THE
SUPER HANDYMAN
By Al Carrell & Kelly Carrell
SIX-PACK RINGS
CAN CORRAL EXTENSION CORDS, HOSES
Those plastic
"rings" that hold a six-pack of sodas are great for corralling
cans
but can be bad for the environment. But not if they can be reused to corral
things around the house. A strip of three circles used like a slip-knot
around an extension cord makes its easy to keep the wire from getting all
tangled up. Just wrap the whole ring-thing around a coiled extension cord,
and then slip one loop through another to form a pretty clever "handle."
Use this handle to hang the cord up or just to carry it. It's a better use
for an item otherwise headed for the scrap heap. You can also hang the garden
hose using this trick
Dear Al &
Kelly:
I have horses
and have to carry lots of different things back and forth to the barn every
day, usually in a big, heavy bucket. I've tried a trick my Dad taught me
years ago that works great. I cut a scrap of old garden hose as wide as
my hand and then slit it down the side. I can now slide it over a metal
bucket handle and use it to protect my hands when carrying a heavy load.
This way I don't have to wear gloves every time I carry a bucket full of
water, which is much more convenient. I think I'll add one to my gardening
bucket, too. -- B.F.
A SUPER HINT
-- Keep some leftover newspapers in your trunk. In a pinch, they can be
used to add traction under your tires when they get stuck in snow or mud.
They also come in handy for other things, too.
Dear Carrells:
I finally got
around to painting my shop, and wow, what a difference. I had put up drywall
a while back, and it was the typical gray color. I painted the shop white,
and it made such a difference in the light level. It reflects all over the
place, and I don't even need the shop light half the time. It is really
amazing! -- N.J.
Q: I have a
very unique flooring in my home. It's an old plank floor that has been restored.
It's unfinished right now and seems to produce a lot of dust. What would
be the best type of finish to put on the floor to keep it from making so
much dust without losing its charm? -- H.E.
A: If you want
to keep the floor "natural," use an oily floor-sweep product.
You can also make your own by mixing sawdust and mineral oil. This is applied
over the floor and then swept off along with the dust and debris. Doing
this once a week can keep the dust down and give you a more authentic look.
Dear Al:
I have terrible
allergies, and I found out that laundry bleach really isn't good for me
to be using to fight mildew. I've tried a lot of different products but
concentrated mainly on the less expensive and safer ones. I finally found
that vinegar does a really good job. Plus, you don't have to worry about
splashing it on carpet, furniture or anything else. Try it as an alternative
if you can't tolerate the smell of bleach. -- G.T.
(c)
2000 Cowles Syndicate Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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