How to add a little extra security to a front door

A standard door lock may keep some people from getting into your home, but if you want to add some extra security to your doors, there are some inexpensive and easy ways to do so. Here are some ideas you can try.

• Sometimes, just upgrading your existing door lock can add security. Many times, you can just change your standard lock to a deadbolt system without a lot of additional work. You may have to drill the doorjamb a little deeper, but that is the extent of the “construction” required.

• You also can add a deadbolt just over your existing doorknob or lock, if you don't already have one.

• Another simple thing you can do is to remove a screw from a couple of your hinges, as well as the strike plate on the door frame, and replace these with longer screws that will reach into the door frame.

• Another option is to reinforce your existing lock with a metal strike box. It will be less likely to split than a regular doorjamb. Manufacturers also make other metal parts that can be added to your knobs, locks or door edges to give them an extra layer of protection.

• To add extra security from the inside of the door is even easier. Check your hardware store or home center to see what they have.

• A slide bolt can be added to just about any door, and usually just requires installing a few screws. These can be placed at the top, bottom or along the side, and work quite well.

• The older chain locks still work well to allow you to open the door, but still prevent entry.

• You can add a metal flip lock. These are easy to install with just a couple of screws, and when flipped over the door edge, it makes entry much harder. Since they don't fit into a strike plate or other device, metal flip locks can be used on doors that don't fit as perfectly as they should.

• Add a peephole to your door, and it will allow you to see who is there without ever turning your lock at all!

Vertical spills

I just soaked up an oil stain on my garage floor with some kitty litter. It works really well, and it's my go-to method for this type of mess. But how can you use this remedy on a vertical surface? All you need to do is create a little pocket from a piece of plastic. Tape the pocket to the wall and fill it with your kitty litter, cornmeal or whatever absorbent you want to use. In this case, the more lightweight the material you use, the better. Just leave it in place until the grease or oil is all absorbed. After that, you can remove the pocket and powder, and brush off the surface.

Upcycle yardsticks

I have been doing some cleanup in my garage and found several old wooden yardsticks. They come in handy, but how many do you really need? I think one is plenty for me, so I took the other four and created some extra storage for my garden tools. I just held them up horizontally against the garage wall, and drilled a small hole through the yardstick and into the wall stud. I decided to mount one, with screws into the wall studs, about 18 inches off the ground, and another one about three feet off the ground, just above the first one. Spanning two wall cavities, I can store almost all of my garden tools in one spot.

Super hints

• When it comes to cleaning, don't forget about the canned air that you can buy at the computer store. It's amazing for cleaning vents and other hard-to-clean areas like that. Keep a can handy.

• I installed a heavy-duty hook into the end of my wooden mop handle. It makes it easy to hang it up in the utility room, but it's also great for getting to my hanging baskets when I want to move them. I can put a duster on the end so I can reach the cobwebs around my ceiling fixtures that are in the tall entryway of our house. I also use it to hang my bird feeders higher in the trees.

• If you've never washed your bed pillows, do it today. You need to do it once a month. Put them in the washer with detergent and a little bleach, two at a time for a balanced load. Air-dry or line-dry afterward.

Q. We just had our carpet replaced and kept several small scraps to use as rugs in high-traffic areas. I'd like to see if you might know of an easy way to “bind” the edges. What would you suggest?

A. Check your craft store, as there are a couple of manufacturers that make a glue-on binding. There also are carpet dealers that do this, and you can take your scraps to them and have it done.

Q. Here's my question. We are going to be putting in a wooden deck this fall. I've decided to use standard lumber, and have heard from someone that it makes a difference which way the boards are set onto the framework. Do you know about this “rule”? Which side goes up, and how can you tell the difference?

A. If you look at the end of the wood, you can see that the “rings” of the tree are still evident. They will curve just a little in one direction. You want to see the upper part of the curve at the top of the deck surface. This also is known as the “bark side.” This will prevent some of the warping that naturally will occur in the wood.

Q. My driveway is chipping off on the corner. It's not a big place, but it looks unsightly. How can I “glue” it back together?

A. If you can get under the area, try to shore it up with some concrete, or at least some sand. Then, glue the concrete back together with concrete caulk. If you can't glue it back together, patch the area with new concrete. Apply a sealer to your driveway to prevent future damage.

Reader tips

• I'm on a tight budget, but I wanted to have a cute metal border around my front flower garden. I bought some very inexpensive metal wire fencing and then painted it copper. It looks really cute, and I've even noticed that it is starting to “age” and turn green in some areas. It's so cool-looking, and it really was inexpensive to do.

• I added more storage to some of my drawers. My office drawer is deep, so it had a lot of wasted space. I installed some trim pieces about two inches from the top of the drawer sides, and then cut a piece of thin plywood that is about half the size of the inside of the drawer, and it sits on top of this trim. I keep small organizers on this and can fill them with all sorts of things. I think I will do this in some of my kitchen drawers, too.

• I'm with you on pegboard. It's so great for storage, and it frees up my workbench. One idea I used for storage wasn't part of the standard package of hooks I bought, but it works great. I installed some hooks, facing upward, about 18 inches apart on the same level with each other. Then I set a dowel into the hooks. I store lots of screwdrivers behind this dowel, which holds them up by the handles. It's easy to see the blades, so you can pick the right one for your project.

• I found a great deal on a multi-pack of nail aprons. I turned one into a gardening apron, which holds a few small hand tools and some seed packets, along with my cellphone. I also created a super housekeeping apron. This one is filled with a general-purpose cleaner, some rags and a duster. I gave the other two to my kids, and they keep their crayons, snacks and some other things they like to have inside. Oh, and I gave the other one to my husband, which he'll use for nails, I guess!

• We have been renovating two bathrooms in our house — at the same time! I'm not sure who thought this was a good idea, but it's too late to stop now. To keep the carpets clean in the rest of the rooms, we found a great plastic protector for carpets. It comes in a roll at the home improvement center and looks like plastic wrap, but it sticks on the carpet and keeps all of the dirt off it. It will just pull off when we are finished.

Shoptalk

• Baking soda isn't just for baking. As a matter of fact, it can be used for all sorts of things in the shop and home. Baking soda doesn't cost very much, and just about everybody has a box or two in the house, so why not use it to its full potential? We have put together a list of some of our favorite uses, “Get Cooking with Baking Soda,” some of which you might be surprised to know about. You also can find this, along with tons of other cool stuff, on our website — www.thesuperhandyman.com. Enjoy!

• If you need to protect your car or truck from damage on rocky roads or other rough terrain, check out Rock Guard. It's a spray-on temporary coating that is crystal-clear and will protect your paint job from chipping and scratches from rocks, brush and other debris. You can peel it off later on if you want to. To find out more, go to www.rustoleum.com or see it at your auto-parts supply store.

• I have a couple of sources that I use when I need to buy parts for my tools, but Ijust ran across one that might have everything I will ever need in the way of replacement parts. The website www.ereplacementparts.com is the place to go. You'll need some basic information, but you'll be amazed at the wide variety of parts you can order directly from them. Check them out the next time you are searching for that thingumajig for the grill, or the doohickey for your power drill!

• 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.