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WHAT’S NEW
On the Cuff is a simple way to keep water from running down your arms when you’re washing your face, rinsing dishes or doing other wet work.
The product is a stretchy sponge bracelet that catches the water and keeps your sleeves dry. It comes with a mesh bag for drying between uses.
On the Cuff can be ordered at http://www.onthecuff.net. Prices are $7.99 for a pair or $24.99 for a four-pair pack, which includes a drying stand. Shipping is extra.
Q&A
Q: Every winter my house gets invaded by tiny ants. Ant traps don’t seem to attract them. I use sprays, but they don’t do a lot of good, and having pets, I am reluctant to use them. They love the tiny bits of cat food that land on the floor and some sugary residue left on plates in the dishwasher. One Web site suggested trying cinnamon, but that didn’t work for me. Any suggestions as to how to get rid of them?
A: The tricky thing about controlling ants is knowing which kind you have. Ohio State University Extension has a good guide at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2064.html.
You mentioned that ant traps don’t seem to attract them, but ants may have entered and left the traps without your noticing. Ant traps don’t actually trap the ants; they’re really baits filled with poison, which the worker ants take back to the nest.
Nevertheless, if you’ve used baits without success, you may need to call in an exterminator to locate the nest and eradicate it.
As you know, pet and human food attracts ants, so pest-control company Terminix recommends you avoid letting food or dirty dishes sit out if possible. Keep kitchen floors and countertops clean, and empty the trash regularly.
Sealing all the tiny holes and cracks in your home’s exterior will help keep ants out. Pay special attention to places where drain and utility lines enter the house and cracks around windows and doors.
When you notice ants in your home, clean their path with soap and water. Ants leave behind pheromone trails for other colony members to follow, and washing those trails helps remove the scent.
ON THE SHELF
“The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown” is just the book to rev up your matrimonial Martha Stewart.
Author Khris Cochran, creator of DIYBride.com, offers 40 projects for adding handmade touches to a wedding and the events leading up to it, from clever save-the-date announcements to handcrafted bouquets. The ideas are sophisticated, stylish and money-saving — for example, bridal slippers made from discount shoes adorned with ribbon and lace, a dry-embossed wedding invitation and a memorial candle decorated with a loved one’s photo.
Cochran organizes the projects according to a timeline to help brides plan effectively.
“The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown” is published by the Taunton Press and sells for $19.95 in softcover.