson
+from storage import storeValue
 
 
 def manualDenyFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str,
@@ -41,9 +42,7 @@ def manualDenyFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str,
     removeFromFollowRequests(baseDir, nickname, domain, denyHandle, debug)
 
     # Store rejected follows
-    rejectsFile = open(rejectedFollowsFilename, "a+")
-    rejectsFile.write(denyHandle + '\n')
-    rejectsFile.close()
+    storeValue(rejectedFollowsFilename, denyHandle, 'append')
 
     denyNickname = denyHandle.split('@')[0]
     denyDomain = \
@@ -70,13 +69,9 @@ def _approveFollowerHandle(accountDir: str, approveHandle: str) -> None:
     approvedFilename = accountDir + '/approved.txt'
     if os.path.isfile(approvedFilename):
         if approveHandle not in open(approvedFilename).read():
-            approvedFile = open(approvedFilename, "a+")
-            approvedFile.write(approveHandle + '\n')
-            approvedFile.close()
+            storeValue(approvedFilename, approveHandle, 'append')
     else:
-        approvedFile = open(approvedFilename, "w+")
-        approvedFile.write(approveHandle + '\n')
-        approvedFile.close()
+        storeValue(approvedFilename, approveHandle, 'write')
 
 
 def manualApproveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str,
@@ -201,9 +196,7 @@ def manualApproveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str,
         else:
             print('Manual follow accept: first follower accepted for ' +
                   handle + ' is ' + approveHandleFull)
-            followersFile = open(followersFilename, "w+")
-            followersFile.write(approveHandleFull + '\n')
-            followersFile.close()
+            storeValue(followersFilename, approveHandleFull, 'write')
 
     # only update the follow requests file if the follow is confirmed to be
     # in followers.txt
diff --git a/person.py b/person.py
index 9cb0af29b..f9052ff86 100644
--- a/person.py
+++ b/person.py
@@ -1144,11 +1144,8 @@ def personSnooze(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     if os.path.isfile(snoozedFilename):
         if snoozeActor + ' ' in open(snoozedFilename).read():
             return
-    snoozedFile = open(snoozedFilename, "a+")
-    if snoozedFile:
-        snoozedFile.write(snoozeActor + ' ' +
-                          str(int(time.time())) + '\n')
-        snoozedFile.close()
+    storeStr = snoozeActor + ' ' + str(int(time.time()))
+    storeValue(snoozedFilename, storeStr, 'append')
 
 
 def personUnsnooze(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
diff --git a/threads.py b/threads.py
index c07de0821..189b41a2f 100644
--- a/threads.py
+++ b/threads.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import threading
 import sys
 import time
 import datetime
+from storage import storeValue
 
 
 class threadWithTrace(threading.Thread):
@@ -139,10 +140,8 @@ def removeDormantThreads(baseDir: str, threadsList: [], debug: bool,
 
     if debug:
         sendLogFilename = baseDir + '/send.csv'
-        try:
-            with open(sendLogFilename, "a+") as logFile:
-                logFile.write(currTime.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ") +
-                              ',' + str(noOfActiveThreads) +
-                              ',' + str(len(threadsList)) + '\n')
-        except BaseException:
-            pass
+        storeStr = \
+            currTime.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ") + \
+            ',' + str(noOfActiveThreads) + \
+            ',' + str(len(threadsList))
+        storeValue(sendLogFilename, storeStr, 'append')
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index e22a2f68d..85d24364e 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -951,8 +951,7 @@ def _setDefaultPetName(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                     # petname already exists
                     return
     # petname doesn't already exist
-    with open(petnamesFilename, 'a+') as petnamesFile:
-        petnamesFile.write(petnameLookupEntry)
+    storeValue(petnamesFilename, petnameLookupEntry, 'append')
 
 
 def followPerson(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,