Emergency kit can give you peace of mind in winter weather

Winter means snow, holidays and lots of indoor activities. Of course, it also means frozen pipes, power outages and ice storms. Here are some things you should have on hand to battle the elements and get you back to family fun faster.

Extra food and water are good to have on hand. A couple of large bottles of water should get you through a couple of days. Make sure you have a manual can opener. Most food will keep in the freezer and fridge for a day or so. Just monitor the temps and don't let them get too high. Storing some things outdoors in freezing weather also can work.

Oil lamps and battery-operated lamps sure can come in handy. Make sure you have fuel for them also. Candles should be used sparingly, as they can be a fire hazard. Make sure you use them safely. A small generator is a great tool to have on hand if you can afford it. You can even buy one that will automatically cut on when the power goes off and be large enough to run most appliances in your home. Make sure you use it according to the manufacturer's directions. Never use a generator indoors.

A backup heat source is important also. Keep wood on hand for fireplaces. Other heaters can be used, but pay attention to warning labels, and take all precautions. It's also a super idea to keep some home-repair items at the ready. Tarps, tapes, hand tools and other supplies should be located where you can access them easily should you need to make emergency repairs to your home.

Keep your cell phones charged and your car gassed up, in case you need to move your family to a safer location. Being prepared can give you peace of mind, even when the power goes off!

More mix with less mess

Stirring paint is a whole lot easier when you use a special stirring attachment made for your power drill. It really will save you a lot of time, and your paint finish will be perfect. To avoid the mess that usually comes with stirring the paint with a power tool, construct a shield from a paper or plastic plate. Make a hole in the center of the plate that you can slip the stirrer through before attaching it to your drill. Then hold the plate down over the top of the paint can as you stir it up. This will cut down on the more serious messes.

From the pantry to the shop, racks make great storage option

Shop storage is at a premium for most of us do-it-yourselfers. And any storage that uses areas that have a small footprint is a very efficient way to store items. Those over-the-door pantry storage racks that fit on the inside of a pantry or closet door are perfect for storing a ton of shop and garage items. Most can be made to attach directly to a wall with a few screws. Use one or even more to store cans of paint, small tools, sandpaper and tons of other stuff. Best of all, they cost a fraction of a typical storage cabinet.

Super hints

• Taking your car or truck off-road? Try spraying the lower edges of doors, fenders and grills with Pam cooking spray to keep bugs from sticking. It works great on headlights, too!

• Here's my favorite tip for cleaning the filter of your vacuum cleaner. I have terrible allergies, so I try to cut down on dust whenever I can. I have found that I can get a trash bag, put the vacuum cleaner filter and collection cup into the bag and close the bag. Then I still can manipulate the items through the bag to tap and clean them out. Then I let the dust die down before opening the bag and retrieving the parts again. It really does seem to help; the trash bag goes right into the garbage, and I don't have to take another pill!

• A toothbrush holder, normally used for travel, makes a great place to keep a fishing license, money or other object that you want to protect from moisture or dirt while camping, fishing or otherwise engaged.

Q. I have a question about the vents around my foundation. My home is on pier and beam, and has a concrete barrier from the house down into the ground. There are vents around the edges, and I remember getting some covers for them to use during the winter. Do I really need to cover them?

A. It's a good idea to allow some ventilation under the house to prevent moisture buildup. If you want, though, you can cover up the ones on two opposite sides just to cut down on the airflow without limiting it too much.

Q. Our brass bed is so old, it's probably an antique. It has large, round knobs on the corner posts that screw down into place, or at least they are supposed to. One is loose and no longer turns or stays in place. Can you suggest an alternative?