Category: HOME

Use Glue and Clamps for Strong Project Joints

Dear James: Screws seem to eventually come loose when I make cabinets, so I want to use glue this time. What type of glue and clamps are most effective for making cabinets? — Mark L. Dear Mark: For most cabinets, other than ones holding heavy items, glued joints provide plenty of strength and often look…


Install a Keyless Door Lock

How much time do you spend foraging for your keys? Ever had to rely on the extra set you hid away? You may be a good candidate for a key-free door access lock pad that offers the security of a keyed lock with the convenience of using a digital code to open the door. These…


7 Must-Know Outdoor Lighting Tips

With summer in full swing, you’re probably spending most of your time enjoying the great outdoors — and that likely includes relaxing in your backyard, or hosting friends for a dinner alfresco. Don’t let the fun stop once the sun goes down just because your outdoor lighting is nonexistent or inefficient. Not all outdoor lighting…


Garden Problems

Q: We went on vacation at the end of June and now our vegetable garden has been taken over by weeds. Is it too early to begin thinking about starting over and doing a fall garden? A: If you are a northern gardener, the next few weeks are the perfect time to start your fall…


A Simple Tip to Get Better Gas Mileage

Some time ago, I wrote about simple things you can do to get better gas mileage, which means less time and money spent at the gas pump. One of those tips was to make sure your car’s tires are always properly inflated because underinflated tires cause the engine to work harder than necessary, which wastes…


Six Options When Your Offers Are Losing

Dear Monty: We have made offers on four homes. Our agent says that people are buying them for cash and for more money than we offered, yet she says she cannot tell us what to do or offer. All she does is show us the houses and fill out the paperwork. We are tired of…


No Place Like Home to Help Freedom Grow

While having dinner with a Chinese couple several years ago, I listened as they described their visiting parents’ response to the American landscape. Having recently arrived from China, the parents’ amazement about the Dakotas was particularly amusing. “So much space!” was the loose translation. “They could build so many apartments!” I laughed heartily at the…


Spray Paint a Garage

If you have a garage just waiting for a facelift, you won’t find a better DIY job than painting it. Consider renting a paint sprayer for the day, and get ready for a transformation. The real work involves preparing the siding before painting, which depends on its condition. If the siding is just dirty, that…


A Reliable Method to Compare Prices of Toilet Paper

Over the years, I’ve received thousands of money-saving tips from readers — many of which I’ve shared in books, newsletters and this column. And there are plenty that I’ve not shared for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they don’t work. Some work so poorly, they actually end up costing time and money, not…


Mast Cell Tumor Most Common Canine Skin Cancer

Q: My Lab mix has a mast cell tumor. What can you tell me about this condition? A: A mast cell tumor, or MCT, is the most common form of skin cancer in dogs. Mast cells are white blood cells designed to fight parasites and allergies. It’s not clear why some of these immune cells…