Cold Winds, Warm Fire

(Page 3 of 3)

January/February 1988
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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— April L. Anderson
Summitville, Indiana

RELATED CONTENT

My shop vac, which handles bot wet and dry materials, is a lifesaver when the sink fills up and the drain won't function. The machine not only vacuums out the dirty, greasy standing water, but also sucks the pipes clean. When I think of how messy and time-consuming this chore used to be (or how expensive it is to hire a plumber to do it), I feel the cost of the shop vac is justified by this job alone.

— John Carlin
Austin, Minnesota

Hang It All

My daughter and I wanted to hang a framed picture, but there was no hanging hardware on the back. So we improvised with the pull tab from a soda pop can. We fastened the squared end of the tab to the picture's cardboard backing with a pop rivet, after first drilling a small hole in the metal tab. The round end of the tab with the hole (the part you pull) slips easily over a nail or other hanger in the wall. I realize that not all pull tabs are made the same, but this idea would work with just about any type.

— Ruben Pauly
Alliance, Nebraska

Scents for Cents

To freshen the air in your car, place a sheet of fabric softener under the seat. If the softener odor's too strong, put the sheet in a plastic bag and expose just a little. For a musty basement, soak a paper towel in pine cleaner and place it in a closed film canister. Punch a hole in the lid; the bigger the hole, the stronger the scent. And for your gym bag or locker (whew!), just keep a big bar of unwrapped deodorant soap in each.

— Terry Fenwick
 Bellwood, Illinois

Spuds Out

Did you ever try to unscrew a light bulb only to have the glass break while the socket remained stuck? Just cut off the end of a potato, press it against the jagged glass, and twist out the socket. Be sure, though, to turn the power off first — you might end up with a baked potato!

— Dennis Ouellette
West Hill, Ontario

Through the years we've all discovered a few practical, time-tested solutions to the frustrating little problems of everyday life. Send your own suggestions to Country Lore, MOTHER EARTH NEWS, P. O. Box 70, Hendersonville, NC 28793. A one year subscription — or extension of an existing subscription — will be sent to each contributor whose tip is printed here in this column.

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