Buzz Off 

On one occasion, we were camping in the Chilcotin area of British Columbia, Canada.  The mosquitoes were so bad we couldn't comfortably sit outside.  My friend said that if the wind came up to 5 mph or so, the mosquitoes would go away.  My wife suggested we put an electric fan (ours had a 12-inch diameter) on a chair about 8 feet from where we were sitting to blow them away.  To our surprise, it worked and we could sit outside mosquito-free.

- Jim Allen, Delta, British Columbia

Quick Pics

I bought one of those cheap throw-away cameras that you can buy almost everywhere and I keep it under the seat of our vehicle.  It is very handy to have in case we are involved in an accident, or other incident, and need proof of damages and/or want to record something for future use.  Because film gets damaged when it is stored in hot conditions, I periodically replace the camera.

- Arthur Wagner, Kerrville, Texas

You Light Up My Life

The steps on my new coach were, like every one else's, black.   At nighttime they proved very dangerous because they couldn't be seen.  To solve this problem, I painted the front edge abrasive strip white.   The steps now look like they have a spotlight on them at night.  People who have carpet-type covers over their steps can paint the exposed left and right step edges.

- Donald Farrell, Canyon Lake, California

A Colorful Solution

There are so many keys to carry while motorhoming, I had to find a solution for quickly identifying which key goes with each lock.  I painted the surface around each keyhole a different color and painted the corresponding key head to match.  I used common whiteout, nail polish, paint, etc., which made it easy to replace if time wore the paint away.

- Helen Vaughn, Panacea, Florida

Be Pet Smart

We travel with two small dogs, and after trying several ways to restrain them when we are out and about, I hit upon a very simple solution.  Every recreational vehicle has an assist handle near the door.  Take a spare nylon or plastic dog collar that has a snap buckle, and use it to attach an expandable leash to the handle.  Then all you have to do is hook up your dog to the other end.  Because of the height of the handle and the expandable nature of leashes, a dog doesn't get nearly as tangled as when on a normal tie-down.  Because the leashes are always taut, dogs don't chew on them.

The length of the fully extended leash normally will not allow the dog to reach the road or the vehicles around us.  If insects are not a problem, the RV door can be left open so the dogs can go in and out at will.  They're now quiet around the motorhome; they don't annoy the neighbors; and they're safe.

This has proven to be a lot simpler than setting up elaborate miniature corrals, as many people do, or just letting our pets run free to harass the neighbors and be a danger to themselves.  This may not work with large dogs, but it works very well for us.

- Claire Russ, Edgewater, Florida

Super Scooper

Pet owners get a bad rap because some irresponsible dog owners do not pick up after their pets.  We have found very effective and economical "pooper scoopers."   We keep the plastic bags that most retail stores provide for fruit and vegetables.   Just slip your hand inside the bag, pick up the deposit, turn the bag inside out and tie.  You are now ready to dispose of your dog's waste responsibly.

- Pat Pullum, Rogers, Arkansas

• Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle.
• To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
• When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake.
• If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks.
• Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
• To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water.   If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
• If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves.  They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
• Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers.  Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
• To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, apply soap on the area.  Instant relief.
• Use air-freshener to clean mirrors; it does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
• When you get a splinter, use scotch tape; simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off - removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
  

Good Ol' Alka-Seltzer ...

• Clean a toilet - Two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait 20 minutes, brush and flush.  The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
• Clean a vase - Fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
• Polish jewelry - Two Akla-Seltzer tablets in a glass of water; immerse the jewelry for 2 minutes.
• Clean a thermos bottle - Fill the bottle with water, drop in 4 Alka-Seltzer tablets and soak for an hour.
• Unclog a drain - Drop 3 Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of White Vinegar.  Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

And Finally ...

• If your VCR has a year setting on it, you haven't been able to use your programmed recording feature since 12/31/99.  Don't discard it.  Set it for the year 1972 - The days are the same as the year 2000.  The manufacturers won't tell you.  They want you to buy a new Y2K VCR.

Little-Known Uses for Bounce

Bounce...the stuff you use in your dryer:

• Repels mosquitoes.  Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
• Eliminates static electricity from your television screen.  Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
• Dissolves soap scum from shower doors.  Clean with a used sheet of Bounce.
• Freshens the air in your home.  Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang one in the closet.
• Prevents thread from tangling.  Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce to eliminate the static cling on the thread before sewing.
• Eliminates static cling from pantyhose.  Rub a damp, used sheet of Bounce over the hose.
• Prevents musty suitcases.  Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
• Freshens the air in your car.  Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
• Cleans baked-on food from a cooking pan.  Put a sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean.  The anti-static agents apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.
• Eliminates odors in wastebaskets.  Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
• Collects cat / dog hair.  Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
• Eliminates static electricity from venetian blinds.  Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
• Deodorizes shoes or sneakers.  Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they'll smell great in the morning.

Handy Hints
(RVing Women, January/February, 1999

Round foam pipe insulator has many uses.  I use a piece (slit) to cover the hard edge of my computer keyboard for a softer resting place for my arm.  You can wrap it around a clothes bar in the RV and your hangers won't fall off the rod during travel.  And to avoid that major headache, the awning arm that jumps out and bonks you when you're not looking - wrap it with foam pipe insulation for softer encounters.

Dental floss can be handy for more than clean teeth.  You can cut cakes or cheese, restring a necklace, hang pictures, temporarily repair screens, sew on buttons and the poultry for cooking with the stuff.

Here's one for Boon Dockers (whose thrift with power, water and propane is legendary) or tenters.  Paint one gallon plastic jugs black, fill with water and set them in the sun.  The black color will absorb the sun's rays and you'll have hot water by evening.   Saves propane and weights down the comers of your outdoor rug at the same time.

Old-fashioned wooden clothes pins can be glued to closet interiors (doors, sides, backs) and are a great place to hang caps, belts, rags, etc.  Roughen the surface before applying glue.

Here's a tip to help keep your RV tidy.  Buy some drapery hooks and use them on your valances to hold key rings and ornaments such as a small suncatcher.  Just slide the drapery hooks into the valance wherever you want them placed.  They can be easily moved and don't leave a noticeable hole.  Your keys will be easily located and you won't have to fool with those suction cups.

To repair a small hole in a screen, push the weave back together and seal with clear nail polish to keep out small bugs.

Do you ever cut off the legs of your old blue jeans to make shorts?  Don't throw away the leg bottoms!  Sew the bottom of each leg together; it makes a durable bag for storing lever jacks and blocks of wood.

Cupboards won't stay closed?  Slip one of those new spiraling shoelaces through the handles of your cupboard doors and twist the ends together two or three times.