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Tips for hanging your bicycle for the winter

Bicycling is more popular than ever - and they aren't cheap. But bike storage can be tough, especially if you want safe and secure storage that doesn't take up a lot of space.

Here are a few ways to stow your bike. Hopefully, at least one of these will work for you.

If you check your hardware store or home center, you will find a ton of brackets that hold your bicycle. Most are easy to install and should be secured to a wooden stud or used with some sort of wall-anchoring system.

In lieu of a pre-made bracket, you can use a couple of shelf brackets. Two basic "L"-shaped shelf brackets can be installed on a wall next to each other for hanging a bicycle.

You also can install shelf brackets up high and hang the bikes from an "S" hook from the wheel. Use Velcro straps to secure the bikes in place if you need additional support.

Floor stands also are available. These usually will hold two bikes up off the ground without falling over!

Other options include hooks that can be installed on a ceiling that will allow you to lift your bike up and hang it overhead. This might not be a good solution for heavy bikes or for vertically challenged people.

Hoist systems also are available. These attach to your ceiling and move up and down, so you can hang your bike up high and out of the way.

You can use an old pallet, either placed on the floor/ground or attached to a wall. Just place the bike tire into a slot and it will stay put. Most are large enough to store your whole family's bicycles.

Most bikes aren't cheap, so store them where they will not get damages by cars, are secure and locked properly, if needed.

"Fake" molding

Have you ever heard the saying "fake it until you make it?" Well, trim molding can be pretty expensive, but you can fake it until you can afford to make it the right way. Plain quarter-round or half-round trim is cheap compared with the tall, ornate stuff. Attach the quarter round at the floor level. Then install the half round about 3 inches above that. Now paint both moldings, along with the wall between them, the same color and, unless you look closely, you'd never know it was fake floor molding!

Paint mitt

One of the greatest tools for painting odd-shaped items is a paint mitt. These flexible paint gloves slip on your hand to make it easier to spread the paint around irregular-shaped surfaces. You can make your own paint mitt from a large sponge. Just take a craft knife and cut a pouch or pocket into the side of a sponge and slip your hand in. Dip it in the paint and get started with that paint project. Make two, and get the job done in half the time!

Super hints

• Getting rust off metal surfaces doesn't have to entail using a lot of caustic chemicals. Try hydrogen peroxide. You probably have some in your bathroom cabinet right now. It's safer, and it works pretty well on rust.

• If you are a new "handy person," check out your local home center and see what classes it offers. Most have a variety of weekly classes where you can learn things like woodworking, laying tile, plumbing fixes, basic lighting repair and things like that and, best of all, most are free. It's a great way to learn or sharpen your DIY skills before getting into a big project on your own home.

• Stop paint drips rolling down the side of your paint can with a stretchy sweat band or hair band. Slip them around the paint can, near the top to catch all the drips.

Q. We are in a new home and are trying to customize it a little bit. The surround on our fireplace is the typical matte black surface. We want to paint it, but what type of paint should we use?

A. You need to use a special high-temp paint because of the proximity to the firebox. This paint comes in a few different colors. Just read and follow the label directions, and you should get good results.

Q. I finally decided to restore an old desk that I had. It really needed it, but I had put it off for years since I didn't know how to do it. I got advice from the paint store and bought some stripper, sandpaper, primer and paint. My dad suggested that I should test it for lead. Is this really worth the trouble?

A. It most certainly is important. If this piece is very old, it sure could have lead in the paint. The test kit is simple to use and, if lead is found, it could flake off and get into the air, where you could breathe it, if you were to sand or scrape the desk. Do the test and protect yourself and your family.

Q. I think my home is more humid than most. I know we live in a humid area of the country, but it's a constant battle in my own home. I leave the exhaust fan on in the bathroom for about an hour after I finish showering, but it's just not enough. What else can I do?

A. If this is an ongoing problem, and it seems like it is, you really ought to consider a whole-house dehumidifier. These can be costly, so do your homework and try to find one that is going to work well for you. Things you will need to consider are your home's square footage, the average humidity in your area, the required maintenance and your budget. You want one that is quiet and easy to take care of. If your home is large, you may want more than one to have better control over the whole house. Good luck.

Reader tips

• I am not much of an artist, but I tried to paint a mural on my son's wall to surprise my wife. I had someone draw out the design, and then I painted it in. I set the small paint jars into a shallow box and was able to keep them all handy while working. I even had room for a rag and several extra brushes. I was able to do the paint part in just one afternoon, and it looks so great. My wife loves it, and we can't wait for our son to arrive next month!

• I used to drive a truck, and one of my buddies gave me a super-large tire from his stock. I painted it and filled it with sand to make a "sandbox" for my son. It's great. He loves it, it keeps the sand inside and it was free, except for the cost of the sand, which was pretty much "dirt cheap."

• I am always trying new decorating ideas in my loft. I'm on a tight budget, so I really appreciate the tips I get from you and your readers. I "tiled" my backsplash with pennies. It was easy to do and didn't cost much at all. It looks great and I am getting a lot of compliments on it. I asked my buddies for contributions and got a lot, so I pretty much only had to buy the adhesive. Try it yourself.

• I loved installing our new vinyl guttering. It was a fun project. It took a little practice and some time to learn how to do it all, but I did it, and it looks and works great. Here's the tip I learned and wanted to pass along to other readers: When you are fitting the sections together, spread a little liquid dishwashing soap on the plastic pieces. This helps them slide easily together. The soap will wash off the next time it rains.

• We spend a lot of time in our backyard, and I've been trying to make it more functional. I, however, am not a handyman at all. I made a great furniture grouping from concrete blocks and wood posts. I set the blocks on their sides and slid the wooden posts into the slots, and then set the blocks up on the other side to hold the other end of the posts. I put a pillow on each bench and a piece of clear acrylic on the table. It's great, easy to keep clean and should be pretty much weather-resistant. There was no sawing or drilling needed, either. I just used these supplies as they came from the store.

Shoptalk

• We used to take soil samples to the garden center or send them to the local agricultural college every spring, but that was a hassle and got a little costly. Finally, there's an easy way to do this, with the General 4-in-1 Soil Condition Meter. All you do is stick it into the soil that you want tested, and the LED readout will tell you what the soil pH is, the moisture content and even the temperature of the soil. If left, it even will measure the amount of sunlight that the area gets in a typical day. This is the fastest and easiest way to determine if your flower beds, lawn or vegetable garden is ready to plant, or what is going wrong if it's not producing the way you planned. You easily can retest after you've added amendments to see if you are finished with the improvements. To pick one up for yourself, look at your local garden center, agriculture supply or home center.

• Most of us have equipment that uses gasoline, so we usually have at least one gas can in the shop or garage. The No-Spill Gas Cans look like most, but have some definite advantages. The nozzle is the key. It extends into most gas tanks without the awkward leaking. Push the button to start the gas flow and, when finished, it's easy to stop the flow without any spillage or leaking. This nozzle also is self-venting, so it empties and fills easier. It's even easier to tell how much gas is in the container. Check out the No-Spill Gas Can at www.nospill.com and at select auto supply and hardware stores.

• Write to Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit online at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2014, Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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