Getting rid of bothersome fleas

Are you a dog person or a cat person? I love them both, along with a lot of other critters. But I don't love fleas!

Fleas are not only bothersome, but they cause a host of other issues for our beloved pets and ourselves, too! Here are the best solutions for getting rid of fleas. Try them all in order to control these pests.

• I always prefer to clean, maintain and control issues of any kind without using harsh chemicals. But I will admit that, if natural controls don't work, then you may have to choose something more serious. Just remember, when using any materials around pets and people, always read the labels for proper usage, cautions and warnings. If something can kill a bug, it could harm you or your pet as well!

• Because fleas are tough to get rid of, it is suggested that you treat the pets, the yard, the home and any other areas where they frequent in order to stop their life cycle and gain control of the situation.

• A good source of treatment options is a pet store, as well as your veterinarian. When you start shopping, you will find tons of options. Although good for you, it also indicates what a widespread problem fleas are.

• Your vet will have some very helpful concoctions for your pet. Some will treat several pests at once and last for several months, making this part of the equation much easier to deal with.

• As far as treating your home, there are sprays and powders for these areas. Most need to be repeated several times in order to keep up with the life cycle of the flea. As you read the labels, you will see that some treat the eggs, others the larvae and some just the adults.

• Keeping bedding and floors clean can go a long way toward getting the situation under control. The same can be said for your yard. Don't forget to treat patios, dog houses and other areas where pets spend time.

• If you are treating carpets and use a vacuum, clean the canister or replace the bag every time you use it to get rid of the pests that may be trapped inside of it.

Not only do you want to win the battles, you need to win the war, and you can if you are diligent!

Hacksaw blades

I finally changed the blade on my hacksaw. It was way past due, too. I had an extra blade, as I bought a multi-pack of replacement blades awhile back. So I just used a couple of screws to attach the spare blade to the top edge on the side of my workbench. The blade sticks up just a tiny bit, and it's perfect for cutting tapes of all kinds, as well as string and trimmer line. It's a super-handy add-on for my workbench, and it might come in handy for you, too. You could even recycle an old blade instead of using a new one, but I had an extra new one, so I just used it.

Many uses of PVC

PVC plastic pipe is so easy to work with. You can cut it with a hacksaw very quickly, and it can be glued together with PVC glue to hold for a long time, if you choose. Over the years I've tried making several different things from them. Most recently, I made a terrific tomato cage for three large tomato plants that were taking over a couple of smaller aluminum cages. I made a square cage with corner joints and reinforcements on the sides. I cut the legs at an angle so that they would stab down into the ground and stay put. It's holding up well and supporting the plants without any strain.

Super hints

• To cut heavy-duty nylon cord or rope, wrap the cutting area with tape before making your cut. This will prevent it from unraveling as you make your cut. To keep the ends from fraying, melt them together with the flame from a lighter or torch.

• A lot of us own bicycles, and some of us even ride them occasionally. Storing them can be a bit difficult because they move around a lot and are a little unsteady, which can be bothersome around your cars. But check your home center or hardware store for some super hangers for walls or ceilings, and hang them up. Most bikes are pretty lightweight these days, and getting them off the floor prevents car damage and also frees up some floor space. Our wall hangers cost about $4 each, and were easy to install in just a few minutes.

• Those inexpensive metal shower-curtain rings are really handy in the workshop. You can use them to hang lots of tools and other shop goods right on any pegboard wall, or just a nail on your wall.

Q. When I painted my bathroom, I used a paint that was supposed to inhibit mildew and mold. Unfortunately, I am starting to see some again around the bathtub area. What gives?

A. Bathrooms do tend to have mildew and mold problems, so choosing a paint to inhibit growth is a wise choice. If you didn't kill the mold completely first, it will grow through the paint. You also can add ventilation or use what you already have to keep it at bay. This is very important, and it sounds like it could be an option worth looking into.

Q. We've been looking at flooring for our den. Can you please explain to me what a floating floor is, and why it would be an advantage over a standard subfloor?

A. A floating floor is one that sits on top of your subfloor. It's typically a tongue-and-groove plank flooring that is not glued or nailed to the subfloor. It makes for easy installation and any future repairs. It's especially great for DIYers. Some people say that this can hide foundation issues, but I would always recommend fixing those before installing flooring of any kind!

Q. A couple of years ago, I painted our wooden picnic table and benches. The paint is peeling off and I'd like to paint it again. What's the best way to get all of the rest of the paint off so I can repaint? What kind of paint will work best?

A. Use a pressure washer or scraper. A sander would also work pretty well. Use a primer first before painting, and then use a high-quality exterior paint this time.

Reader tips

• I cleaned out all of my old perfumes, some of which probably were over 10 years old! I went out to my garden and sprayed them all over the fencing and the mulch. I figured it might keep the critters out. Well, it actually seems to be working. It also has kept my cat out, which was a problem that I had just learned to live with.

• Have you seen the round hose guides designed to keep your hose from dragging through your flower beds while you are using it? Well, I thought it might be a neat product but, to save money, I made my own from some small wooden stakes and some short sections of PVC pipe. I used gray pipe so it wouldn't show, and placed them along the edge and corners about every 10 feet. The hose hits it and slides on by without ruining any of my flowers.

• My chain saw just sits around most of the summer, but I use it quite often in the fall and winter. I made a cover for the chain from the leg of an old pair of my bluejeans. It fits over the blade and keeps the chain safe. It also keeps the oil from getting all over the place. I started off with a rubber band around it to keep it in place, but it stays on without it, too.

• For my last birthday, my daughter bought me some nice-looking cushions for my new patio furniture. At first I thought they were waterproof, but I discovered they were not rather quickly. I bought a can of fabric waterproofing and sprayed them thoroughly. Now they are OK to leave outdoors, and they really do look cute.

• I have a lot of drill bits and had given up trying to keep them all in one place until I found an old glasses case. It's rigid plastic and large enough to hold all of them. It has a spring hinge on it, so it stays closed and protects them from being thrown around or lost. I thought you'd appreciate this and might want to share it with other readers.

Shoptalk

• Petroleum jelly is an incredibly useful concoction. It's perfect in the shop and super in the home. We bet you would love a list that we have put together of some of the many uses that we have found for this stuff in and around the house. Some you may have tried, but hopefully others will be new to you. Heck, you may have some clever uses that we didn't list. If so, let us know and we will add them to our list. We also will have it posted on our website at www.thesuperhandyman.com.

• If you want to customize your car, you have a new option. StickOuts come in tons of designs and colors so you can get really creative. They are easy to apply and made to last a long time. Their website includes a super video that shows just how easy the application process is. Check them out at www.stickout.com and see what a little color could do for your plain ol' vanilla car or truck!

• I figured out a long time ago that too much light in my room keeps me awake. It doesn't bother some people, but if you are like me, you're going to love the Drift Light from Saffron. This highly-efficient LED light bulb has a built-in automatic micro-controlled dimmer that can be set to gradually turn off over a short period of time; you no longer have to get up to turn off your lamps. It's a great option for kids' rooms, too. And it's a great way to control lights that might be hard to access or that get left on accidentally too often. It's also designed with a plastic cover instead of glass, so it's less susceptible to breakage. To see it in action and to find out even more, just go to www.drift-light.com.

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

© 2015, Cowles Syndicate Inc.