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Safe
& Sound
Dryer
Safety: Tumble Trouble
Your
best friend (or coworker or mom) has probably forwarded you a chain
email warning that fabric softener sheets can leave a transparent
film on a dryer's lint screen, blocking air flow and overtaxing
the motor. To prove it, the email asks homeowners to do this simple
test: Remove your lint screen, pull off any visible lint, then pour
some water on the screen. If the water doesn't flow freely through
the mesh, it's clogged. So, is this email a hoax?
Not entirely,
says Jill Notini of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
(AHAM). "Both dryer sheets and lint can leave residual soils that
could in fact clog up the filter," she says. "In addition to cleaning
the lint filter after every use, we recommend that people occasionally
wash the filter with a nylon brush and hot, soapy water. It's part
of regular maintenance."
Don't
Throw In the Towel
Kitchen rags used to wipe up even small amounts of cooking oil should
never be put into the dryer. Why not? A washer can't completely
remove the oil, which can ignite or explode in a hot dryer. Instead,
hang-dry hand towels and rags outside or in a ventilated room away
from heat.
Not-So-Silent Night
If your hearing isn't what it used to be, check out smoke alarms
that alert you to danger with flashing strobe lights and/or a bed
vibrator, in addition to an audible warning.
Emergency
Equipment: Test It Now
Before an emergency
hits, make sure these home safety devices are working properly.
Here's how:
- Sump pump.
Fill the pit with water. When the water reaches a certain level
on the pump, the pump should automatically start working.
- Disposable
fire extinguisher. Verify that the pressure indicator is in
the green "full" area. If it's not, throw it away. If it was manufactured
more than 12 years ago (the date is on the bottom of the cylinder),
throw it out. Never test an extinguisher by using it -- they are
designed to be used once, then discarded.
- Smoke
alarm.
Push its "test" button. If the alarm doesn't sound, replace the
batteries, then test again. Check that hardwired detectors are
not on electrical circuits that can be turned off with a wall
switch.
- Rechargeable
fire extinguisher.
Get your extinguisher serviced annually by a certified fire equipment
dealer up
Support
Your Cause (And Your Car)
If your car
is plastered with magnets, move them to another (clean) part of
the car once a week, say body shops and magnet makers. Why? Over
a long period, trapped moisture could cloud the finish, and trapped
dirt could scratch a car's surface.
Rough
Rider
As winter gives
way to spring, potholes seem to multiply by the minute. If you can't
avoid one, says the Rubber Manufacturers Association, remember this:
Don't hit the brakes while driving over a pothole. Instead, brake
before hitting a pothole, then be sure to release brakes prior to
impact. Your tires are less likely to be damaged when they're rolling
(versus skidding) over a pothole.
5-Minute
Auto Check: Sideways Glances
Are you making
your vehicle's blind spots worse? You could be if you were taught
that a driver should be able to see the side of the vehicle in the
side-view mirrors. Ditch that practice!
- Follow
This New Advice:
Drivers should position their side-view mirrors so that they don't
see the sides of their cars while driving, according to the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
- The Benefits
Are Clear:
The new positions minimize blind spots by allowing a following
vehicle to be seen immediately in the side-view mirror after its
view is lost from a rear-view mirror.
- Adjust
Your View:
While sitting in the driver's seat, lean your head to the left
(against the window). Adjust the right-hand side-view mirror so
that you can just view the side of the vehicle. When you return
your head to normal driving position, you should not see the side
of the car. To adjust the left-hand mirror, move your head right
(toward the center of the vehicle).
In
A Fog
Drive safely
through dense fog by following these three tips from the California
Highway Patrol.
- Drive with
lights on low beam. High beams reflect off the water drops, creating
a "white wall" effect.
- Watch the
speedometer. Fog creates an illusion that you're driving slower
than you actually are.
- Be aware
of other vehicles. Roll down your window so that you can listen
for traffic.
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NEW CAR TOTALED? NO PROBLEM
MetLife
Auto & Home's standard auto policies* include Coverage PlusSM,
which provides full replacement cost -- with zero deduction
for depreciation -- if you total a new car within one year
of purchase or during the first 15,000 miles, whichever
comes first. Deductible applies.
*Not
available in all states such as MA and NC. See policy for
restrictions.
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