If a spill on the bottom of your oven starts to smoke, toss some salt on it and it will stop the smoke, too. The ants will not cross over a line of salt. Your clothes will not freeze on the clothesline during cold weather.

Summary: Soak fish in salt water for five minutes and the fish will be much easier to scale. Add a dash of salt to your coffee grounds before you begin to brew; your coffee will taste better if you are using inferior coffee beans since the salt cuts the bitterness. Dip apples, pears or other non-acidic fruits in lightly salted water and the fruit will not turn brown. Layer salt and ice in an ice bucket to chill your Champagne or wine quickly. Smother a small grease fire by tossing a handful of salt on it. Sprinkle a line of salt on your countertop to stop ants. Add a few tablespoons of salt to the final rinse of your laundry. Add 1 cup of course salt to your wash to soften new blue jeans and to stop colors from fading. Dissolve excess soap suds by sprinkling some salt on them.


Your body needs time to store the water, and trying to chug a water bottle right before you leave is ineffective and uncomfortable. Aim to drink one glass of water every hour up until you set out on your run.  You need to drink water to stay hydrated and energized. Aim for 8-16oz of water 1-2 hours before running. You don't need to eat a lot unless you plan on running more than 12-13 miles. A bagel with honey or jam, a granola bar and fruit, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will provide fuel that your body can digest quickly. Avoid slow to digest foods like thick pasta sauces, fried foods, or cheeses. Aim for a simple combination of carbohydrates (bagel, toast, granola, oatmeal), natural sugar (jelly, banana, apple, honey), and protein (peanut butter, yogurt, grilled chicken). This is especially important if you are just beginning to run regularly. Use a map or a running specific app, like MapMyRun, to plan out a route that works for you. A good start for your first few weeks is 20-30 minutes, running 2-3 miles at a time. As you progress, listen to your body -- if your muscles and joints are hurting after every run, slow down and do less mileage until you are better prepared. You should wear light, breathable clothing that doesn't trap sweat. If you are going for a short run, then a cotton shirt will be fine, but you should use synthetic athletic wear for longer runs. Your body will raise it's temperature by 10-15 degrees, so dress as if the weather is 10-15 degrees warmer. Make sure your sneakers fit by trying them out on short runs. If you get any blisters or feel numbness in your toes, you need better fitting shoes.  Your heel should stay snugly in the shoe. You should have room to wiggle your toes. The balls and arches of your feet should be comfortable but not tight.  There is a growing movement to run barefoot for it's supposed health benefits, but only try it if you are sure you will not step on anything dangerous.

Summary: Hydrate throughout the day. Eat a simple meal 2-3 hours before you plan on running. Set a reasonable goal. Dress to exercise. Buy running shoes.


Any type of food in your garden can attract rats, especially if they are ripe or overripe. Make sure that no food falls off the tree or vine onto the ground. If they do, pick them up right away. Look for one that is completely sealed or that has a locking lid. A container that sits up off the ground is also effective. This will prevent rats from smelling or getting into the compost. If you’re worried about rats, you may want to stop adding food scraps to your compost pile. Food adds little value to compost, and it is what the rats are attracted to. You can put food waste in a worm bin, however. If you feed any dogs, cats, rabbits, or chickens outside, you need a sealed metal container, preferably one with a locking lid. When the animals are done feeding, remove the dish if possible or throw out any leftovers. If you have animals like chickens that might graze on foods, a treadle feeder can help dispense food regularly without rats getting into it. You can install a rodent-baffle on your bird feeder or buy a bird feeder that is squirrel or rodent proof. Clean up under the bird feeder whenever you notice spilled seed to keep rats from coming to eat it.  Try using no-waste bird food. This type of seed is designed to reduce how much waste the bird leaves behind when they are done eating. Make sure to store your bird seed in a sealed metal container. Look for containers that are advertised as “rodent-proof.” Rats like to hide in dense vegetation and wood piles. Make sure to clear any garden debris, such as fallen branches or leaves, as soon as possible. Mow the lawn so that grass and weeds are no higher than a few inches. You can also:  Stack wood on a platform at least 18 inches (46 cm) off the ground and about 12 inches (30 cm) from any structures like fences or buildings. Trim large plants that rats could climb, such as trees, ivy, vines, and shrubs. Keep them about 4 feet (1.2 m) away from your roof to stop rats from climbing over. Repair fences to cover any holes larger than a dime.

Summary: Harvest fruit, vegetables, and nuts as soon as they ripen. Switch to a metal compost tumbler. Clean up pet food after feeding is complete. Discourage rats from stealing bird seed. Keep your garden clean and trimmed.


Compared to a larger hole, a split seam is fairly easy to deal with. This means: where two pieces of fabric were joined by stitching, the thread is broken or missing and the seam is now open, creating a "hole." In most cases, you can simply sew the seam back together. This can be inside a pocket, causing all your change to drop through. It may also appear in a sleeve seam, causing your elbow to stick out.
Summary: Identify a split seam.