Wednesday, Apr. 13, 2005

 

Home briefs

Picture-hanging made easy

Before you hammer a picture-hook nail into the wall, first heat it with a match; it’ll go in easier and won’t cause plaster to chip or crack.

And before you hang anything, turn it over and put stick-on rubber bumpers on each corner or a bead of silicone caulk. Be sure to let it dry first. You can even roll up masking tape, inside out, and put it on each corner. Then hang it and line it up. It’ll help keep your frame straight and level; you won’t have to adjust it every time someone slams a door.

Bedding still should be washed in warm water

Q. I read an article you wrote about the new Tide that’s formulated for cold water, but I’ve also read you should wash bedding in hot water to remove dust mites. Is this new detergent made to kill the mites?

A. Tide Coldwater is meant to let you substitute cold water for warm in the wash cycle. Neither the article nor Tide’s manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, suggests it as a replacement for hot-water washing.

Although the product’s Web sites says the detergent kills many of the germs that are killed by hot water, it still recommends taking steps such as using hot water or chlorine bleach “where there is a concern.”

Bottom line: I’d still use hot water to wash sheets, towels, underpants and anything else that might harbor germs or dust mites, as long as the fabric-care label allows it.

Book aims to help draw in wildlife

Rosemary Creeser’s “Wildlife-Friendly Plants” (Firefly, $19.95) seeks to help gardeners choose plants that will attract critters, either to make up for lost habitat or to benefit their own gardens.

The book contains some basic planting information and advice on encouraging wildlife, but the bulk of the book is a plant directory.

— Wire services