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Don't Forget to Add Gas Stabilizer to Your Lawnmower

Like all bras, which go grey with neglect and lose their elasticity, lawnmowers languish in the absence of regular maintenance.  So if you’re thinking of putting your lawnmower away for winter without giving that baby some love, think again.

For one thing, gasoline isn’t stable and should be used within 30 days of purchase.  Otherwise it gets gummy and won't burn. 

 

If you’ve got leftover gasoline in your portable fuel container, either add it to your car's gas tank or mix some gasoline stabilizer into it; the stabilizer prevents gas from breaking down and losing volatility over the winter, at which point that lame old fuel won’t spark any engine known to man. 

If you can't drain or burn off the rest of the fuel in your lawnmower tank before you store it, you can also add gas stabilizer to any fuel remaining in the tank. 

End of lecture.  Now go and enjoy winter without a single day of lawn mowing in it.

 

Wall Desk

via www.skiltools.com

I subscribe to the Skil newsletter. Sometimes it has killer-cool projects. This wall desk is one of 'em.

The idea is great and the design (downloadable as a free PDF) looks pretty easy. I haven't tried it myself but I may modify it to use as a countertop computer cabinet in the kitchen. I gotta do something. There are cords everywhere and it looks kinda ooogly.

50% of Homeowners with Garages Can't Even Park in There; Here's Why

This is a 4-minute story that took two days to shoot, but you'll quickly see how a few simple tools and some chick-energy can transform a grotty looking garage into a freakishly tidy, efficient work space. 

I want to use this stuff in my sewing room, my office and inside some of my closet doors.  Because vertical storage rocks.

Saying Goodbye to Norm Abram and his New Yankee Workshop - Fine Homebuilding

via www.finehomebuilding.com

BREAKING NEWS: It's the end of an era. Norm is leaving the airwaves. I wonder what's behind the decision - network market share, or did Norm want to retire?  We'll miss him dearly. 

Natural Root Stand for iPod

via www.etsy.com

This is just the kind of weird-ass gorgeousness I love to see in woodworking. Substrata also does beautiful wooden iPhone cases (without the psycho root action).

Design*Sponge » henrique oliveira

via www.designspongeonline.com

This guy is an insanely inspiring artist. What a cool thing to do with busted, peely, scrappy wood. My fave is the curly worm-hole fort. And the giant reconstituted tree trunk.

Vote for Design Egregiousness in Home Depot's Fall Makeover Contest

 

Thanks to ToolGirl Maureen Rice who sent me word of this ongoing Home Depot event,  to which she submitted her garish-beyond-belief bathroom as a late entry. 

Home Depot is giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards to the Canadian homeowner with the most sympathy-inducing photo of their home renovation needs.  You can vote online here.  Have fun.  Some of these scenarios are epic.  And Maureen's bathroom is right up there with stick-on linoleum tiles festooning the walls.  Hope she gets a ton of votes.

Wisteria and a Boring Fence

In a far corner of our property stood the biggest, chunkiest, blankest piece of 10-foot fence you ever did see.  At the west end of it grows a wisteria, stymied by a lack of handholds for its curly, ambitious tendrils.

So this weekend I took a heap of deadfall and recently-trimmed limbs and applied it to the bland pressure-treated fence using 3-1/2 inch screws.  Then I wove fresh, still-leafy branches horizontally through the vertical limbs to create the un-boring texture of wattle-and-daub without the daub.

Some would say I made the fence uglier, but they will need to rethink their opinions in May when the wisteria has something to clamber over in the riotous spirit of Spring.

Got a SIGG Bottle? Trade It In Before October 31st!

(Photo) On the left, my new OtterBottle.  On the right, my disgraced SIGG.

If you've got a SIGG water bottle you may have noticed the recent fracas about BPA leaching from the bottle's liner.  BPA stands for Bisphenol A.  In some U.S. studies it's been linked with early-onset puberty, prostate and breast cancers, as well as infertility in animals.  Ick.

I have a SIGG bottle with the old liner, so I'm taking advantage of their mostly free (you pay to ship your existing bottle back to SIGG) exchange program.  SIGG's new bottles have polyester liners.  Nothing wrong with polyester.  So far anyway.

Until I can taste-drive my new SIGG bottle, I've switched to a different product that I LOVE.  I'm using a liner-free stainless steel bottle. The water tastes sweet and delicious, even after a day or two in the stainless steel chamber.  Disclosure: A few months ago (before the SIGG crisis) OtterBottle's publicist sent me a complimentary sample of the .75-litre OtterBottle. That's how I found out about them.

My OtterBottle was invented and manufactured by a Canadian woman, Shannon Andrukow, an activist and environmentalist who couldn't find a decent BPA-free bottle a few years ago. 

So she created her own company OtterBottle Inc. to introduce a portable water container that was pure, healthy and cool.  (The name was inspired by the otter, a bright, elegant little water animal.) 

I now carry my Otterbottle on all of my car trips, plane trips, trips to the barn and any time I'm building stuff in my workshop.  Because the water tastes so sweet and not plastic-y, it encourages me to drink more water.  (Normally I avoid water.)

Also, the OtterBottle's compact size and shape is a great fit for me.  The SIGG bottle is a bit big for my purse and the circumference is slightly larger than comfortable for smaller hands.

Just saying; If you want to carry fresh water with you, why not do it safely, stylishly and Canadian-ly? 

A Canadian ToolGirl is Going to Mexico on CityTV, Baby

Okay.  A ToolGirl definitely has to win this.

What exactly are ToolGirls good at it?  Well, everything.  But especially dreaming.

So the spoils of this CityTV contest --- which will send you and 3 of your favourite people (2 rooms, baby) to hang out for a week at Mexico's drop-dead gorgeous Azul Beach Hotel and eat gourmet foods, drink cocktails and bask in “Canopy Beach Beds” admiring the surf --- is surely worth entering. And it’s even courtesy of (sing it with me) iTravel2000.com.

What do you have to do to qualify? Oh, taste the deliciousness. 

Simply build a model of your ‘dream home’ with popsicle sticks, particle board, foam-core, plywood, sugar cubes or whatever you have in your drawers.  Then snap a photo of your model and send it to CityTV (easy form and rules). 

There’s only a week left.  Citytv launched this online contest on October 2nd to encourage Canadian families (or 'GROUP of FRIENDS' if you haven’t procreated yet) to spend time together by building a small-scale version of their "Extreme Dream Home."

The contest was created because, in case you hadn’t noticed, CityTV is now running Extreme Home Makeover, so they’re letting you in on the camaraderie, speed, fun and crying of that very show. 

High-profile Canadian designers Ramsin Khachi, Janette Ewen and Samantha Sannella, who are participating as judges, unveiled their own designs. 

Here's an example: Janette Ewen's modular aquarium house

Can you one-up a designer?  (To be fair, the designers didn’t get a trip to Mexico for their trouble.  But you will.)

The winning entry will be announced on www.Citytv.com on November 12, 2009.  I’m pulling for you.

BeJane.com - Web Portal for Women's DIY

BeJane.com has been around for a number of years and it's been going through some deep foundational changes lately.  I don't know what they've got up their sleeves, but it looks thoughtful and creative. 

If you're into shouldering your own home improvements, it might be a good time to sign up for their newsletter and let the projects roll.

By the way, here are some encouraging factoids from their most recent newsletter (today):

Singe female homeowners are estimated to nearly double from 17 million in 2005 to 32 million in 2010
Single women own nearly 1 in 4 homes in the US while single men own 1 in 8
Women drive 80% of purchases in the home
Women make 61%+ of all Home Improvement purchases in the US
Nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 12.8 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales.

So hey, if you've been wanting to whoop it up and yell, "Chicks rule!", today would be a good day.

Breakfast Television with the Darling Dina

Every so often I get to do a morning with the high-spirited crew of Breakfast Television and I always have a blast with Dina.  She's quirky, fearless and in-the-moment.  Hence the turkey gobbling thing.  She got me to do it twice.  I can't believe I didn't make her do it too.  Dang.

(If you click on the photo it'll take you to the video)

Nice Article About the Emotions of Home Ownership

Get Home Schooling at the Toronto Fall Home Show

Bryan Baeumler from HGTV's Disaster DIY will help you choose what to attempt and what not to - because he's seen it ALL, baby.

If you have questions about your dwelling and how to make it look good, feel good and last for ages, you can get a free education this weekend at the Toronto Fall Home Show. 

The home show is the city's best hands-on forum for homeowners trying to figure out the right course of action for the unique needs of their home.

More than 250 experts, contractors and vendors are on hand to answer your questions, give you advice and introduce you to the latest design trends and technologies. 

I'll be on The Planning Stage twice (12:30 on Friday October 2 and 12:30 on Saturday October 3) giving  a billion tips on how to make yourself feel comfortable in your home instead of worried, anxious or doubtful about the choices you're making.  (HINT: Denial is not the answer)

I'll take questions you may have, teach you how to use basic power tools, explain how you can tell exactly where to start upgrading to suit your home's personality -- even if it's wonky, old, semi-rotten or semi-finished. 

And if you're getting ready to sell, I'll give you 5 changes you can make to get the most money from a buyer. 

I'll even show you how to radically and economically upgrade your garage storage with Gladiator Garage Works components so you can actually park your car in there this winter!

BONUS: Save $5 off your ticket to the Toronto Fall Home Show by writing a few words about your plumber, landscaper, electrician, carpenter or installer.

The show runs from Thursday October 1 - Sunday October 4.  Need more info?

WHERE IS THE SHOW? 
Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
 151 Princes' Boulevard
 Toronto, ON
 416-263-3000

Are You Kind of a Beginner with Power Tools?

I love seeing the look on people's faces when they realize what they can do with a few tools. 

That's why I'm teaching a free "Power Tools for Beginners" class (1 hour) at the Toronto Fall Home Show Friday October 2 (3:00) and Saturday October 3 (3:30).  I'd love to see you there. 

We'll cover 4 basic power tools you need to build your own shelves, fences, outdoor furniture, planters and toys.  It'll be SO FUN.

I have some fantastic colleagues who are also teaching free classes this weekend at the show:

 HGTV's Hands-on Workshop Series

 - Cheryl Torrenueva, HGTV design expert - Luxe living for less!
 - Bryan Baeumler, host of HGTV's Disaster DIY - Building green
 - Linda Leatherdale, financial expert - Your Home: How to get more bang
 for your buck
 - Christopher Jones, founder of StyleNorth.ca - The vintage advantage
 - Janette Ewen, interior stylist and CityLine expert - How to be your
 own decorator
 - Jackie Morra, founder, Home Décor Solutions - Choosing the right
 accessories
 - ToolGirl, Mag Ruffman - Power tools for beginners

Here's a direct link to sign up for classes.  Hope to see you there.

When Your House "Isn't Done Yet" It's Hard to Relax

I have a confession.  I hardly ever entertain because I'm embarrassed about the state of our house.  Currently there are bare plywood floors, gutted spots, a torn up basement, a semi-finished patio and a porch wall that leaks. 

People might expect me to be more on top of these projects.  Well, I'm not. 

But as long as nobody ever comes over, nobody will ever find out, right?  That's kind of a goofy way to live, though, hiding from the opinions of others.

Okay, second confession:  The state of the house isn't the only reason I'm reluctant to throw dinner parties.  I'm also a nervous hostess.  I get wound up and anxious and I'm SO not a cook.  Our kitchen equipment is also outdated (we have a 20-year-old blender that sounds like a WWI bi-plane) and since we eloped we don't have wedding registry finery that a good hostess would use to snazz up a dining room for guests.

So I was kind of over-eager to get some tips from decorating and design maven Vicky Sanderson, who was on site at the home of Mark Quinn and Shona Livingstone, where I was shooting a Gladiator garage makeover for CHCH Morning.  Vicky was also on the show with fall tips for entertaining so I took advantage of her knowledge and helpful advice. 

You'll get some idea of how vast my ignorance is, but you'll also see how to solve some entertainment conundrums.  My favourite thing: the rockin' slow cooker from Hamilton Beach.

Is Your Garage a Pristine Den - or a Pit of Shame?

Fifty percent of Canadians can't park in their over-stuffed garages.  Our $30,000 cars are oxidizing year-round in the driveway while excess and even unwanted belongings pile up in the garage.

For an investment of about 10% of the value of your automobile, you can handle your garage clutter, create massive vertical storage, and create a useable, drop-dead-gorgeous space.  (see 'before' shot below!)

Burlington homeowners Mark Quinn and Shona Livingstone agreed to let us perform a 2-day makeover on their garage.  We sent Mark away to watch football so Shona and I could surprise him with a new Man Cave.  We had a blast.  The only tools we needed were a screwdriver, cordless drill, a level and an electronic stud finder. 

Here's our BIG REVEAL on CHCH TV this morning as Mark explores his gorgeous new garage. All components courtesy of the folks at Gladiator Garage Works. (available at Lowe's and in Sears catalog).

CHCH crew Lori and Nick do a promo from the garage before we bring Mark in

Mark blindfolded a few minutes before we introduced him to his dazzling new garage.

Shona and I assembling the cabinets the day before - really easy to follow printed instructions.

We decided to give the walls a fresh coat before we installed the Gladiator components.  (So glad we took the time.  Leaving the walls gnarly would have shamed all those shiny new Gladiator cabinets, panels and track.) 

By the way, Shona had never used power tools or hand tools prior to the installation.

This is how the garage looked before we started. 

Total cost of makeover:  About $3200 and 16 hours of time.  SO worth it.

Is $14 Worth It to Save Your Marriage? Okay, How About $9?

It's not the curlers that have made my quickie elopement endure for 20 years (so far).  But if you want to get a laugh from the drive-through attendant, this look always works. 

I'm just getting ready to hit the road for my presentation at the Calgary Home Show.  It's going to be SO FUN, and if you're married to someone who snores, it might even save your marriage.  Tickets to the home show are $14.

Here's what I'm planning to reveal at the show...

1. The strange freakish things growing in my basement carpet that made me realize I had a problem
2. How I cured the infestation for under $10
3. How to have a cool, quiet bedroom (no snoring) even on hot nights
4. Why a peri-menopausal woman can put her husband in a clinic
5. How to prevent or alleviate asthma AND skin problems like eczema in one day
6. How to get rid of a gross little creature in your bedding that 70% of us are allergic to

The show is monstrously good this year with  fantastic companies and product suppliers giving away free samples and educating you about how to improve your dwelling.

Plus, my friend Nancy is launching her kickin' contractor-referral site, HomeStars.com, in Calgary this weekend, so she'll be at the home show awarding $5 Starbucks gift cards to anyone who gives a report (good or bad) on a recent experience they've had with a Calgary contractor or supplier.  And HomeStars can get you $5 off the cost of your show ticket too.

I'll be hanging out at the HomeStars booth in my spare time so come on over and say 'hi'. 

Check out the schedule for the Design Stage, including Bryan Baeumler and Karl Lohnes!

Hope to see you there.  I'll wear curlers if you will.

SmartSilk Discount - Use Code 'MAG'!

While I'm in Calgary for the Home Show this week I've been talking to media about my marriage-saving experiences with SmartSilk, the silk-filled bedding that stopped my hot flashes and ended my husband's snoring.  SmartSilk is available online only at SmartSilk.com - Costs about $800 for a Queen-size set (mattress protector, duvet and pillow protectors).  Until October 18 you get 20% off by providing the code MAG when you order! There's a new '3 Easy Payments' option on the SmartSilk web site for people who would like to pay for their new bedding on the installment plan.   SmartSilk comes in 5 sizes, from Crib to King, and is certified as 'asthma friendly' by the Canadian Asthma Society. 

Here's a little more info on the story behind my extreme enthusiasm.

End Mold and Mildew Forever

Hi Mag , i have a question for you - i have two washrooms and both of them are full of mold.  every month i clean the walls and ceiling with bleach.   mold comes back again.  what should i do to get rid of it.  my house is about 18 years old. please advise.  thanks.

-b.a.

Hi there,

The product you need is available at the Home Depot in Canada. It’s called Concrobium. It stops mold and mildew and it doesn’t come back.  Ever.  (here's one example from my own home)  Concrobium is formulated from food-grade chemicals so it’s non-toxic. It’s a brand new product and I've used it to kill both the smell and reappearance of mildew in our basement and porch. It rocks.  www.concrobium.com

Here are the instructions for use:

1. Remove heavy soil from the surface to be treated.

2. Thoroughly spray the entire area with Concrobium (or apply with a Concrobium-soaked cloth or roller). . If surface has visible fungal growth or staining, additional scrubbing may be required. Note: Concrobium is safe for us on almost all surfaces, including wallboard, plaster, ceiling tiles, wood, metal, plastic, stone, concrete, tile, fabrics, upholstery. If in doubt, perform a test on a small, inconspicuous section.

3. Wipe off excess wetness.

4. Allow to dry overnight (16-18 hours). Do not rinse. Note: in the event of accidental over-application, a harmless white residue may form on the surface. This can be easily wiped away with a Concrobium-dampened cloth.

Concrobium is available in most hardware stores in the US and Canada.

Do You Know a Good Contractor?

That's a question I get asked every week.  People who've had bad experiences with contractors feel nervous about hiring again. 

My friend Nancy had a powerfully negative experience 4 years ago with a contractor who under-delivered in oh, so many ways. 

When Nancy found out (too late) that her contractor had botched a string of similar jobs, she turned her frustration into inspiration.

Nancy quit her corporate job and founded HomeStars.com, a contractor review and referral web site.  HomeStars is geo-centric, so people in cities all across North America can review the performances of their own local contractors. 

The Homestars site took off, rocket-fueled by pent-up demand for honest, reliable referrals and contractor reviews.

I love the community of enthusiastic homeowners that has formed around this unique forum.  Contractors (the good ones) love it too, and the not-so-good ones are being held accountable, publicly, for the first time ever.  We the people, baby!

If you've got something you'd like to say - whether it's praise or problems - about a contractor, plumber, decorator, handyman or carpenter that you've hired, or a merchant you've purchased home furnishings from - please join the HomeStars conversation as soon as you can.  The more we talk to each other, the better life becomes.  For all of us.

Toronto Contractors are Fun

I met some funny, interesting and even sweaty contractors at the Toronto Habitat for Humanity BBQ.  We scarfed burgers, played with tools and toured the amazing building supplies at the Habitat ReStore.  I was just born lucky.  Thanks again to our sponsors - HomeStars.com (local ratings for when you need to find a great contractor), DeWALT (hot construction-grade power tools), Irwin Tools (slick, gorgeous hand tools), Duke Pubs (fresh burgers), Rickard's Red (icy beer).  You guys rock. 

My Secret Collection of Stuff

I'm going to start sharing some of the stuff I find interesting on the web.  My interests are scatty and unpredictable so this collection of posts is not about tools, but rather about productivity, design, focus and desire.

Have fun in there...

A Very Nice Letter

After I offered personal visits to new homeowners last week, I received this very kind letter from a ToolGirl subscriber.  So just in case you ever feel alone in the journey with your house, here's some love from a ToolGirl who made it.  Let's all hope we can return the favour one day!

Dear Mag,

The homeowner visit by ToolGirl is a great idea!  I don't meet the requirements for a visit -- I've been in my home for 17 years now as a single person.  But I've honestly learned a lot from your online videos and book.  You take the "fear factor" out of attempting projects.
 
I remember all too well my first couple years as a homeowner -- a single woman trying to make it on her own.  My Mom and Dad were great support, though, and their advice was extremely helpful.  Not everyone has that kind of support, so the idea of ToolGirl visiting new homeowners is wonderful and will be very much appreciated.  I hope some young lady who is starting out like I did, that doesn't have a solid support network behind her, gets a visit from ToolGirl.  God bless you!
 
Mary

Thanks Mary for your words of encouragement.  I'll be sending you a ToolGirl baseball cap to wear in all of your DIY endeavors.   
xo
Mag

Visit with a New Homeowner

I have a confession.  A couple of months ago I met a lovely young woman named Jennifer Speedy.  She had just bought her first home.  She was anxious, yet suffused with anticipation.  Maybe you've felt that way too.

I got excited meeting Jen because I love first-time homeowners.  They're full of hope, ambition and terror.  So I talked Jennifer into enduring a visit from ToolGirl.  She didn't ask.  She may not even have wanted my advice.  But she acquiesced to having me drop by her home to proffer my ToolGirl wisdom.  (Plus I brought a camera crew.)  A very gracious soul is Jennifer Speedy.

You can meet Jennifer and her house below.  You can also see the impromptu home improvement lesson I foisted on her.  Just know that if I visit YOUR house, it may not go this well.