The Trick to Keeping Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard All Summer

I have the kind of blood mosquitoes love. I’ll be at a backyard cookout with eight other people and I’m […]

How to Dry Wet Sneakers Overnight Without a Dryer or Newspaper

I stepped in a puddle that was deeper than it looked. Like, ankle-deep. My sneakers were squelching with every step […]

The Best Time of Day to Water Your Lawn During a Heatwave

My neighbor waters his lawn at noon. Every day. The water runs down the driveway in little rivers while the […]

How to Survive a Power Outage in Summer Without Losing Your Mind

Our power went out last August during a heat advisory. 98 degrees outside. No AC. No fans. My phone was […]

How to Store Holiday Decorations So They Do Not Get Tangled

I spent 45 minutes untangling Christmas lights last December. Forty-five minutes. That is almost an entire hour of my life […]

The Best Way to Remove Ice From Your Windshield Fast

I used to pour hot water on my windshield. Let me save you the repair bill: do not do that. […]

The Trick to Packing a Cooler That Stays Cold for Three Days

We did a four-day camping trip in northern Michigan two summers ago. By day two, the cooler was a lukewarm […]

The Trick to Keeping Your Patio Umbrella From Blowing Away

I lost a patio umbrella to a gust of wind three years ago. It lifted out of the table, cartwheeled […]

How to Keep Outdoor Cushions From Getting Moldy After Rain

Outdoor cushions get rained on. That is the job. But if they stay wet for more than a day, mold […]

How to Get Sand Out of Everything After a Beach Trip

I once found beach sand in my car six months after my last trip to the beach. It was in […]