Time to get your pool in shape before winter comes

Is your pool ready for the winter? Well, you'd better get cracking, 'cause it's just around the corner.

Here are some tips to help you plan your winterizing project.

If you live in the South, then you probably should just keep maintaining your pool as usual. You can cut back on the cleaning schedule once the leaves are out of the way. Keep checking the water and adjusting it to keep it regulated.

Don't forget to reset the timer to run during freezing temps in order to avoid damage.

In the northern parts of the country, you should make sure your system is fully prepared well in advance of freezing temperatures. Your owner's manuals for all components will give you great advice for specific equipment, but our tips will get you started. Your local pool-supply dealers also are a great source for both products and advice on local winterization.

Clean the pool thoroughly. Use your pool vacuum and other tools to clean all surfaces. Make sure to clean your filter, skimmers and any other parts of the system that need to be checked regularly. Do an extra-good job.

Test your water and make sure your chemical levels are correct, especially if you are putting a cover over the pool.

Some covers require you to lower the water level before placing them on top of the pool, so make the adjustments if needed.

If you are in a part of the country where your system needs to be drained of all water, make sure you follow specific directions for your filter and pumps. You usually can find directions for your system online at the manufacturer's Web site if you no longer have them or can't find them.

If you leave water in your pipes, make sure they are well-insulated and/or wrapped with heat tape.

If your system is completely shut down for the season, make sure the circuit breaker to the system is shut off as well.

Covers are great for the pool, pumps and filters. Make sure you install them correctly so they can do a good job of protecting your investment.

A little TLC before the winter will ensure that you have a super summer next year!

Sweatbands make painting no sweat

Painting is no sweat, or at least it should be! We all paint right out of the can sometimes. It's just easier than pouring the paint into another container, and most cans have a decent handle to hold on to. Of course, after a little while the can has a few drips down the side. And if you paint long enough or are really sloppy, you won't be able to read the label at all. One super-easy way to catch these drips before they ruin the label or drip to the floor is to slip a sports sweatband around the outside of the can, near the top. The sweatband will absorb quite a bit of the paint before the mess gets out of control. If you wash it out quickly, it won't even discolor the sweatband. But if it does, you'll have a pretty groovy tennis accessory, or at least one you can use for this purpose next time you want to paint from the can.

Felt turns your hammer into a mallet

Every do-it-yourselfer needs a mallet from time to time. They come in handy when tapping in dowels or working on good wood that you don't want to leave a permanent impression on with your hammer. One easy way to create a mallet is to simply stick a felt bumper pad to the face of your hammer. These are made to fit on furniture legs to help them glide over wood floors without scratching them. They come in a peel-and-stick version, which is easy to place on the hammer and even easier to remove after you have finished using your "mallet."

Super hints

• If you have arthritis or just have trouble turning doorknobs, you might want to switch out your round doorknobs to the lever-type handles. They have catches, like any other knob, and can even lock, but the lever makes it so much easier to operate, especially when you have a bag full of groceries.

• Before closing up your windows for the winter, clean the tracks around the edges and put on a thin layer of petroleum jelly to help lubricate them. When springtime comes again, your windows will glide like they were brand new.

• If you have a bathroom window that needs to be covered to protect your identity or your pride, try creating a stained glass effect with special stick-on pieces, available at your craft store. There are stick-on "lead" pieces to outline your patterns, and then a glass paint that is opaque to keep people from peeking in. If you don't feel very creative, see if they have some design elements already put together in a package. These can go right on the window, and all you do is paint around them.

Q. I have an older, wall-mounted gas heater in my bathroom. It has created dark stains on the wall above it through the many years. What can I use to possibly clean the wall?

A. I would start with TSP, or trisodium phosphate. You can get this in the paint store or paint department of your hardware store. It's a great basic cleaner for hard-to-clean areas like this. You also might want to have it inspected to make sure it's operating efficiently if the stains come back. This could be a sign that it needs to be adjusted to burn more cleanly.

Q. I got a box of books out of the basement to put in the library, but I guess they got too moist in the basement. Now they smell like mildew. Is there any way you know of to get rid of that smell?

A. Set them in an open box of cornmeal or some other absorbent for a couple of days. You might even sprinkle some between the pages.

Q. We have a toilet that is a little different. It has a push button on the front instead of a flush lever. The button no longer comes back out when the toilet is flushed, and we need to stop it from running. Can you please tell us how to fix this?

A. It's possible that the button is sticking because of mineral deposits that have built up in the mechanism. See if you can shut the water off, remove the button and clean it with vinegar. Make sure to wipe away any excess so it doesn't harm the chrome finish. You can also try spraying a little WD-40 into the mechanism to get rid of some more mineral deposits and to lubricate the working parts.

Reader tips

• We found a really neat panel of stained glass at a flea market. It came in a frame but the frame was loose, and we took it out so we could install it in our bathroom window. We couldn't find a better way to mount it, so we just used Super Glue to stick it right on the window glass. It has stayed up for more than a month now, and looks fantastic. You can no longer see into the bathroom, which was the point of having it in the first place. It does let some light in, though, and gives the room a nice feel.

• I made a deal with my brother. I put a laminated address label of his on my key ring, and he put one of mine on his. Now if either one of us loses his keys, the other will get them back, hopefully. It just didn't make sense to use our own address labels in case they fell into the wrong hands.

• I found a great thing at my hardware store. It's a motion sensor that screws into a regular bulb socket like the one I have in my garage. A light bulb then screws into that, and when you open the garage door or walk outside to take the garbage out, the light comes right on. You don't have to find the switch in the dark. It's so great. It even cuts the lights back off when you leave the room. I saw several brands there, and think they probably are available all over the place. Everyone should get one. It's safer, and you won't forget and leave the light on either.

• We just added a game room over the garage in our home. To prevent a problem I've noticed throughout the rest of the house, we glued the electrical boxes in place. In parts of our existing home, the plastic boxes seem to wiggle because they are nailed only on one side. When we did the wiring for the game room, we added a blob of construction adhesive to the side of the box before nailing it into the stud. The adhesive will add another layer of holding power and, hopefully, prevent the boxes from working loose.

• We got a great deal on a prefab fireplace insert at our home center. With these units, all you have to do is put some type of decorative cover over the front and add a chimney to create a fireplace. We installed ours on the back patio and used a stone veneer to cover it. It looks incredible, and we can now enjoy the outdoors practically year-round. It was very easy to do, and a lot of fun.

Shop talk

• Kilz is one of the best primer/sealers to block water stains, and the Upshot spray can makes it super easy to spot-treat a ceiling before painting. It's fast, easy, works great and is available at most paint stores, home centers and hardware stores. To learn more, visit www.kilz.com.

• Vermont American Spade Bits are great, and now when you buy the 10-piece set, you get a cool LED headlamp to help you see what you are doing, even in the dark. The black oxide bits cut three times faster than standard bits with the RapidFeed tip. The assortment includes all of the basics, including three stubby bits - great for tight areas. Check them out at your hardware store or home center, or online at www.vermontamerican.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrell's Web site at www.thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.