Dear Carrells: My wife insists that I use a coaster on our coffee table. So the last time she was painting, I asked her to use one for the paint can. After all, it could leave a paint ring on the floor if any dripped down the side. She found a rolling coaster. It was really a plant tray on wheels for one of our larger plants. The can easily fits into the tray and catches all of the drips. The fact that it was on wheels was really clever. I think I might have to try that one myself the next time I am painting. — T.B.

A SUPER HINT — Old cassette cases and VHS cases are great for storing all sorts of hardware, bits and other small tools. Clear cases even let you easily see what's inside. Others can be labeled and stacked on a shelf for neat storage.

Dear Al: I had to build a shed just to house all of our outdoor furniture. We love the new deck we built, but now we have more outdoor furniture to store in the winter. Another thing I do to protect it when it's stored is spray it all down with car wax. The wax doesn't look that great, but it keeps the metal from rusting while in storage. In the springtime, I just get it all out and clean the wax away. We spent a lot of money on the furniture, so protecting it with a little wax just seemed like the smart thing to do. — M.N.

Q: I have a thickly textured wall in my dining room. It looks like stucco, but it's not. I can't get the old stuff off. What can I do to minimize the texture? — H.M.

A: Sanding can bring it down somewhat. You also might put another layer of drywall compound over that to help smooth out the surface. Paneling is the next step, but it could get costly and may not give you the results you are looking for. I might try doing both of the first ideas to try to get a better finish.

Dear Kelly: I have thrown out more plasticware than I should have through the years, but when it starts looking dirty after it's been used, I'm afraid to use it any longer. Tomato sauce is one of the worst things to nuke in plasticware, but I found out that if you spray it with cooking spray before putting the tomato sauce in the plastic container, it won't be as likely to get ruined. It also works on chili and other greasy/acidic liquids that ruin plasticware. — T.W.

SHOPTALK — How many times have you wished for a portable handle? The Handle On Demand is a temporary handle that easily attaches to all kinds of surfaces and can hold up to 220 pounds. Put it on a cabinet or a countertop to make carrying these items a one-man job again. It can make moving day much easier to handle, too. It's easy to use and won't leave a mark when removed. You easily will find a dozen uses for this handy handle. To see it and order one for yourself, visit the "New Products" page at www.duluthtrading.com.