Here are some tips that will make working on a ladder easier. Use elastic cords to secure a small plastic basket to the top of your stepladder to hold your tools. If you're on an extension ladder, slide a broom handle through a hollow rung and hang a bucket for tools from that. Keeping your tools close at hand, you'll save several trips up and down the ladder.

Here is some valuable information about new products for the bathroom. New codes require that plumbing fixtures use less water. To comply with these standards, look for high efficiency products. For example, toilet tanks are only allowed a capacity of 1.6 gallons. New models adjust to these codes by having larger water areas, bigger 2" traps, and powerful siphoning jets.

Keep electrical wires separate from computer or cable wires. The household current carried through electrical wires can cause interference in other cables. An easy solution is to keep then at least 4 inches apart and never tie them together. If they need to cross, keep them at right angles.

Your home's ability to resist the extreme force of wind is only as strong as its weakest link, so the only sure way to create a wind-resistant home is to secure all its connections: roof-to-wall, floor-to-floor and wall-to-foundation. The roof is your home's first line of defense from a storm. To make sure the roof stays in place when severe winds blow, securely anchor roof-to-wall connections by installing hurricane straps or clips at every wall-to-rafter connection to reinforce the roof. Even if re-roofing your existing home is years away, it is possible for roofing professionals to access and reinforce an existing home's roof-to-wall connections with hurricane straps and clips. These connections are critical in holding the roof together and will dramatically increase the homes overall resistance to wind. Along with roof-to-wall connections -- all joints in the structure -- floor-to-floor and wall-to-foundation -- must also be secured to create a "continuous load path" to the building's foundation. Secure floor-to-floor connections by making sure each floor is connected to the floor below with straps or clips in addition to any other code-required nailing schedule. Wall-to-foundation connections should be made through the use of anchor bolts or mud-sill anchors. Be sure to install all connectors following manufacturer's specifications.