Alternative Uses for Paste Wax

Paste wax can do a lot more than shine your car and your floors. You can use it all over the house to protect surfaces. Here are just a few of them.

1. Apply some paste wax to the metal racks in your refrigerator. This will help protect them from pitting and will also help prevent rust and corrosion. You can also use paste wax on the outside of your appliances to give them a nice shine and help them repel dust and fingerprints.

2. If your toilet is all sweaty, turn off the water and then flush the toilet to drain the tank. Dry the inside and apply a thin coat of the wax to the inside. It will seal it up and prevent further condensation.

3. Some wax on the unfinished underside of furniture will help to seal the wood and protect the piece from drying out.

4. A thin coat of wax on your tools will help protect them from rust and corrosion.

Mint Tins

Have you noticed the changing trend in breath mints these days? They all come in a cute little tin. Well don't throw away the tin when the mints are gone, I have some uses for them!

1. Put together a little mending kit to keep in your handbag, your glove compartment or your desk. Stock the tin with a small pair of scissors, some thread, a couple of needles and some extra buttons! You'll be ready for a loose hem or a popped button anytime!

2. How about a little first aid kit. A tin is the perfect size to hold a couple of anti-bacterial wipes, some ointment and a few plastic bandages.

3. Or a maybe a diaper bag caddy. Fill it with pins, diaper rash ointment, and a little pair of nail clippers. Keep a tin in your travel bag; they are the perfect fit for cotton swabs, jewelry or hair accessories!

4. If you wear eyeglasses, these tins are the right size for an eyeglass repair kit as well as a cleansing cloth.

5. Use tins to organize your toolbox, they're the perfect fit for small hardware like picture hanging supplies, nails, screws, nuts and bolts.

Basic Tool Kit

As you empower yourself to become a fixit person, assemble yourself a basic tool kit. Here's the low-down on what you should have. First, buy the best quality tools within your budget. If you buy tools in a kit rather than individually,

1. BASIC TOOLS: You need a curved claw hammer for obvious reasons. A nail set to counter-sink. A staple gun for screens and upholstery; plus phillips and flat-head screwdrivers for all knids of household repairs from furniture to lighting. I would also add a power drill for pilot holes in walls and wood.

2. GRIPPING TOOLS: Slip joint pliers, an adjustable wrench, a set of open end wrenches and a pair of needle nose pliers. A nut driver is also handy to tighten nuts in small spaces.

3. MEASURING TOOLS: A tape measure, combination square and a torpedo level will help you with jobs from handing shelves and artwork to positioning furniture to checking doors and drawers for square.

4. CUTTING TOOLS: To cut through more repairs have a wood saw, wire cutters, utility knives, craft and hobby knives and a hacksaw.

5. BEYOND THE BASICS: You should always remember safety, so have glasses, masks, gloves and ear protection.

Want to catch Mrs. FIXIT on TV?

If you don't get Mrs. FIXIT on your local news - call the station and tell them you want Mrs. FIXIT's tips for cleaning up, brightening up and tightening up the place you call home! It's just that simple!