How to Store Winter Coats Without Them Getting Musty by Next Year

I pulled my wool coat out of the closet last November and it smelled like a basement. Not a little […]

Quick Fixes for Drafty Windows Before Winter Arrives

The first winter in my apartment, I could not figure out why my heating bill was so high. I kept […]

How to Keep Your Tent Dry When Camping in Unexpected Rain

My first camping trip with my own tent was a disaster. The forecast said clear skies. It rained at 2 […]

How to Dry Wet Boots Overnight Without Damaging Them

I went hiking in November once. The trail was wetter than I expected — by the time I got back […]

How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh for an Extra Two Weeks

Growing up, our Christmas tree was a fire hazard by December 20th. Needles everywhere. The bottom branches looked like a […]

How to Pack Away Inflatable Pool Toys Without Them Getting Sticky

Last fall I pulled my kid’s inflatable pool float out of the storage shed and it was glued to itself. […]

How to Prep Your Grill for the First Cookout of Spring

I fired up my grill last April without looking inside first. A mouse had built a nest in the grease […]

The Pool Noodle Hack for Winter-Proofing Outdoor Faucets

A frozen outdoor faucet is a disaster you do not discover until spring. The pipe inside the wall cracks, and […]

The Pantyhose Hack That Protects Garden Plants From Early Frost

My tomato plants were thriving in late September. Then the weather app said frost. Single night. One degree below freezing. […]

What to Do With All Those Fallen Leaves Instead of Bagging Them

I raked and bagged leaves for three autumns before my neighbor — the same retired chef who taught me about […]