DIY Life

If I didn't have a calendar, there'd still be no doubt in my mind that July 4th is just around the corner. Every year, several homeowners in my neighborhood celebrate the season by setting off very loud and very illegal fireworks in the wee hours of the night. My poor dog will spend the majority of the week hiding under the bed.

While firing off illegal fireworks isn't really a good idea, there are plenty of legal versions that can make your Independence Day celebration a lot more fun for family members of all ages. Kids, especially, are dazzled by the bright colors. But for the holiday to be both fun and safe, everyone needs to follow a few rules.

Luckily, Howcast has you covered. They've taken the most commonsense safety rules and put them to an entertaining animated video that will help everyone remember how to enjoy this summer tradition without any exciting trips the the ER.

My boys are relentlessly curious. They get into everything and explore their world "hands-on". Just yesterday my two- and-a-half year old found a wild mushroom out on our walk. He stood there, calling me over and rattling off all his questions. Luckily, both my boys narrate their every move so while they can get into trouble, we always know about it. I got over there quickly enough to caution him against touching it, and still capitalize on that teachable moment.

Finishing our walk, my five year old asked how we can tell which mushrooms are poisonous. So, like any good mom who doesn't know the answer, I lied. Just kidding, I suggested we look it up at home. Here's what we learned.

Signs of a dangerous mushroom:

• warts or scales on the mushroom cap
• white gills (underside of the mushroom)
• thin gills
• a ring around the upper part of the stem
• a ring around the lower part of the stem
• bulb like base

This information about identifying poisonous mushrooms, and other important information about what to do in the case of a poisoning can be found at Montefiore.

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has issued a voluntary recall of about 82,000 Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planters with Stand (item numbers M16702 and M17499), due to the fact that the legs on the bottom of the planter can detach when the planter is moved or becomes unbalanced, posing a hazard to bystanders if the planter collapses.

QVC has received 347 reports of the planters collapsing. 155 consumers have reported injuries, including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. The firm has also received reports of property damage caused by the planter collapsing on nearby items.

They were manufactured in China and sold through QVC's televised shopping programs, its web site, and in QVC's Studio, employee and retail stores from March 2008 through April 2008 for about $30. The Topsy-Turvy planter is an upright planter used for growing tomatoes, peppers, or cucumbers. Please see the CPSC press release for more information on the recall.

Consumers are advised to take down the planter by having two adults tip it over on its side and return the planter to any QVC store for a full refund, if the consumer originally purchased the planter at a QVC store. Consumers who purchased the planter through QVC.com or a televised program were mailed instructions on obtaining a refund. Consumer who have not received instructions should contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 or visit the website at www.qvc.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Provo Craft & Novelty Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of about 730,000 Candlesense Warmers, due to a fire hazard posed to consumers.

If the internal heating element of the candle warmer becomes detached, the bottom of the plastic casing could melt, igniting or scorching the surface on which the candle warmer has been placed. Provo Craft has received 11 reports of heating elements detaching, including two fires and nine incidents of property scorching, and one report of a consumer with a blistered finger.

Manufactured in China and sold at Wal-Mart and other retailers (I purchased mine at Pamida) from August 2006 through October 2007 for between $5 and $10, this recall involves Candlesense warmers with product codes ranging from YD0629 through YD0652 and YD0701 through YD0708. Please see the CPSC press release for a product description of the recalled candle warmer.

Consumers are advised to contact Provo Craft at (888) 306-0132, or www.provocraft.com to receive a free voucher worth 120 percent of the purchase price of the candle warmer. The voucher can be redeemed at www.creativexpress.com.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Miele Inc. has issued a voluntary safety recall of about 3,100 residential super large gas dryers, model T 9820, due to a gas leak risk and a fire hazard.

If the dryer is not installed properly, the internal gas fitting can loosen, posing a risk of gas leaking into the home. If the gas leak is not detected, asphyxiation, an explosion or a fire can occur. If one or both of the caps on the internal exhaust duct becomes dislodged, lint can build up and be carried through the gas burner, posing a fire risk. Although no injuries have been reported, Miele has received a report of a fire and 11 reports of consumers smelling gas after their dryers were installed.

The residential super large capacity white dryers were manufactured in the Czech Republic and sold by Miele distributors between March 2007 and December 2007 for about $1,300. Please see the CPSC press release for the serial number and more information about the recalled dryer.

Consumers are advised to stop using the dryer and turn off the gas supply to the unit. The firm has sent direct notices to consumers. Consumers who have not had their dryer inspected should contact a Miele authorized service provider for a free inspection and repair. Miele can be contacted at (800) 420-1813 or www.miele.com.

I find safety gates inexcusably ugly, so I don't use them. Just kidding: of course I use them! I curse their dreadful sight every time I pass, but I still use them.

With our older ones we had white plastic gates. These weren't just an eyesore, but were incredibly awkward to use. Now, we have wooden ones. They are much more convenient and attractive, but are hardly a compliment to interior design.

These homebrew safety gates might be just the answer, keeping your adventurous little ones safe without compromising your style. The design isn't available, but Joel lists the materials and method in his post comments. Looking through the pictures and reading the conversation following the post is probably all you need to reproduce this innovative safety gate.

If you're using the gates to keep animals to a designated area, these safety concerns don't apply, so you can build the basic design and enjoy your stylish gates. If you're using it to keep children off the stairs, you'll find the conversation in the comments about safety and the various solutions helpful.

It's hard to believe with all the trendy tot-type merchandise out there, nobody has developed a better baby gate. It just goes to show that if you want something done right, you'll have to do it yourself!

After a long off-season of rainy weather, my boys were restless to get riding again. My oldest took off his training wheels last summer and was eager to get back on the bike and practice his new skills. My husband is riding again too, and we're all excited for an active summer.

As the parents, it's our responsibility to make sure that our children are safe. Gone are the days where kids set up ramps on the dead-end road and fly over them without a thought to the dangers, and without a helmet. Now, many states and provinces, including my own, have laws requiring helmet use. First and foremost, the best way to encourage bike safety is to practice it yourself.

Are you sure you know how to best use a helmet, minimizing the potential for injury should something happen?

Follow me through the break for an important checklist, so that you and your family stay safe while riding.

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hearth & Home Technologies Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of about 22,000 WSK-300 IntelliSwitch Fireplace Wall Controls. The wall controls were manufactured by Nortech Systems Inc. and sold with Heat & Glo gas direct vent fireplaces.

The wall control system can fail and the fireplace could turn on by itself, causing property damage. If the control system fails there could be a fire hazard if the consumer has left combustible objects in front of the unattended fireplace. Hearth & Home has received 13 reports of a fireplace turning itself on and continuing to operate. Although no fires or injuries have been reported, the firm has received two reports of minor property damage.

Sold by fireplace stores and distributors from January 2007 through February 2008 for between $2,800 and $3,500, the fireplaces were manufactured in the United States. Individual wall control systems were sold by fireplace stores, distributors, and installers from January 2007 through February 2008 for about $180. Please see the CPSC press release for model numbers involved in the recall.

Consumers are advised to disable the fireplace until a repair is performed. Retailers are contacting consumers directly with information on how to disable the fireplace. Hearth & Home will send consumers a free replacement wall control panel. Consumers not contacted by their retailer should contact Hearth & Home at (800) 215-5152 or visit their website at www.heatnglo.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Specialty Lamp International, Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 371,000 counterfeit "Square D" circuit breakers, due to a fire hazard. The circuit breakers can fail to trip when they are overloaded, and have been determined by Square D to be counterfeit.

The counterfeit black circuit breakers were manufactured in China and sold by electrical product distributors from May 2005 through June 2006 for between $3 and $23. Please see the CPSC press release for model numbers involved in the recall.

To determine if a breaker they have is a counterfeit, consumers are advised to contact Specialty at (866) 650-3076 to arrange for a free inspection and a replacement or refund, if necessary, or by email bart@specialty-lamp.com, or visit their website at www.ebulb.net.

To be on the super safe side, check out Gary's post on counterfeit circuit breakers recalled from Connecticut Electric, and my previous post on counterfeit circuit breakers recalled from North American Breaker Co.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Char-Broil LLC, has issued a voluntary recall of about 400 Char-Broil two-burner gas grills, model 463720108, due to fire and burn hazards. The main burner on the recalled grills does not fit correctly or connect properly to the gas valve, which could result in a propane leak.

Manufactured by Shenzhen Jinwoniu Trading Company LTD of China, the recalled two-burner gas grills were sold exclusively at Mills Fleet Farm stores in Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin from February 2008 through April 2008 for about $120. Please see the CPSC press release for more information.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the grill. To receive a free replacement burner and instructions on installing the burner, contact Char-Broil at (866) 671-7988 or visit their website at www.charbroil.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with American Flame Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of about 12,000 fireplace gas valves, due to a fire and explosion hazard. After the switch has been turned off, gas can continue to flow into the fireplace pilot light area. American Flames has received two reports of valve failure and continuous gas flow.

Manufactured in Taiwan and sold by fireplace retailers and distributors from September 2006 through July 2007, the fireplaces cost between $500 and $2,000, with additional installation costs. The fireplace gas valves were installed in residential fireplaces by 12 different manufacturers and were installed in some, but not all fireplaces. Please check the CPSC press release for brand names.

Consumers are advised to stop using the fireplaces and contact their dealer for a free repair. A qualified service technician will determine if gas leaks from the fireplace valve when it is in the off position, and will replace the valve.

For more information, contact American Flame at (888) 672-8929 to arrange for a free repair if your fireplace is included in the valve recall, or visit their website at www.skytechsystem.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with The Home Depot, has announced a voluntary recall of about 14,000 candle holders, due to a fire hazard. Sunlight that passes through the glass portion of the candle holder can cause nearby flammable items to ignite. The Home Depot has received one report of a fire.

Manufactured in China and sold at The Home Depot stores in the southern and western regions of the U.S. from January 2008 through March 2008 for about $10, the sun shaped candle holder is glass and metal, and was sold in four colors: red, green, blue, and yellow. Please see the CPSC press release for more information on the recalled candle holders.

Consumers are advised to stop using the candle holder and return it to The Home Depot for a full refund. For more information, contact the firm at (866) 403-5504 or visit their website at www.homedepot.com.

If there is one circus skill I'd love to master, it's walking on stilts. Being hopelessly clumsy and a bit of a coward, I'm not sure it's in the cards for me, but if you're looking for a fun construction project and a new skill, try out these DIY stilts.

The wooden stilts are adjustable, increasing your height by one to three feet. Here's what you need to construct them:

• Wooden 2×4, 15.5" long
• 4 3/8" wing nuts
• 4 3/8" ID flat washers
• 4 3/8" x 4" carriage bolts
• 2 Wooden poles, 8′x1.5"x1.5"
• Table saw
• Drill

The instructions don't seem too complicated, but considering that you'll trust the final product to support you in the air, you'll want to follow them carefully, paying particular attention to the safety tips. I'm guessing that the moderate danger rating has more to do with the difficulty you'll have learning to walk safely on stilts than it does with the actual safety of the stilts.

Even if you're not looking for a new career as a busker, you'll love showing off your new skills and your homemade stilts.

Concrete cracks really detract from your home's appearance. Like piles of leaves clogging your house's gutters, concrete cracks suggest a lack of homeowner love. There's also a safety factor: you could take a tumble on uneven concrete. Consider putting concrete repair on your Spring things-to-do list. For anyone planning to sell a home within the next few months, put this on your must-do list!

Not sure where to start? Never fear. It's actually extremely easy to patch cracks in your driveway, your garden path, or on the pavement outside your home. First, consider when to tackle this job. The best time is Spring or Summer. Don't do it when you're expecting rain or freezing weather.

Newsflash for beginner DIY'ers: these days, you don't fill cracked concrete with more concrete. There are better products on the market that are easier to use. In particular, many patching products now contain latex. This adds flexibility and, therefore, added durability, in extremes of hot and cold weather.

One of the worst fates to befall family and home is a raging fire. The result can be a small as a nuisance clean-up job to the worst of all - the death of one or more family members. Having fire extinguishers close at hand can make the difference. But not all extinguishers are the same. Let's have a look...

• Type A: for use on paper, plastics, and wood.
• Type B: for use on gasoline, paint thinner, or other flammable liquid.
• Type C: for use on electrical fires.
• Type D: for use on flammable metals.
• Multi-class types: These are a combination of two or more of the above types. Often, these are the most handy to have around the home.

The key to using an extinguisher effectively is summed up as PASS.

• Pull the pin.
• Aim the nozzle.
• Squeeze the handle.
• Sweep the spray at the base of the fire.
  

Be sure all members of the family know how to do this. As cheap as fire extinguishers are, it wouldn't hurt to buy a few and practice so the reaction in an emergency will not be confusion and panic.