Block out the draft under a door or window inexpensively

Hopefully you have weatherstripped your windows and doors, and have no drafts. But if you find that you missed one gap at the bottom of a door or window, try making our handy "draft dodger."

Just grab a couple of socks that you no longer want - ones without holes, preferably. Place the top ends together so that the toes point away from each other, and stuff them full of aquarium gravel or rice. Then attach them together using glue, sewing thread or staples. Lay this down in front of your drafty windowsill or threshold, and block that air from getting inside.

Lattice panels boost storage

Lattice panels are great for a wide variety of projects, and they don't cost a lot of money. You even can use them indoors. One great use for them is to organize a busy shop, garage or shed. Just hang one on the wall and use "S" hooks to hang tools and hardware right on the panel. Use them in a play room or hobby room. You can keep a whole collection of stuffed animals for your children on one wall with this storage method. It's a fun way to store things, and it doesn't take up any floor space.

Super hints

• If you need a larger table for a party or family get-together, just cut a large sheet of plywood to fit over your existing table. Cover it with a tablecloth, and nobody will ever know what's underneath.

• If you want your microwave oven to last, keep it clean. A super way to clean one in a flash is to put a big bowl of water inside and nuke it for about five minutes. That will cause steam to collect on the sides of the oven, and you can just wipe the messes right off with a paper towel. Add a slice or two of lemon to the water, and it will smell fresher, too. Use some baking soda to scrub off the stubborn stuff.

• Throw a couple of denture tablets into your toilet bowl overnight, and it will be clean in the morning, just like your dentures. Just don't use the same tablet for both!

Q. Well, now I've really done it! I dropped a bolt down my tub drain when installing a new towel bar. How can I get it out, or is it OK to leave it down in the drain?

A. Now you know why we always recommend putting a tarp or at least a towel into the tub or sink before working on it. You never know when an accident will happen. It would be best to get it out if you can. Try using a shop vac to see if you can suck it out of the drain. Maybe a magnet on a string would work. Just don't drop the string down the drain!

Q. We don't get much sun on the north side of the house, and I have some mold growing on the roof. How can I get it off without ruining the composition shingles?

A. Try spraying it with laundry bleach to kill the mold first. Then hose it off with some pressure.

Q. We use our patio even in the winter here in Florida. It stays warm enough to eat outdoors all year long. The only problem we have is the humidity. It has ruined the blades on the ceiling fan out there. Is there some way to prevent this from happening?

A. You can purchase exterior blades for your fan from a variety of sources. These are made of metal or vinyl and won't fall apart or bend due to the weather.

Reader tips

• I got a nice nail apron free when I ordered a tool online recently. I really thought I would never use it, but I found it very handy on my last painting project. I was able to load up the pockets with the things I usually manage to drop or lose while I'm working, like a damp rag, paint shield, touch-up brush and even my cell phone. It worked pretty well, and I plan on using it a lot more. I was glad I remembered having it.

• My closet door was not very hard to shorten after getting the carpet replaced, but then I ran into a problem. When I cut the bottom down, I was left with an open cavity, since the door was a hollow-core door. I couldn't get the old piece out of the part I cut off, so I sprayed some expanding foam up into the open space. I just went along the edge so I didn't waste the whole can. After it hardened, I came back with a knife and cut it off flush with the bottom of the door. It works fine, and nobody will ever know.

• My home office is a lot better since I cleaned it out. I'd had years' worth of stuff in it that I didn't need. I saved a file cabinet for my shop. It has a lock on it, so it's great for storing some of my valuable tools, and I can use some of the file folders to collect plans, receipts and other things in. I even keep my sandpaper inside one of the folders. It keeps the paper flat, and I can easily go through it to find the grit I am looking for.

• I've made a couple of Christmas gifts this year and used my old soldering iron. It's more than 15 years old and still works great. I think the main reason it has lasted so long is that I clean it off each time I use it. I keep a piece of steel wool right in the box, and make sure to get the solder and flux off it each time.

• I have just purchased a new desktop computer and have outfitted my office so that I can work at home more often. To corral all of the cords that are now running under the desk, I have used a cardboard wrapping-paper core. I just slit it down the side and pushed all of the cords into the core. The sides close back up around them, and I have only the one tube showing now. It looks a lot better than the rat's nest I used to have.

Shoptalk

• If your fence has been "tagged" or you just have some other paint mess to clean up, try Zinsser Graffiti Remover and Stripper. It's an environmentally friendly formula that removes spray paint, magic marker, ink and crayon from painted surfaces, ceramic tile, porcelain, glass, vinyl siding, concrete, brick and lots of other surfaces. It even works pretty well on tar and grease. Check it out at a variety of dealers, including paint and hardware stores, home centers and discount stores.

• Velux America has created the No Leak Skylight with a 10-year installation warranty and a 20-year warranty on the glass. It is now using an advanced LoE3 glass, prefinished white frames and sashes with special premounted brackets for quick installation of sunscreen blinds. The new design complements today's roof styles and has three layers of water protection, including a new gasket that seals to the roof deck. Velux is an Energy Star partner and is recognized for its "green" qualities of manufacturing and sustainability. To find out more about any of the company's products, visit velux.com, or call (800) 283-2831.

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

© 2009, Cowles Syndicate Inc.