Kid-Proof Walls

A great idea for the kids' room is one wall (or more) that is, in effect, a bulletin board. Homosote, a product often used for sound-proofing, makes a great bulletin board. Cover a whole wall with it and let the kids go. Homosote can be painted or left natural. If your kids are just hard on walls, consider abuse-resistant drywall, it can stand bumps and bangs that regular drywall can't. If you have boys, cover the whole room!

Down The Drain

Whenever working around a drain, be sure to plug or cover it up. Drains are like small-part magnets; in other words, drop a small part and it will always head for the nearest drain. The most common situation arises when working on a faucet, but it could be a light fixture over the sink or over the tub as well. If the drain you're working over doesn't have a stopper, cover it with a towel or small rug. This will also protect the fixture from dropped tools. Hey, and don't forget the floor drain when working in the basement or garage!

- Stephen Corwin

Monitoring Home Thermostats As fall progresses and cool air becomes inevitable, watch the thermostat carefully. In average homes, for each degree that you lower it, you may be able to save at least $25 to $50 on your heating bills. With today's high-costing energy, these savings will be welcome. Madame Tussaud's

Have you ever wanted to visit Madame Tussaud's wax museum? You will find the museums in London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, New York, and Las Vegas. But, you don't have to travel to one of these cities to get a small peek at Madame Tussaud's wax museum. All you have to do is visit the Web site.

You'll find some interesting information at the Madame Tussaud's wax museum Web page, and you'll get a glimpse of a few of the figures, but you won't get a real good look because Madame Tussaud's is in it for the money, after all. For the best look, you'll just have to go in person!

Click here for wax on the Web! http://www.madame-tussauds.com/site/london/frontdoor.htm

- Sue Whitehouse

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001

Answers

Ok, so make the kids' walls bulletins boards, but save one to paint with blackboard paint. My SIL did this, and the kids have a blast drawing all over with chalk. Works just like the good old school blackboard, and wipes away just as easily. Probably would work well for teens, too, who like to doodle all over everything.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001

rb..great idea, my friend did thid too and loved it!!!

more tips:

Pantyhose Patrol Instead of throwing out, you can use pantyhose in a variety of ways around the house: Tie old newspaper together. Clump them, and then stuff into toes of shoes to help them retain their shape. Chop into small pieces and use for removing nail polish.

Tool Safety

Safety is largely a matter of common sense and good work habits. Here are a few safety habits that follow a common theme:

- Keep your hands and fingers out of the way. (Sounds easy but thousands of hand and finger injuries occur each year because they got in the way.)

- When using a chisel always direct your effort away from your body and keep both hands behind the sharp edge.

- When using a power saw always keep your hands above and behind the saw; always saw away from yourself.

- When using a drill always keep your hands and fingers behind the drill bit.

If you develop these practices as a matter of habit, they will become automatic.

Getting an uncomfortable feeling any time a body part is "in the line of fire" is a good thing.

- Stephen Corwin

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2001