Cheaper, Better, Faster (30 page)

Surfaces—driveway oil stains

To remove oil stains from your driveway, sprinkle kitty litter on the stain and “scrub” with a brick in a circular motion. Repeat for stubborn stains.

Surfaces—fake flagstones

Instead of using expensive flagstones for garden paths, use salvaged pieces of cement, which you can find at apartment complexes or city streets where sidewalks are being replaced. They create the same rustic effect when randomly placed and edged with thyme or other greenery.

Surfaces—icy
wooden deck

If your wooden deck gets icy in the winter, sprinkle it with cornmeal. This provides traction and a snack for the birds when the ice melts.

Surfaces—ivy
in bricks

To get rid of ivy rooting in cracks and mortar of bricks, cut the vine away, wait for the suckers that cling to the brick to dry out, then simply brush them away.

Surfaces—washing bricks

Wash bricks with a mixture of household bleach and
water—a 50/50 mix for heavy deposits, a weaker mix for lighter ones.

Swings—rope burns

To keep kids from getting rope burns while playing on a swing, put foam handlebar grip pads over the rope. They can be adjusted for height.

Tablecloth
—for outdoors

When entertaining outdoors, use a clean, bright beach towel for a tablecloth.

Terra-cotta pots—cleaning

The white rings on the outside of terra-cotta pots, caused by minerals in the water, can usually be wiped away with white vinegar.

Cats—canned food at room
temperature

Always let canned cat food come to room temperature before serving. Cold food straight from the refrigerator can upset a cat's stomach.

Cats—dried food, not canned

Feed your cat dried food instead of canned. It is cheaper, neater, and more convenient. It also lasts longer, is less likely to spoil when left in the cat's dish, and even helps clean the cat's teeth. Cats with special conditions should be fed according to a veterinarian's instructions.

Cats—kitten training

Discourage a kitten from scratching furniture by placing pieces of aluminum foil on upholstery and around table and chair legs. The sight and sound will frighten her off.

Cats—litter box cleaning

Use hot water and liquid dish-washing detergent to clean litter box surfaces. Avoid using chlorine bleach for cleaning.
Fumes can be created through a chemical reaction between the bleach and residual ammonia in a litter box after it has been emptied.

Cats—litter
box liner

Line the bottom of the kitty-litter box with
¼
inch of baking soda to prevent odors.

Cats—
litter mat

Put a sisal mat or a piece of some other material that has a deep pile in front of the cat's litter box. Now litter won't get tracked all over the place. Once a week, simply shake out the mat.

Cats—litter substitute

Shredded paper makes a wonderful substitute for kitty litter. You can either use the shreds from an office or shred your own newspaper. It is much better than the litter because it absorbs waste and odors better, doesn't need to be replaced as often, and is free.

Cats—scratching pads

If your cat prefers the furniture to his scratching post, try placing carpet samples throughout the house. For some reason, many cats prefer them.

Dogs—beef jerky trick

When you open a bag of dry dog food your pet is not terribly fond of, put a few pieces of beef jerky in the bag and leave them. They will slowly diffuse a pleasant odor that may make the food more appetizing to your dog.

Dogs—bells and walks

Hang a bell on your doorknob. As you are about to take your pet for a walk, ring the bell. Soon, the dog will associate going for a walk with the bell and will ring the bell himself when he needs to go for a walk.

Dogs—burrs off coats

To remove burrs from a dog's coat, soften them by applying
a few drops of mineral oil or shampoo, then comb them out easily. Mineral oil is cheap and available at drugstores.

Dogs—
collars made of leather belts

The next time one of your leather belts wears out, don't throw it away. It will make a great collar for your pet. Just cut it down to size and punch a new hole.

Dogs—house-training puppies

Nothing makes puppies urinate more than being cold. Fix their bed in a warm spot, and they'll have fewer accidents.

Dogs—pooper-scooper

Don't toss out the cardboard French fry container next time you eat fast food. Instead flatten it and save it for your next dog walk. When Fido leaves his mark, pull out the container, pop it open, and scoop up the mess. Transfer to the plastic bag you also carry with you, and drop the whole thing into the nearest trash can.

Dogs—puppy repellent

Mix
¼
cup oil of cloves, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Pour into a small container with a tight-fitting lid. Label and keep away from children. Dab this repellent on furniture legs, carpets, and other items you want your puppy to stay away from. The scent will diminish over time, so reapply until training is complete.

Dogs—stop the chewing on paws

To cure a dog of chewing on her paws when she gets bored, paint the spot she likes to chew with oil of cloves (available at drugstores).

Dogs—treats

Forget those expensive dog treats! Fill a small plastic container with dry dog food and give your dog a bite-size portion for a snack or reward. It's better for your dog's health and a great way to give pets on a restricted diet a treat too.

Dogs—water
with ice cubes in summer

During hot summer days fill your dog's water bowls with ice cubes. They'll have nice cool water throughout the day.

Fleas—dip

For an effective flea dip, boil orange and lemon peels in water. Cool the water and use it for a pet rinse or dip. Smells nice and fresh. You can also slice citrus and rub the fruit into the dog's coat. The bugs will keel over from the smell.

Fleas—
keep off pet's head when bathing

When bathing a dog or cat, first lather up a ring of shampoo around the animal's neck to help keep fleas from running to the pet's head while you are washing its body.

Fleas—they hate vinegar

When bathing your pet, add 1 cup vinegar to the bathwater. Also, buy a spray bottle; fill it with 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Spray your pet daily, before his morning walk, to both prevent and eliminate fleas.

Fleas—they hate yeast

To prevent your pet from becoming a flea magnet, rub some brewer's yeast (available at the grocery store) into his coat before you let him outside.

Food—ant deterrent

If ants are getting into the pet food, put the dog or cat bowl into another shallow bowl that has water in it.

Food—hold the onions

If you choose to make your own pet food, never use onions. Onions are toxic for many animals.

Food—kitten and puppy feeder

Feed a litter of newly weaned kittens or puppies from a muffin pan. Weaker babies won't have to compete with stronger ones for food.

Food—scoop

Cut an empty plastic water or milk jug on the diagonal from top to bottom and use as a scooper for pet food.

Hair—
in washing machine

After laundering pet bedding, you may discover a lot of pet hair remaining in the bottom of the washing machine. It's not easy to wipe out, so do this: Allow the machine to dry out, then use your vacuum hose to remove all of it easily and quickly.

Hair—on furniture and pillows

Remove pet hair from upholstered furniture and pillows quickly and easily by running a damp sponge over them.

Hair—use a steel-wool
strainer when bathing

When bathing animals, place steel wool in the drain to keep hair from clogging the drain.

Murphy'
s Oil Soap for skin

Use Murphy's Oil Soap to soothe your pet's dry, itchy, or flea-allergy skin. It is gentle and all-vegetable. Follow the directions on the bottle for dilution. Murphy's Oil Soap is especially good for Shar-peis, as this breed has a lot of skin problems. This product can be found in the grocery store in the furniture polish and laundry section.

Odors from accidents

Here's an effective cleaning solution to remove odors from pet accidents: Add 2 tablespoons citronella oil (from the drugstore) and
½
cup rubbing alcohol to 1 gallon water. Use this as you would soap and water to clean floors, patio areas, sleeping quarters, and so on that have been affected by pet odors.

Vaccinations and flea
control at pet supply stores

Instead of running to the veterinarian's office to have your
pets vaccinated or treated with flea-control programs, call a local pet supply store. Many are now offering low-cost vaccination clinics. You could save at least 25 percent off the prescription costs and avoid paying an office and exam fee.

Air conditioner—clean filter

To clean an air conditioner or humidifier filter, take the foam filter out of the grill and soak it in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. If you clean the filter regularly, an hour of soaking will be plenty. Just squeeze the filter dry when it's clean, and then place it back in the air conditioner.

Air conditioner or radiator
—disguise

To hide an under-the-window radiator or air conditioner when not in use, hinge together three 30-inch-high window shutters to form a folding screen.

Appliances—chip
touch-up

The nasty black chip on any white home appliance, porcelain sink, ceramic tile, or even your white car can be quickly repaired with a liquid correction fluid like White-Out or Liquid Paper, available at office supply stores. Carefully paint the chip, and it will dry in just a few minutes.

Appliances—keep small repair parts together

When repairing appliances, line up small parts on masking tape to keep them in order and to prevent their mysterious disappearance.

Appliances—preserve finish

To preserve the finish of your washer, dryer, and other appliances, wax them with car wax twice a year.

Balcony safety

If your home or vacation spot has widely spaced posts on an outdoor balcony, get a roll of plastic webbing for repairing lawn chairs and weave it between the posts to protect anyone or anything from falling through.

Bucket measurements—no more guessing

Mark pint, quart, and gallon measurements on a bucket with red fingernail polish to make sure you never have to guess on the measurements.

Carpet and rugs—renew for bathroom

Don't throw out bathroom rugs that have lost their rubber backing due to multiple launderings. Slip a piece of rubber shelf liner under the mat. That will keep it from slipping and extend its useful life.

Carpet and rugs—repair bleach spots

Color in the bleached-out spot in your carpeting (which often occurs near a bathroom where bleaching products have splashed or dripped) with a nontoxic marking pen in a shade as close as you can find to that of the rug. This is exactly what a carpet professional would do if you called for repair.

Caulking—smooth

For the smoothest finish, run an ice cube over fresh caulking
to shape it and get rid of lumps.

Ceramic tile—change color

If your kitchen or bathroom is suffering from outdated avocado green or some other 1970s colored ceramic tile, and you don't choose to replace it at this time, do this: Purchase a product like Fleckstone (manufactured by Plasti-kote), available at home improvement centers. It is a multihue, textured spray paint sold together with a clear acrylic topcoat that, when applied as directed, produces “new” tile that can be cleaned with a damp sponge. Even if it takes five kits to do the job, you'll spend around $50, and that sure beats remodeling.

Circuit breakers

Never switch on two or more circuit breakers simultaneously. Turn them on one at a time, and pause slightly after each to prevent a power surge.

Closet rod—fix sagging

To fix a sagging wooden closet rod, buy a length of
½
-inch galvanized pipe and a length of
¾
-inch thin wall PVC piping, both the same length as your rod. You can get these at your local home improvement center. Slip the pipe inside the PVC and slide the PVC into the existing rod brackets. (You can remove the printing on the PVC with rubbing alcohol.)

Closet rod—improve glide

If hangers don't glide along the clothes rod, rub it with waxed paper or a candle.

Doors—aluminum like new

Make aluminum doors (or window casings) look new by rubbing a ball of aluminum foil back and forth across the pitting.

Doors—cushion slamming

To cushion the bang of a door that has a habit of slamming
shut, glue
⅛
-inch-thick pieces of foam rubber along the stop.

Doors
—improve sliding screen door action

Sliding screen door lost its smooth gliding action? Rub an old candle along the bottom metal track of the door's frame. It will work like new again without a drippy, oily mess.

Drains—completely
stopped up

If a drain is completely stopped up, don't try to clear it with chemical drain cleaners. They may bubble back up into the sink or tub and cause permanent damage to the finish of the fixture. If there's only a moderate clog, pour boiling water with a few teaspoons of ammonia down the drain, wait a few minutes, then plunge.

Drains—preventing clogs

Pour
½
cup washing soda (not baking soda) directly down the drain, then slowly and carefully add 2 quarts boiling water. This weekly preventive maintenance will ensure that clogs will never be a problem.

Drains—sluggish

To clear a sluggish drain, pour 1 cup baking soda into the drain followed by 1 cup white vinegar. Allow to sit overnight. In the morning, flush with a kettle of boiling water. Plunge the drain a few times with a plunger. This is an excellent maintenance tactic to keep drains running well.

Drawer—sticky

To remedy a sticky drawer, rub the sides with a candle.

Furniture
—scratches on wood

Make your own inexpensive cover-up for furniture scratches: Mix instant coffee and water into a thick paste and apply it to hide nicks and scratches on dark wood furniture.

Furniture—uneven legs

If a furniture leg is uneven, try buttons of different sizes under the leg until you find one that makes it even. Use hot glue around the button edge and position in place.

Grout
—clean and whiten

Use white shoe polish—the kind with an applicator top—to clean, whiten, and brighten stained tile grout. Simply apply the polish, wipe the tiles with a damp cloth, allow to dry, and buff.

Grout—paint over
the gray

If the white grout on your tile has become gray and grimy, that's a fairly good sign the grout was not sealed, in which case there is no way to make it completely white again. But you can paint it white, using an oil-base paint. Ask at your local paint or home improvement store about which type to use. Do this only if the tiles are glazed (sealed); any paint that gets on them can be wiped off with a dry cloth. If paint gets on unglazed tiles, it will be absorbed, leaving the tiles looking even more unsightly.

Hair dryer revival

If your once-trusty hair dryer sounds like it's gasping for its last breath or turns itself off midsession, check the intake vent before you toss it out. When those air holes are clogged with hair or dust, the unit overheats, and its built-in safety mechanism turns off the motor. To clear the air holes, run a vacuum over the clogged holes.

Hot glue—items stuck together

Items stuck together with a hot-glue gun can often be pried apart if heated with a hair dryer. You may also heat a thin-bladed knife from a hobby or art supply store, then carefully work it between the two items.

Insulation rebates

Many utility companies give rebates for this type of home
improvement because it conserves so much energy. As a bonus, you'll save a lot of money on heating and cooling costs.

Keyholes—no more fumbling in the dark

Brush keyholes with luminous paint, and you won't fumble for the lock in the dark.

Ladders—protect your aluminum siding

Place a pair of athletic socks on the top ends of an extension ladder to protect aluminum siding from the ladder's sharp edges.

Leaks—ceiling

If you notice water leaking through the ceiling, immediately hammer a 16d nail through the Sheetrock to allow the water to drain before it damages the plaster or drywall. Later, after the leak is repaired, all you'll need to cover the emergency repair is a dab of Spackle and touch up paint.

Leaks—faucet
wisdom

A faucet leaking 60 drops a minute wastes 113 gallons of water a month. That's 1,356 gallons a year down the drain. Better to fix the leak right away.

Leaks—roof

If your roof leaks, control that leak by tacking a string into the roof sheathing where the water comes through. Place a bucket under it. The water will run down the string into the bucket rather than down your ceiling.

Leaks—toilet

To find the water leaks in your home, try this test: Turn off all running water in the house. Find your water meter and take a look. Is it still moving? Chances are you have a water leak, and chances are even better it's your toilet. Put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet's tank. If without flushing, the color shows up in the bowl, it's leaking all right. Get a toilet repair kit at the home
repair center. This is a very simple do-it-yourself repair.

Lighting—extracting
broken bulbs

If an electric bulb breaks off in the socket, follow this simple procedure: Turn off the power to the fixture by either unplugging the fixture or turning off power at the main service panel. Cut a potato in half, and push one of the halves into the broken bulb piece. Turn the potato, and the broken piece will come right out.

Messy job—when answering door or phone

When you're painting or doing other messy jobs around the house, keep a couple of plastic sandwich bags nearby. If you have to answer the door or the phone, just slip your hand into a bag to avoid spreading the mess.

Nailing—hold nail with a comb

The best way to hammer a very small nail into the wall is to place the nail between the teeth of a tiny comb, hold the comb to the wall, and hammer away.

Nails—rust-free

Prevent nails from rusting by placing them in airtight jars with a little WD-40 or oil.

Nails and screws—use heat

To keep the wall or plaster from splitting or cracking when hammering in a nail, drop the nail into a pot of hot water for 15 seconds, remove, then carefully hammer it in. To remove a stubborn screw, pass a lighted match over the end of the screwdriver; the hot tip will then twist out the screw.

Nuts—for sockets

Find a nut to fit each socket of your set. Glue the nuts in a row in a tool tray. Now store each socket on its own nut, and it will stay secure and in place.

Nuts, bolts, and screws—loosen

If you don't have penetrating oil and need to loosen a nut,
screw, or bolt, use vinegar, lemon juice, or hot pepper sauce instead. All of these products contain acid that attacks minerals and rust.

Painting—around door hardware and window edges

Before painting a door, coat the knobs, locks, and hinges with petroleum jelly. Afterward, use a cloth to wipe off the jelly and any paint that may have been spilled. Use this method on window edges as well.

Painting—avoid
drips on your hands

Push a paintbrush handle through a slit in a sponge. It'll stop the drips from running onto your hand.

Painting—barrier for splashes on face

Cover your hands and face with a very thin film of petroleum jelly before you start painting. Paint splashes will simply wash off.

Painting—baseboards

Borrow your kid's skateboard when painting baseboards. Sit on it and roll along as you work.

Painting—catching can drips

Glue a paper plate to the bottom of a paint can to catch drips. Before you open the can, apply several dots of glue from a hot-glue gun to a plate. Position the can on the dots and let sit for 5 minutes. Or place a small amount of paint on the paper plate. It's much more convenient than using newspaper because when you pick up the can, the plate goes along.

Painting—citronella to repel insects

A few drops of citronella oil added to a bucket of paint will keep mosquitoes and other flying insects away from a fresh paint job.

Painting—don't waste paint if delayed

When tackling a painting job you may not be able to
complete in 1 day, don't waste the paint in the rollers and brushes by cleaning them. Simply wrap the brushes or rollers tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer. Remove them from the freezer a little while before you start painting again, and you can pick up right where you left off.

Painting—gentle scraper

An old, metal kitchen spatula is perfect for scraping up softened paint remover and paint. Regular paint scrapers have sharp corners that make it all too easy to scratch or gouge the wood.

Painting—how much paint is left?

Mark the level of paint on the outside of the can so you can tell how much paint is left without reopening the can.

Painting—keep brushes soft

Keep paintbrushes soft by giving them a final rinse in water containing a bit of liquid fabric softener.

Painting—no doors painted shut

Fold a couple of sheets of newspaper over the top of the door. You won't be able to paint the door shut—no matter how hard you try.

Painting—nonslip outdoor steps

When painting outside steps, add a bit of fine sand to the paint to create a nonslip surface.

Painting—picture
hook markers

Replace picture hooks with thumbtacks before you paint a wall. Paint over the tack, then remove it once the wall is dry. Now you can rehang pictures in exactly the same spot, using the same hole for the hook.