*I hate to wear gloves when Im working, but sometimes you just have to. If you are painting or using some other material that doesnt require gloves, but you need to keep your hands clean while working, just coat them with some petroleum jelly before working. This will keep any paint from soaking into your skin. Just make sure you dont get the petroleum jelly on the surface to be painted, or the paint wont stick to it either! When you are finished working, it will wash off easily with just plain soap and water.

Q. I want to paint my kitchen cabinets but just dont like the glossy finish that most paint dealers recommend. Do I have to use a gloss?

A. You can use whatever you want to use. The idea behind using a gloss is that, in most cases, the more gloss the paint has, the easier it will be to clean. If you buy a very-good-quality paint that says its easy to clean on the label, then it should work well for you. You probably will want to clean it more often just to keep the airborne grease to a manageable level.

Q. I have canvas awnings over my windows and need some advice. I took them down and washed them. They look fine, but I am wondering if I can spray some sort of repellent on them to keep them from getting mildew or mold. What would you recommend?

A. Apply a fabric protector like Krylons Outdoor UV Fabric Protector or 3Ms Scotchgard Fabric Protector. These are easy to use and work pretty well for situations like yours. Some even will prevent damage from UV rays, and you can also use it on outdoor cushions, flags and umbrellas to keep them from being damaged by Mother Nature.

Reader tips

*I wasnt sure how much attic insulation I had. I know I have more than a lot of people because its hard to see the ceiling joists of the house, as they are covered in most places. I got up into the attic to check and brought a yardstick with me. I was able to stick the yardstick down through the insulation until it hit the ceiling of the room below me. That told me just how deep it was, and I didnt even have to bend over to do it! I have

more than I thought, and I may not really need to add any after all. *We have moved some of our furniture around and found a great way to protect our nice wood floors. We cut carpet scraps large enough to fit under each table or sofa leg. The fuzzy part goes down toward the floor. Then we can slide the pieces around easily until we get them just where we (my wife) want them. Then we remove them. I saved them in the garage for when its time for another change.

Shop talk

*Krylon Crystal Color is a super spray paint that gives the painted surface a stainlike appearance without the mess and cleanup normally involved. It can be applied to painted surfaces after only one hour, and it dries in

less than 10 minutes. Use it on wood, metal, wicker, glass, plaster, fabric and ceramic surfaces. Check it out at your paint store, home center or local hardware dealer. To learn more, visit krylon.com.

*Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells Web site at www.thesuperhandyman.com.

2008, Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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