Home Interior

Corners Get Cuter

·         Stairs speak up:  a few letter stencils & a vibrant spray-paint are all you need to give your favorite phrase a step in the right direction.

·         Decorate a dresser:  paint dresser drawer sides in bold hues for a pop of color each time you open them.

·         Revamp a cupboard:  glue leftover patterned wallpaper to the back of your cupboard or bookshelf for chic contrast.

Novel Uses For Dryer Sheets

·         Remove fur:  rub a sheet over furniture & upholstery to eliminate unsightly pet hair.

·         Perfume the room:  put a sheet in your vacuum cleaner bag to add a fresh scent to every corner of the house.

·         Degunk pots:  drop a dryer sheet into a dirty pot or pan, fill with hot water, & let it soak overnight to make wiping away baked-on messes a cinch.

·         Scent your stories:  seal a second-hand book & a dryer sheet inside a ziplock bag for three days to banish any musty order.

·         Keep the car bug-free:  dip one in water, & wipe your car windshield & front grill to remove bugs.  The fabric is abrasive enough to scrub away insects  but won't damage the finish.

·         Discourage deer:  cut sheets into 1" strips, & tie them onto tree brances in your yard to repel plant-eating deer.

Safety Strategies You'd Never Think Of

1.       Store valuables in your child's sock drawer rather than in your nightstand.  Thieves often scour the master bedroom but tend to leave children's rooms untouched.

2.       If your front entrance contains decorative glass, install your security keypad in a spot that is not visible from the doorstep.  That way, burglars won't be able to peer in and see if the alarm is set.

3.       A mail slot goes against the wood grain, weakening the horizontal integrity of a door & making it easier to kick in.  Opt for a mailbox, or install your slot near the bottom of the front door, no higher than a quarter of the way up.

4.       Keep car keys next to your bed while you sleep If you hear a suspicious  noise & suspect someone is trying to break in, press the Panic button on your key ring.  The car alarm will sound, and the burglar will have no choice but to flee the scene.

5.       Plant thorny shrubs, such as rosebrushes, beneath ground-floor windows.  They'll add beauty to your garden & deter burglars.

6.       If you're going away on vacation, ask a neighbor to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door.  Crafty criminals have been known to leave pizza ads in doors to see how long it takes for residents to remove them.

7.       Rather than loading up the car the night before a weekend get-away, quickly  do it in the morning right before you leave.  Left in the front of the house, a fully packed car can serve as a green light for those looking for one.

8.       Lower the volume of your telephone ringer so a passerby won't be able to hear it go to voicemail, which is an indication that no one is home.

9.       Don't store wood near the side of the house, as it can easily be used by intruders as a step-ladder up to the window.  Keep logs in the garage or in a pile at the edge of the yard.

10.   If a yard worker or unknown visitor uses the bathroom, he may unlatch the window so he can gain entry later.  (Be sure to double-check the lock.)

Clean Your Backyard

·         Plastic chairs:  spread a small amount of foam shaving cream  onto outdoor furniture to soften dirt & then hose down to rinse away grit & stains.

·         Deck:  after wetting down deck, mix a one-to-one ratio of wood cleaner to water & spray  onto railing & boards.  Scrub wood with stiff-bristle brush, rinse clean, and apply mixture of one part borate & five parts water to kill algae.  Let dry for two days before coating with deck stain.

·         Grill:  tune up your gas grill by cleaning out the burners.  Clear out each gas portion on the burner unit using a toothpick for minor clogs & a small drill bit for tougher ones.

·         Cushions:  pour 1 teaspoon  dishwashing detergent, 1 teaspoon borate, & 2 quart warm water into a spray bottle.  Douse fabric with solution, & let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing off.  To seal the deal, add a coat of fabric protector.

·         Patio umbrella:  lay an opened umbrella on an old sheet & scrub fabric with soapy water.  Give it a quick rinse & stand umbrella in its base to dry in the sun.

·         Wicker furniture:  use soft scrub brush, water, & a mild oil-based soap like Murphy Oil Soap to clean interwoven surface.  Rinse by hosing down.