Home Tips & Hints: November 2004

Pane Triage
Few of us lead simple linear lives that let us take care of problems that come up when they come up. We're always too busy doing this and that. Emergencies around the house, whether big or small, can't always be dealt with immediately. A case in point is when your son's baseball cracks the kitchen window just before you're to leave for a dull weekend with your in-laws. You could cancel the trip and spend the weekend slowly fixing the window. Or you could quickly mend the break with masking tape, applied on both sides, then get into the car and face the music like you're supposed to. The tape will keep the pane intact and the rain out until you return.

Drip Relief
New washerless faucets have greatly reduced the annoying drips that are the torture tool of choice for older faucets. Geriatric units rely on rubber or neoprene washers to seal the water valves. These washers have a limited life because they are designed as sacrificial wear items that extend the life of more expensive faucet parts. Unfortunately, most of us don't replace the washers until the sound of the drips drives us crazy. Installing a new set of washers is not difficult, but you need the correct ones. If you don't have any on hand, you can temporarily quiet things down with a piece of string. Just tie it around the end of the faucet spout and let the free end rest on the bottom of the sink. The drops of water will travel down the string silently and peace will be restored.

Driveway Stain Remover
If you do your own work on your car or other equipment like lawnmowers or chain saws, you're bound to have oil stains on your garage floor or driveway. Here's something that works and is basically free: ground-up drywall. Pulverize a small piece with a hammer, then grind it up in your hands and sprinkle it over the stains. Let it stay in place overnight before rinsing it off. If the first application doesn't remove the whole stain, try it again. Some very old stains can take three or more applications.