How to Waterproof Your Shoes Before Rainy Season Hits
I once walked three blocks to a job interview in canvas sneakers during an unexpected downpour. By the time I […]
Keep Pumpkins from Rotting on Your Porch for the Entire Month of October
Year one: bought pumpkins October 1st. By October 12th, one had collapsed into itself like a sad orange balloon. By […]
How I Keep Mosquitoes Away From My Patio—No Chemicals, No Citronella Candles
I live near a small creek. The mosquitoes are relentless. For two summers I drenched myself in DEET, lit citronella […]
How I Make My Patio Furniture Last Years Longer—What I Do Before Storing It
I bought a set of patio chairs three years ago. My neighbor bought the same set. Mine still look almost […]
How I Remove Snow From My Car Without Scratching the Paint
I scratched my car the first winter I owned it. I used the brush side of a snow brush—the bristles—thinking […]
What I Do With Empty Plant Pots Instead of Letting Them Clutter My Shed
Every spring I end up with a tower of empty plastic nursery pots in the corner of my shed. They […]
Get Salt Stains Off Winter Boots So the Leather Does Not Get Destroyed
I ruined a pair of leather boots the first winter I lived somewhere it actually snowed. I just wore them. […]
How to Remove Tree Sap from Your Car Without Scratching Paint
I parked under a pine tree for exactly one weekend. When I came back, my hood looked like it had […]
How to Defog Car Windows When It Is Cold and Raining
I once drove three miles squinting through a two-inch clear patch at the bottom of my windshield. It was raining. […]
How to Keep Your Car Cool Without Remote Start This Summer
I got into my car last July and the steering wheel was too hot to hold. Not “uncomfortable.” Painfully hot. […]