With the winter being tough on all pets, you might have a few strays wandering around. If you happen to have a cat that likes to be outside more than inside, or you just want a place for the neighborhood stray,  you want to make sure they have a warm place to go if they need to.

Since the Christmas season is over, a lot of stores, including Rural King are having close out sales on storage tubs.
This is a great item to make your DIY out door cat shelter out of. You only need a few simple tools. First you need a Storage tub with lid, insulation (this can be straw, or pink instillation board, pink fiberglass insulation,or spray foam, cardboard, or any insulation you choose), a smaller storage tub with lid or Styrofoam cooler, straw for bedding, utility knife, and of course some duct tape. In the first photo they used a empty plastic flexible flower container to line the entrance. There are several different ways to may an outdoor house, this is just one of them.

 Step 1

1. You are going to outline a hole to cut out on the Larger tub. It does help if you warm up the plastic before trying to cut it but you do not have to. Rural King has multiple kinds of utility knives for you every need.

2. Place the smaller tub or foam container inside of the larger one and trace the circle you cut on the outside to the inside tub so that they align. Then Cut the hole out of the inside tub.

3.Place a small amount of insulation in the bottom of the big tub then put the smaller tub back in the larger tub, then place your insulation around all 4 sides of the smaller tub, packing it in tight if your insulation is loose. If you used the board insulation you will have to measure it and cut it to fit. If you used the spray foam you will want to make sure it dries before you close it up. (don’t forget to allow for expansion with the spray foam)

4. You will want to use the plastic flimsy flower container or this is where you use the duct tape to cover the hole between the two containers edges so that it makes a smooth opening. RuralKing has many options for colors and patterns for duct tape as well the regular old faithful silver. (reference picture 2 if needed)

Step 2

4. Once your opening is covered in duct tape to cover the edges where you cut out the circle. You will want to put some straw or bedding inside of the inner tub for the cats to lay in. Then put the lid on the smaller tub and close it tight. Then you will want to add a small amount of insulation on top of the smaller lid to create another barrier before putting the large lid on.

5.Your Done! Now you want to make sure you place this near the building and facing the entrance to the East or South since majority of Winter winds are out of the North and West. This will help cut down on the wind entering the domain.

If you don’t like that this looks like a DIY project then you can always paint it with some spray paint on the outside to make it all one color, Rural King carries many different kinds of spray paint, just make sure you choose one that is OK to use on plastic. Or if you are really feeling crafty, you can use spray or expanding foam on the outside (which adds extra insulation) then sculpt it how you want it to look, then spray paint it or add decorative shingles on the outside to make it look like an actual house! This is where you can get creative if you like.

 (3)

http://www.alleycat.org/ShelterGallery – reference picture 1

www.catster.com – reference picture 2

http://forum.horsetopia.com/cats/147447-diy-outdoor-cat-house.html – reference picture 3

If you are like a lot of people living in the suburbs or on a farm or lifestyle block, you probably have several 2 cycle engines such as a weed eater, chainsaw, blower, etc. Most of these engines take different mixtures 1/50, 1/32 etc. All the instructions tell how to mix one gallon, however, you usually only need a tank or two at a time, and a gallon will go bad before it is used up. Nobody needs several gallons of bad gas mixed at different ratios; the solution is to mix a tank at a time.

1 Always stabilize your gas before you start.

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2 Use a measuring device for small amounts, 2oz- 1oz- 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz.

There are many available.  You will also need small mixing containers, ¹⁄₂ gallon (1.9 L) and quart measuring cups will take care of most of your needs.

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3 If your engine calls for a 1/32 mixture that is 1 oz of oil to 32 oz of gas, or 1/2oz of oil to 16oz of gas, or 1/4 oz oil to 8 oz. gas, mix only what you need at the time.

4 Find a piece of cardboard or plywood and list all your equipment on it.

Include the ratios that they require, and the recipe for a tank of gas. Put this on the garage wall; this will keep you from looking up the manual each time you use it.

This dry winter weather is just drying my hands out like crazy!! I have been looking for an easy and inexpensive DIY hand scrub and stumbled across this one. Using this 1-2 times a day has helped my dry hands smooth right out!

What you will need:

-Dawn brand Olay hand renewal dish soap

– Sugar

– Mason Jar

– Butter knife or spoon (I find the butter knife works best)

What to do:

-Fill your Mason jar ¾ of the way full with your sugar

-Now you can add the dish soap leaving a little extra room at the top (you will need to add a little extra sugar after stirring)

-Stir the sugar and soap together at this time and if more sugar is needed continue to add it as you go until you get a pasty consistency.

– You are ready to use the hand scrub!! I would recommend using 1-2 times daily, for me I use it once in the AM and once before bed.

The pretty pink color would make this a great Valentine’s Day gift for next month! You can jazz the jar up with some ribbon or labels for any occasion really.

Beekeeping is a safe, fun, and rewarding experience that can be a hobby or a way of life. With this simple, all-in-one kit, you can begin your beekeeping opportunity the moment the bees arrive.

Are you looking for a way to prevent fuel-filters from freezing? Are you looking for a way to extend the life of your fuel injection pumps and fuel injector? Are you looking for a way to make fuel last up to three times longer?

If you answered yes to one or all of the questions above then we have the right products for you. Rural King carries multiple different fuel additives that can get the job done for you year round!

When you have a pet living outdoors, they are depending on you to protect them from severe weather conditions. During the winter, there are certain precautions you should take to make sure your dog is warm and safe in the winter months when temperatures are at their lowest.

In this rough cold season, heaven forbid,you might need to call a tow truck if you find yourself stranded due to a flat tire, car accident or mechanical trouble. There are some important steps to follow after calling for a tow. Know how to wait for a tow truck to keep yourself and your car safe.

1 Move your car.

• Move your car as far away from moving traffic and as far onto the road’s shoulder as possible if you can safely drive the vehicle. This will keep passing motorists from hitting your disabled vehicle while waiting for a tow truck and will make it easier for the tow truck driver to situate his truck near enough to your car to hook up the tow.

2 Turn your hazard lights on.

• Turn the vehicle’s hazard lights on after you’ve moved the car safely off the road while you’re waiting to be towed. The button or switch for your vehicle’s hazard lights is usually on the steering column or the dashboard. The flashing lights will alert other motorists that your car is disabled and help them see it on the side of the road, especially at night.

3 Place reflective triangles around the vehicle.

• Use reflective triangles or cones from an emergency roadside kit to cordon off the area around your disabled vehicle. Be sure to place at least one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle and a third along the side of the car facing the road. This will help make your vehicle visible to other motorists while you’re waiting for your vehicle to be towed.

4 Organize belongings.

• Get together anything inside the vehicle that you need to take with you after you’ve been towed. This should include any valuable items and any vehicle insurance information stored in your glove compartment. Organize everything so you can leave your car quickly with everything you need.

5 Stay in your vehicle.

• Remain in your vehicle after taking outside safety measures until the tow truck arrives. This is important, because it will keep you safe from the elements and passing vehicles.

6 Use caution if approached.

• Be careful if you’re approached by other motorists while waiting for a tow truck. Lock your doors, stay in the car and crack the window an inch to talk to them instead of rolling it all the way down. Do not leave the vehicle or accept a ride if the person approaching your vehicle is anyone other than the tow truck driver.

7 Get identification.

• Ask the tow truck dispatcher for the name of the driver being dispatched to you or the identification number or license plate number of the tow truck being sent. This will help you know if the vehicle that arrives is legitimate and the driver is who he says he or she is. Verify this information before exiting your vehicle.

ITEMS TO KEEP HANDY IN YOUR CAR

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This is only my second year experiencing the freezing temperatures Illinois has to offer and I am still trying to adapt. A big thing for me last year was the slick icy sidewalks and the ice all over my car I was lucky enough to get to scrape off every morning! This year I wanted to try a few DIY tricks which should help to solve these issues for me this year.

DIY Sidewalk Salt

What you will need:

1 Teaspoon Dawn dish soap

1 Tablespoon Rubbing Alcohol

8 Cups of hot water

1 Large bucket

What to do:

• Grab your bucket and mix the Dawn dish soap and the Rubbing alcohol together really well, until completely combined.
• Add the hot water **caution** and continue to stir until everything is completely combined.
• You are now ready to use your Sidewalk salt! All you will need to do is pour the mixture over any areas that would typically freeze over with ice.

This mix will not freeze and best of all it will NOT eat away at your concrete like the salts can!

DIY Ice Melt

What you will need:

Sugar

Epsom Salt

Bucket

What to do:

Grab your bucket and ingredients

• Mix 1 part sugar and 1 part Epsom salt (You can use however much of the products needed to cover the trouble areas)
• Sprinkle over the area you wish to melt the snow/ice

** This mixture will not hurt plants, ground, birds, dogs, or cats!

   DIY Frost Proofing Your Car

What you will need:

1 spray bottle

Vinegar

Water

What to do:

• Fill the spray bottle with 3 parts vinegar and 1 part water.
• Spray down your car windows before you go to sleep or just after you get home to prevent the ice build-up on the windows!

** The vinegar contains acetic acid which will raise the melting point of water which prevents it from freezing! If you forget to do this before you go to sleep, no problem, spray the windows down in the morning and it will melt the ice away.

 Enjoy your winter a little more hassle free with this quick and easy DIY tips!