Safety tips for extension ladders

Extension ladders allow you to reach up much higher than an ordinary step ladder. But, unlike step ladders, an extension ladder needs to lean against a surface in order to reach those heights. Here are some tips to help you do so safely and a few extra hints for how to deal with other situations.

• Before you ever use the ladder, take a closer look at it. Make sure everything looks like it's still in place and there are no broken joints or loose nuts and bolts. Check the rope for frays and cuts.

• Having a spotter or assistant when working is always a smart thing to do.

• Consider the angle at which you place the ladder. It should be about 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet in height - that's a 1:4 ratio.

• Check the weight limit of your ladder as well, especially if you are carrying a heavy load up with you.

• Always make sure your ladder is on stable ground. If you are trying to work on soil, grass or rocks, set your ladder on top of a piece of plywood.

• Any time you need to set the ladder up on a slick or slippery surface, place a rubber mat under the legs. This is a great idea when working on slippery floors or wet surfaces.

• If you need to lean the extension ladder against a wall, your siding or any other surface where you don't want to leave marks or scratches behind, slip a pair of socks over the top rails. The socks will protect the wall from damage.

• One way to avoid a slipping ladder is to tie it in place. This may not always be possible, but if it is, do so.

• If you are working around electrical wires, use a wooden or fiberglass ladder.

• There are some really nice extenders that can be added to the base of your ladder that enable you to work on an uneven surface, like a step. You can get creative and can make your own, but make sure that it will be very secure.

• Always keep both feet on the ladder rungs. It might be tempting to put one foot on another surface like a window sill, but don't do it. It can cause the ladder to be off-center and slip.

Paper towel holder

We needed a couple of paper towel holders and didn't want to spend a lot of money on them. I just made some simple ones from a scrap of wood and a dowel rod. The piece of wood for the bottom needs to be stout enough to hold the roll upright and keep it from tipping over. The dowel rod should be a little longer than the roll of paper towels and about half the diameter. Drill a hole about halfway through the base, in the center, with a spade bit. Drop some glue into the hole and twist the dowel into it. Slide the roll of paper towels onto the dowel, and you're ready to go. It's a simple holder, but it will work well and it's great for picnics, workbenches, craft rooms and your kitchen.

Vacuum away dust

I'm certainly not a clean freak, but because of my allergies I do try to keep the dust to a minimum. When I need to vacuum an area that has a lot of small pieces that might be sucked up along with the dust and I don't want to empty the area to clean out the dust, I slip a scrap of netting over the vacuum nozzle. It will get the dust, but nothing else. This works great for drawers, toolboxes, desks and craft areas.

Super hints

• I get a lot of plastic bags when I shop. My store recycles them, so I bring them back in every time I shop. But I like to keep some for things around the house. They make great disposable trash bags and disposable gloves for painting or other messy projects.

• When I have leftover boiling water from cooking something, I choose where I want to dump it. Of course, it's great to pour down your drains to melt and flush grease away in the kitchen. I also have used it to kill grass and weeds on my brick patio.

• If your freezer is crowded and you're afraid to open the door for fear of what will fall out, then you need to add some storage bins to organize food. Put like meals into each container so that finding what you want will be much easier. Pull out the bin, get what you need and put it back.

Q. I have a wooden toilet seat that has a crack in it. I want to know if there is a way to fix it.

A. If the crack is in the lid, then you can glue and clamp it to put it back together. But if the seat is the part that is cracked, then you are better off just replacing it. It probably won't take the pressure of someone sitting on it for very long.

Q. I have a water pipe that runs through my closet downstairs. It is dripping condensation and has ruined the floor. What can I do to make it stop dripping?

A. It might be just as simple as adding some insulation to the pipe. The inexpensive foam insulating pipe covers will be the easiest to install and should do the job just fine.

Q. I have a copper range hood in my kitchen. It's spectacular, but hard to maintain. I'd like to see if there is a way to protect the shine once I get it cleaned up. What do you recommend?

A. You can use a spray polyurethane once it's clean. Just make sure you read and follow the directions on the can and add extra ventilation while doing so.

Reader tips

• I wasn't sure what I had run over, but I just knew there was something under the mower deck. I remembered reading years ago in your column to disconnect the spark plug to prevent it from accidentally starting up. Well, I did this, and it took only about 1 minute extra. It was a good thing I did, too: There was a wire cable wound up around the blade. It took me about 30 minutes and a hacksaw to get it off. Never work under your mower without doing this! Just a reminder to keep you safe.

• We always wanted a flag, but just never really had a good place to mount a holder for it on our house. We bought a metal umbrella stand and a large flagpole that fits into this. We just set the flagpole into the stand, which is made heavy enough not to tip over, and twist the set screw to hold the pole in place. It's easy to bring in every night, and it allows us to fly our flag every day if we want to.

• I've used the powdered carpet fresheners for years. I love the ease with which they work to control odors and how they leave the carpet with a nice smell. My husband, however, thinks the smell is way too strong. I decided to compromise, and what I came up with was to mix the scented carpet powder half and half with plain baking soda. This does a good job for me, and my husband thinks it's OK, too. I am probably saving a ton of money, too.

• I like wallpaper. I have papered almost every wall in our house at one time or another. I've learned a lot of tricks, too. For example, if you are going to hang a picture on your wall and want to protect the wallpaper from getting torn or botched up, just use a very sharp knife to cut a small "V" in the paper. Then gently work the point up from the wall and pull it down enough to install the hanger. When you finally remove the hanger, you can use some paste on the "V" and press it back into place. Your hole won't show.

• I just had to take my weed trimmer apart for the third time. I am having a lot of trouble with it and keep trying to fix it. I was lubricating the parts and, to make it fast, put them into a plastic bag with some oil in it. I closed it up and flipped it again and again to distribute the oil. Not only was it faster, but it was a whole lot less messy.

Shoptalk

• If you are one of those people who likes to make things for the home or to give as gifts, you'll love our Hardware Chess Set. The plans are easy to follow and use a variety of different hardware items to make up the individual chess pieces. You may already have some of these odds and ends laying around in your workshop. If not, it won't cost much to put a complete set together. The plans also are available on www.thesuperhandyman.com. Of course, you'll have to master the game yourself!

• Toolboxes sure have come a long way. Stanley's Click 'n' Connect 2-in-1 Toolbox is a neat one. It's a totally customizable toolbox system. The inserts easily can be moved to create smaller or larger compartments inside the toolbox, and several sizes of boxes are available; they can fit on top of each other and snap together. Some compartments are large enough for power tools. You can bring one box or several, all at once, depending upon your needs. It's a little wider than the average toolbox, and can be accessed from both sides. The handle is super strong to make carrying it easier. Check it out at your hardware store or home center. You also can find out more at www.stanleytools.com.

• WD-40 is great for most lubricating, but sometimes you need a dry lube. The company also makes that in its 3-in-One Lock Dry Lube. It's formulated especially for locks, and keeps them moving smoothly. It offers protections as well as lubrication, and unlike graphite lubrication, is clean. It dries clean and quickly, and won't attract dirt and dust like many other lubricants. It has the typical straw attachment for small applications and is safe to use on metal, wood and plastic surfaces. Look for it at your hardware store or home center. To get additional information, go to www.WD40Company.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.