If your windshield wiper blades are skipping, streaking, splitting, or squeaking, it might be time for a replacement. But before installing new blades, you have to choose which ones to get.

1. Understand why you need to change your wiper blades. The blade of a wiper is made of rubber, it would naturally wear out after several months of wiping, snow, rain, and dust, for your windshield.

2. Consider your options for changing the blades. Some consumer will take the car to an auto maintenance garage and ask the mechanic to have them changing the pair of the rubber blade, or the whole wiper blade. The new blade will likely cost from fifteen to twenty dollars, plus a fair labor cost of ten or twenty dollars. The alternative is to buy the wiper blades from chain store, or from internet and install them yourself (an easy process).

3. Know what part of the wiper blade to change. In general, windshield wiper blades are made with three basic parts:

• The lower metal arm is that extends from the base of the windshield,
• The wiper blade attached to the metal arm, and
• The rubber blade that actually, evenly and effectively wipes snow, rain or dust on the windshield glass for you.

4. Look at the shape of the blade. Many modern cars have curved windshields, so the blade needs to curve too, to make good contact as it wipes. There are many brands of wiper blades with various kinds of packaging, some of which you can see through and some of which you can’t. Straight wiper blades are suitable for car with a flat windshield, while slightly curved wiper blades may be more suitable for car with streamline windshield.

5. Measure or look up the length of the blades that are used on your car’s driver seat and passenger seat. You can measure the length of each blade yourself, but in general, most places that sell wiper blades provide a manual where you can look up the lengths for your car make and model. .

6. Check for adapter options. Many wiper blade brands include more than one adapter type in their packaging. These are designed to make the blades compatible with various types of metal arm.

7. Purchase and install new blades. When you’re ready with your new blades, you can install them yourself to save labor costs of a mechanic. The process is simple.

• Raise the metal arm up and away from the windshield, until it holds steady in a position perpendicular to the windshield glass. Be careful, since the metal arm is spring loaded and could snap back and crack the glass.
• Gently rest the bare hook against a cloth on the windshield. The cloth also protects the glass from being scratched, if for some reason the wipers unexpectedly swipe.
• Clean windshield and blade with mild soapy water and clean dry with clean towel or cloth.
• Install wiper blades on the vehicle and remove the protective squeegee cover. See insert in package for detailed installation instructions.
• Place the wiper blades back onto the windshield glass lightly.

SKU: 080350217

Watching the snowfall this past weekend I could not help but image days of sunshine, green grass, and outdoor activities. Thank goodness Spring is just around the corner and it is almost time to pull out the grill!! My husband and I truly enjoy cooking on the grill; there are so many healthy and tasty things you can cook on it. However, grills go unused and forgotten over the cold winter months and begin to collect a whole lot of grime. I found a really inexpensive and easy way to take your grill from grimy to glowing for the Spring and Summer.

PVC pipes, they are everywhere and pretty inexpensive, AND they make a great item for some DIY projects. Please note that these are not MY ideas, I am piggybacking off of other sites because they are awesome!

What do you use your barrel for?

There are many different uses for the 55 gallon barrels.  You can use them for rain barrels, water, oil, sand, or for feeders.  I am sure that there are several other uses, but the one that I am going to focus on is the different ways to make feeders.

Here are a few ideas for different types hay feeders:

 

The type of feeder that I haven’t been able to find is a self feeder Self feeders are so expensive, but are very useful.

The materials you will need are:

• 55 gallon barrel
• A Piece of ply wood
• A 2×4
• Screws
• Drill
• Saw

Step 1: You will need to cut your barrel.

Make sure that when you cut your barrel you cut it at an angle so the feed will fall easier. Remember you will need it far enough back for your animal to be able to get their head in the feeder.

Step 2: Cut your ply wood so it fits tightly inside where you have cut.

Step 3: Cut your 2×4 into 2 pieces, don’t put the 2×4 on the bottom of the barrel keep it up off the bottom flush with ply wood.

Step 4: You will need to screw your 2×4’s to the inside of your barrel

Step 5: Screw your ply wood to the 2×4’s make sure that it is high enough off the bottom for you animal to be able to get their head in there also for the feed to fall.

      

 

There you have it! Your new inexpensive self feeder, hope your animals enjoy!

 

Does anyone else have spring fever?!?!!

As a new homeowner I am itching to get my new garage organized and ready for spring! We purchased our home in October and since the move our garage has just become a catch all of summer outdoor furniture and storage. I have high hopes that this will be the last winter that I cannot fit my car inside of the garage!

Steps:

1. Declutter!
-Get rid of junk and clutter that you have been holding on to. Stop using your garage as limbo for
items that you have yet to make a decision on!

2. Plan!
-Make a plan for your garage! Using “zones” may be a good way to do so! Common zones are workshop, storage, sports equipment, tools, lawn and garden, and seasonal .

3. Organize!
-Organize the items that you are keeping. Once the decisions have been made for the items you are keeping, group them together. You can use the “zones” that you decided on previously!

4. Consider Storage Solutions That Will Work for You!
-More than other types of storage areas within your home, your garage does not typically have a lot of free floor space. Instead, the floor space must be kept clear so that you can park your cars. Think outside the box when considering options!

5. Label and Inventory!
-The last step (Finally!) in the Organize Your Garage Challenge is to label all the boxes or other containers of stuff you’ve decided to store in there. Make sure to label all four sides of each container, as well as the top, so you can tell from any direction what is in the box.

If your family has sporting items to store, this simple PVC pipe ball rack makes storage a cinch! Also, these are easy to get to for that impromptu game of H-O-R-S-E!

I LOVE using ceiling space for storage. The ceiling is there, unused, available square footage! Why not use it to the best of your ability. Although this suggestion requires precise preparation, it would offer more storage at an affordable price. And it stand the test of time!

Via: Familyhandyman – Create a Sliding Storage System On the Garage Ceiling

This quick hack using a simple piece of wood and with cut PVC screwed in for a functional display of your most used tool!

Visit your local Rural King for supplies!
(Or visit us online at www.ruralking.com)

Happy Organizing!!

Miraculous Bag Balm

This is an under rated product for as many uses as it has for both humans and animals. Bag Balm was originally made to relieve chapped udders on livestock in 1899.

Since then multiple generations have been using this salve for more then just cracked udders! Wikipedia states, “Originally, it was used for only cows’ udders, but farmers’ wives noticed the softness of their husbands’ hands, and started using the product themselves.”

This product has been used in my family for 5 generations now, you will find one in every one of our medicine cabinets. No matter what is wrong my grandfather will tell you to put bag balm on the issue. This salve does have a faint order but it is nothing worse then most ointments.

This is often used as a treatment for chapped,dry and irritated skin, psoriasis, cracked fingers, burns,  sunburn, bedsores and radiation burns. Disclaimer: Now this product is only advertised for chapped udders, the rest of these ailments listed are just what people have claimed to use it for. We also use this or cuts, skin problems, ailments, and cracked paws on our animals as well.

Just last night i burnt my finger while cooking with a skillet. I then immediately put a tiny dab of bag balm on the burn since it was already starting to puff up, and this morning there is only a little mark where the burn was. It is not sore and I do not even notice it. So don’t bother with ice or running it under water or what ever your remedy was for burns, rub a little of this on to the burn and just let it be. The pain goes away relatively quickly and this heals fast so that there is no bubble formed from the burn.

You should check out their facebook page! (https://www.facebook.com/BagBalm) They were just feature in this month’s issue of First for Women as a Drugstore Star for cracked hands!

references:

https://www.facebook.com/BagBalm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bag_Balm

http://www.bagbalm.com/index.htm, http://www.bagbalm.com/uses.htm

My husband and I are currently on the hunt for our first home so I have been keeping my eyes open for cheap and easy home décor ideas. I stumbled across the spoon mirror and I thought it was so clever I could not resist doing it!

What you will need:

-Plastic Spoons

– Mirror

-Scissors

-Cardboard/Wood

-Glue

-Duct Tape

-Pencil

-Spray Paint in your choice of color, be sure it is designed for plastic

-Spray Paint Primer

What to do:

-Cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape and size you would like your finished project to be, This does not have to be a circle. Be creative; try doing square, rectangle, or hexagon.

– Put the mirror directly in the center of the cardboard you just cut to size and then run your pencil around the edge of it. I would recommend leaving this circle just a little smaller than the mirror itself, that way you have a place to glue the mirror to. Now you can cut this center portion out.

– You can use some of that duct tape to go around the edges of the cardboard to “smooth” it out if you choose. I did not and I found mine came out good!

– At this time you are ready to start the longest part of the project…….Cutting the heads of the spoons off! Use the scissors to start the process then I would recommend snapping them apart with your fingers, a little before the handle starts turning into the “spoon” to finish it off. I found if you try to cut it right off is can crack the “spoon” portion.

– Now you will want to start with gluing the spoons to the outside edge of your cardboard and work your way around. Be sure to have the 1^st layer of spoons hang over the cardboard about half way. Each new layer you start will slightly overlap the layer before it. Now you can continue until you reach the cut out circle you made earlier where your mirror will go. You will want the spoons to slightly overlap into the opening in the middle.

– Now you can start to spray paint the spoons! This is the best part, have fun with it, go traditional or go crazy with fun colors. You will want to start with your plastic spray paint primer. Once that is set you can go in with your color, Be sure to cover it well so you do not see the spoon or cardboard through it. You may need to do as much as 2 coats to get full coverage.

– Now you can finish it off by gluing the mirror to the back of the piece! I would recommend even adding some duct tape to the back of the mirror to ensure it does not come loose.

– You can hang it with some sawtooth hooks or just a ribbon attached to the back. I think this part you can use your judgment on how heavy/large your piece is.

** This is supper fun and easy to make! You can search “spoon mirror” online and it will bring up multiple photos for some inspiration, some people are really creative! I found http://www.littlethingsbringsmiles.com/2012/08/plastic-spoon-mirror-tutorial.html to be the most helpful site for directions and guidance check it out for more photos of each step of the process!

I hope you find this as pretty and fun as I did! Check out your local Rural King or online at Ruralking.com for some DIY inspiration! 

      

Salt dough prints are a great DIY gift for mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa. The kids can help with this craft (no matter what age, really). Salt dough prints are quick, easy, and fun! If you can’t think of anything for that special someone, this is the route to go! Follow the instructions to create a one-of-a-kind gift using products you can pick up on your next trip to Rural King!

 

What can chickens do for you?

 

 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