More outdoor lighting a bonus

You can add real value to your home by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting. It can also add security by lighting otherwise dark hiding spots. So where do you begin? Here, of course.

You can start by figuring out where you want and/or need lighting. Start with pathways that need to be traveled at night. Next are landscape features that you want to show off, such as a fountain, a sculpture or a water feature. You also might want to light up some trees or shrubs of interest. Many people would also consider lighting up the house itself.

To see what some lighting might look like, go out after dark and set a flashlight in different spots. Even though it's different from an actual lamp, it will give you some idea of what it might look like.

Now that you have some ideas, you need to have an actual plan. Draw a rough sketch of your yard and note the areas where you want to have lights. The control box needs to be placed in an area where it can be hooked up to electricity, like on a patio or in a garage. Now try to figure out a wiring route. Some systems will allow for more than one wire in and out. Other systems will allow you to split the wiring outside the box. Draw lines from the fixtures and take measurements of these wires.

Now it's time to shop for lights. Once you have figured out what fixtures you want, add up the voltage requirements for the set and buy the appropriate control box and wiring.

Install the control box and lay out the wiring. It's low-voltage, so it's safer than house wires, but it still needs to be kept away from pets, kids and heavy-traffic areas. Test lights after they are hooked up but before burying the wiring, in case you have to move any of them. To bury the wires, dig a small trench with a straight-blade shovel and bury the wire or cover them with mulch. All connections should be protected from moisture either by a special housing supplied by the lighting manufacturer or by weather-resistant connectors.

Monthly checks are a good idea to replace bulbs or adjust fixtures, but that's about it. It's a fun project, and it will show how bright you really are.

Getting it straight

There's an art to hanging pictures straight! One way to make it easier is to place a small piece of double-sided tape or just a piece tape rolled into a loop with sticky sides out right over the picture hanger on the back of the frame. Then place a small thumbtack, facing out, on the tape. The tack should be directly over the picture hanger to make it easier to know right where to install a nail or hook. Now position the frame on the wall and press the frame, and the tack, into the wall. When you pull the frame away, the tack should stay put, marking the exact spot where the nail or hanger will go.

Quick storage

One quick and easy storage rack that you can add to your workbench is made from PVC plastic pipe. In fact, you could use a dowel rod, piece of rebar, pipe or even an old curtain rod. Just install an eye hook that is large enough to accommodate the pipe or rod on each end of your pegboard, near the top. Run the rod through the hooks, and then use "S" hooks on the rod to hang tools and hardware. If your workbench is long, use an eye hook in the middle for extra support. You'll love it!

Super hints

•Soak old, paint-clogged brushes in warm vinegar for a couple of hours. You'll see the old paint flake right off. It's a great way to revive a tired, old brush.

•Waterless hand cleaner is super for getting the grease and grime off your hands after working on a messy project. It even helps loosen paint from your paint brushes too, so rub some on them and set them aside until you are ready to clean them.

•Tired of your sofa leaving marks on the wall it fits up against? Try adding some door bumpers to the wall or the legs of the sofa. Make sure they are long enough to prevent the sofa from rubbing up against the wall. This is an easy thing to install and will surely do the job.

Q. I have a refrigerator that defrosts itself often, but it leaks onto the floor in my kitchen. Help me figure out where the problem is?

F.D.

A. Check the drain pan under the unit first. It could have shifted and could need to be made level again. Make sure the pan hasn't sprung a leak. The next thing to check is the hose that carries the melted water to the pan. It's possible that the end of the hose is out of position and not taking the water to the pan. This can be adjusted as well.

Q. We had stored tools in the basement. I went down to look at them last week and found that they are all rusty. What can I use to remove the rust?

V.M.

A. You can use a wire brush or other abrasive to remove rust, but I find the chemical rust removers are usually much easier. You can brush the chemicals -- either jelly or liquid -- into hard-to-get-to spots. Make sure your tools are stored in a cool, dry place from now on.

Q. We just cleaned out the garage, and I accidentally spilled some wood stain on the floor. I've tried to clean it up, but the stain remains. Is there any way to get the stain up?

G.V.

A. If it was a penetrating stain, as most stains are, it probably has soaked down into the concrete, because concrete is porous. You can try using a solvent to dilute it. Then cover it with an absorbent like sawdust or cornmeal to lift it out. Unfortunately, it's possible that it will be there forever. About the best thing you can do to make it go away is to paint the entire floor to cover it. This is a lot of work, but it would give you a very nice surface and cut down on future stains and the dust that comes with having an ordinary concrete floor.

Reader tips

•I've started doing stained glass as a hobby, and I tried a neat trick that you might want to pass along to your readers. I took an old ironing-board cover -- the type that is heat-resistant -- and tacked it to my workbench. If you have any soldering to do, this is a great place to do it, because the silver, heat-resistant surface is a safe place to work, and nothing can scorch or burn your workbench, either.

T.R.

•I hate cleaning the barbecue grill after a cookout night -- at least I did until I found the best grill cleaner ever. I use a paint scraper to clean the grill. The paint scraper really gets the grease and grime off the grill. You can even use it to clean the bottom of the grill, too. It will take off paint if your grill is painted, so be careful of that. My paint scraper has different edges on either side in order to get into the smaller areas that need to be scraped clean. If you use some oven cleaner or degreaser, you can get the whole thing clean in just a few minutes.

F.C.

•I don't have a shop, but I do manage to get a few things fixed around the house. I enjoy being able to save some money and get satisfaction out of doing it myself. I've got a super way to make a "workbench" out of trash cans. I just put a sheet of plywood over two large trash cans and work on whatever project I have to do. When I'm finished, I can put the plywood away and return the trash cans to their rightful places.

•If you have trouble with getting paint in your hair when painting, use a plastic shower cap. It works great. I don't have much hair, but my wife does, and she was avoiding helping me with the painting until I got her to put on a shower cap. She said it wasn't uncomfortable at all, and it protected her hair. I was just glad to have some help.

S.N.

•In my vegetable garden, I use my old garden hose to water. The hose had been leaking, so I just poked several more holes in it right next to where each plant was planted. The hose runs right down each row, winding back and forth to cover the whole garden. The holes are next to each plant, so no water is wasted. In our area, water is being restricted, and my "new" hose complies with the rules, which allows me to water when I need to, not just on specific days.

H.W.

Shop talk

•The GE Bug Lite is an outdoor light bulb that gives you light without drawing bugs to the area. The special coating on the bulb makes it invisible to most insects, and GE is now making the bulb in its compact fluorescent line. These bulbs look like an average incandescent bulb but use much less energy and will last for about four years. They are perfect for most outdoor applications, and since they last so long, you won't have to climb up a ladder to replace them once a year or more. Look for them wherever GE lighting products are sold, and find out more at www.ge.com.

•The Professional Ladder Utility System is a must-have for convenience and safety when working on a ladder. The system starts with a special universal ladder mount bracket that attaches securely to the side of most ladders. There is a tool bucket, paint tray and universal tool caddy that can be locked onto the bracket so you can hold on to the ladder and work safely. The paint tray comes with a liner and a special handle and spill guard to keep you from making a mess. The tool holder also has a handle and can hold up to 12 pounds of tools and hardware. Check it out at your hardware store or home center. For more information, see it online at www.proladdersystem.com.

© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.