Tune up your mower to get it in shape for spring
Before storing your lawnmower for the season, try some of our favorite tune- up tips. It will not takemuch time or money to do, and your mower will be ready to gowhen you break it out next spring.
Run it until the gas is all gone. You can do this on your lastmowingweekend.
Clean it up. Wipe and scrape off all of the grass and other debris that collects on top of and underneath the mower. Remove the spark plug( s) before going under the mower deck.
Scrape off any loose or peeling paint, and apply zinc primer and exterior enamel to bare metal surfaces. Use spray paint for the fastest results.
Use WD- 40 on all moving parts, joints and bolts. This will keep them moving and rust free.
Remove the air filter and clean it. Foam filters can be cleaned with soapywater and set in the sun to dry. Paper filters can be cleaned with a paintbrush. Both should be replaced if damaged or badlyworn.
Remove the old cutting blade. If you are going to have it sharpened, cover the newedgewith plenty of grease so itwon’t rust during the winter. Anewblade is awonderful thing, and is healthy for your grass.
Drain oil by pumping it out or through the drain plug, which newermowers have. Refill the mowerwith fresh, clean oil, as specified in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have a manual, you probably can get one for free at the manufacturer’s website.
Replace the old spark plug with a newone, which you should do every year. Your mower will burn fuel better and will run more smoothly.
Order any replacement parts you need during the winter so you can install them in the off season. Start with fresh gas in the spring, too.
Q: I havemetal outdoor landscape lamps. They still work fine, but the original finish is peeling off to the baremetal. Is there a particular type of paint I should use to repaint them?— B. R.
A: Sand off all of the damaged paint, and use a metal primer and paintmade for exterior metal surfaces. This is a very easy project, so do them all, whether they need it or not, so they will match. It’s also a greatway to change the look of your existing landscape lights. Turn those plain, old, black lamps to copper or bronze, and give your yard a quick, inexpensive face- lift. Starting composting pile
If you are trying to be “green”— andwho isn’t, these days— you might be considering starting a compost pile. This is easy to do, and once you know the basics, you can have a steady supply of free plant food andmulch for your yard year round. It doesn’t costmuch, and is a greatway to get rid of vegetablewaste from your home aswell as many other items destined for the garbage can. Learn howto build and manage your own compost pile with our instructions. Send your request for “AHeapAbout Compost,” along with $ 1 — check or money order ( no coins, please)— and a self- addressed, stamped envelope, to The Super Handyman, here at the Houston Chronicle, P. O. Box 4260, Houston, TX 77210. Asllowsix to eightweeks for delivery. Entertainment center recycle
The new, thinner televisions are really great, and they fit into most rooms so much better than the older, boxy modelswe grewup with. But if you have an older entertainment center and you don’twant to get rid of it, why not make it thinner? Depending upon the type of entertainment center you have, it might be possible to cut it in half and make it fit into your room better. Use a sawto cut off the back half of the cabinet, including the shelves and cabinets. If done smoothly, you’ll have a thinner entertainment center that’s perfect for your new, thinner TV.
Dear Carrells: My wife askedme to clean the cooktop in our kitchen. It’s a gas range and had a lot of built- up grease and grime on it. It needed some extra detailing, so I took a stab at it. While cleaning, I found the center hub, where the gas outlets are, was clogged. I used a wire paperclip, unfolded, to remove the debris from all of the ports. Then I used a toothbrush to clean the outside of it. She tells me the range is like a new one and the gas and flame are somuch better. It really does look great, and I’mglad to have done it before the holidays. ( My wife is a super cook.)— G. T.
A super hint— Customize switchplates and electrical outlets with matching wall paint, and make them disappear. Primer will help the paint stick to the plastic. Remove them, prime and paint, replace.
Dear Al: I’mspending a lot more time in the garden these days. I really enjoy it, and have had a couple of very successful vegetable gardens in the past couple of years. Imade a nicewaterproof apron from an extra nail pouch I had in the shop. I sprayed itwith Scotchgard, and nowit’swaterproof and perfect for gardening.— N. V.
Q: I amsmelling a strong smoky odor coming fromour fireplace. We’ve never had any problem with it and use it a couple of times every winter. What should we check to make sure there’s not a problem?— K. J.
A: You really ought to have your chimney swept. Agood chimney sweep will clean and inspect your chimney for damage, and this could prevent a household fire. If youwant to do the job yourself, check for fluecleaning supplies at your fireplace store. Make sure to check your pipe and mortar joints, and use fireproof materials for any repairs. — If you have old doorknobs, turn them into a hat and/ or coat rack. Use original hardware or dowels attached towood scraps to mount the doorknobs in your entryway ormud room, and fill them up with cold- weather items. Small knobs can hold keys. Wainscoting made easy
Molding in a home is like the icing on a cake. But it can be costly and a bit intimidating if you have never done it. Oneway to get a suprlookingwainscoting in your home is so simple, it’s scary. Buy several inexpensive wood frames, painted the same color as thewall or white, and attach them to the bottom half of thewall all the way around a room. If you space them out and position them properly, it’s going to look super, and you don’t have to ever tell anyone how easy itwas to do.
Dear Al: WhenIwas growing up, my father put a brick in our toilet tank to displacewater sowewould use lesswater. I do this inmy toilets, though most of ours use lesswater anyway. The difference is I put the bricks in plastic bags. This keeps them from dissolving and causing problems over time. — S. J.
Got a question or a handy tip? Send it to The Super Handyman in care of the Houston Chronicle, or visitwww. thesuperhandyman. com. Those of general interet will be used in future columns.