Extend the life of grill with cleaning, maintenance

A good barbecue grill will last a long time, but even the best need to be cleaned and maintained in order to be ready when you are. Here are a few things you should do to keep your grill ready for your family cookouts.

Cleaning is always the first job to take care of. This can be a dirty job, so use a dropcloth. It's a good idea to wear safety glasses and gloves and have plenty of ventilation. Oven cleaner is a good cleaner to use. Spray it on and let it work according to the label directions. Most surfaces are safely scrubbed with a stiff-bristle brush or pad. A second application can be used if you need to do more cleaning. The grates, grills and other parts can be cleaned separately. If any of these parts have a protective coating on them, don't scrub too hard or use very abrasive tools.

Use heat-resistant paint to touch up any places where paint has worn off.

Use wire or toothpicks to clean out gas jets. Replace any parts that are worn out or not functioning properly. Many hardware stores and grill dealers have universal fittings, or they can help you find replacement parts.

Make sure handles, hinges and other moving parts are cleaned and lubricated. Tighten them if necessary.

If using propane tanks or a gas outlet, have them inspected for leakage. A gauge is a super add-on for propane tanks to keep you advised of their level so you don't run out in the middle of your next party. Always shut off the gas or propane at the source before leaving the area after cooking is complete.

If your grill is located in an unprotected area, invest in a quality cover. It will pay you back in the long run.

Remember to take care of your grill, and it will be ready whenever you need it. Cooking outdoors is a super way to entertain and keep your kitchen cooler and cleaner in the summertime.

More pegboard

Double your pleasure! Pegboard offers super storage for tools and hardware in the shop or garage. And if you think that's super, try doubling it. Attach a two-by-four to the wall and attach the pegboard to that by hinges. The two-by-four increases the distance from the wall to give you more storage space on the back side of the pegboard. You can swing the pegboard away from the wall (like turning the page of a book) to expose the back side of the pegboard and lots more storage space.

Clothespin conversion

There are many times when you need a wooden wedge to secure an item. You can go to the hardware store or home center and buy a large package. But if you don't want to buy a whole bunch of them or just don't have time to run to the hardware store, try using a wooden clothespin. All you have to do is remove the metal spring from the end, and you will have two small, but very useful, wooden wedges.

Super hints

• When stripping furniture that has creases, try removing the paint with dental floss. Just run the floss through the cracks, and pull it back and forth just like you do with your teeth. It will work just as well on your furniture.

• When replacing a refrigerator door gasket, sometimes they are creased and need a little help to get a proper fit. If you use a hair dryer to heat them, the rubber material becomes suppler. Attach opposite screws first, as you would when changing a tire, and you should get a good fit.

• If you want to get rid of bugs in your yard the natural way without using pesticides, just feed the birds. In fact, I always put scraps of thread and lint in a small container in my yard for the birds to use as nesting materials. It's as popular in the spring as birdseed is. You also will know where they are nesting so you can avoid these areas when working in your yard.

Q. I know ladybugs are supposed to be beneficial, but I have a whole lot of them. Is this OK?

H.G.

A. Ladybugs are very beneficial. In fact, many people will actually buy them to put in their gardens, so you are one step ahead of them and are saving money. They do move around the area, so they might not stay there for long. You could take a closer look and make sure they haven't found a large number of pests in your yard, although they will take care of them quickly, in most cases. Ladybugs are super!

Q. I have found many holes around the base of our brick home. I was caulking the windows and started to caulk these holes, and my neighbor stopped me. He said these are supposed to be there, and I shouldn't cover them. They are all around the base of the house. Is he right?

C.F.

A. Yes, he is correct. We believe you are describing "weep holes," which are placed at the bottom of brick walls to allow moisture to escape from behind the wall. Uncover any holes you have blocked.

Q. I think there is a problem with my oven. It seems that my oven gets too hot on the bottom and doesn't really cook from the top. Is there a way to test this or, better yet, fix it?

K.S.

A. Have you tried moving the oven shelf up a notch? Also, check the door seal for leaks. Replace the gasket if necessary. Make sure the elements or gas jets are working properly.

Q. We had glued some rubber stair treads to the surface of our deck but removed them. We can't get all the adhesive off, though. Can you suggest a way to remove the rest of it?

T.D.

A. Tough adhesives like this usually will respond to paint-and-varnish remover. Put it on and let it sit, and then scrape it off with a putty knife. You may have to re-stain the area if you are going to try to have it match the rest of the wood.

Reader tips

• Our entertainment center holds all of our media equipment. The only problem is that the cords have to run along the wall to the outlets, which are not concealed. To hide them, I bought a section of vacuum-cleaner hose that matches the carpet closely. I slit it down the side the full length and slipped all of the cords inside it. I placed it along the edge of the wall. Now the cords are concealed, and the hose is barely noticeable.

N.V.

• Our yard is very large, and I have several garden areas. I love to work in it. I have stationed several containers around the property to hold small hand tools and other items that I use. I used screws to attach large coffee cans through the bottom directly to the fence posts. (This means the open end sticks out from the fence.) I put my tools inside and seal it with a plastic lid. This keeps my tools handy, and I don't have to carry them around the property when I am working outdoors.

S.H.

• I have some large clay pots around the pool. I always plant very tropical plants there to add to the atmosphere we are trying to achieve. In order to cut down on the large amount of potting soil I would need to use, I mix the soil with plastic-foam packing peanuts. They take up a lot of the space needed for potting soil and also allow for more airflow to the plant roots. Plus, I can recycle them to a good use.

L.P.

• I know you have talked about storing paintbrushes in a sealable plastic bag when you take a break from painting so that they don't dry out. But I came up with an even better idea. I tried sealing mine in a small plastic storage bin. I had several brushes and a couple of rollers, and I put them all in a plastic tub and sealed the lid tightly. After my trip to the paint store, I checked on them and they were fine. The paint hadn't hardened, and the brushes were as if I hadn't left them at all.

R.B.

• We planted some of our vegetable crops in smaller pots indoors to get them ready for planting earlier. When it came time to put a cover on the newly planted seeds, I found an extra shower cap that fit right over the pot. The elastic around the edge made for a nice fit that stayed in place until the seeds sprouted. Now it's a spare shower cap again.

J.A.

Shop talk

• Wouldn't it be great if you could incinerate your toilet waste instead of flushing it? The Incinolet Electric Incinerating toilet requires no plumbing, no water and no drain lines. It can be used in a camper, boat or even your home. It's easy to install and extremely sanitary. Liners are used to keep the bowl clean, and waste is incinerated after each use. The ash that is produced is germ-free and easily disposed of. Just plug it in and go. If you are interested in learning more about the Incinolet, call (800) 527-5551 or visit the company online at www.incinolet.com.

• For years, roofing repairs had to be made with that ugly, black, tarlike substance that is such a mess to work with. New Through the Roof is a clear, flexible, permanent caulk that seals without looking so obvious. It can be used on galvanized metal, aluminum, PVC, ABS, brick, wood, asphalt and most other roofing materials. It seals watertight, has excellent UV resistance and actually lasts two to three times longer than regular asphalt roofing sealant. It's used with a caulking gun, so it's easy to apply. It's made by Sashco, so if you want to know more, visit the company's Web site at www.sashcosealants.com.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.