Keep Snow Off Your Satellite Dish and TV

There is nothing more annoying than when the Satellite goes out. It always seems to happen when I am really getting into a show, right at the best part. Having your Satellite dish aligned correctly can usually keep a strong signal except during the strongest of storms.  Snow on your satellite dish will almost always drop the signal. If you let it go too long it can quickly turn into ice and that can be very hard to get off of the satellite dish. I think the worst is when snow collects on the dish, you have to go out into the cold to clean it off, if you can even get to it.  Your best bet is to use preventive measures to keep the snow off the satellite dish.

Use a Little Grease To keep Snow and Ice Off Satellite Dish


I have found that spraying cooking spray like Pam or WD-40 over the entire dish will keep snow and ice from sticking to the satellite dish. A good coating usually lasts all winter for me, unless we get a few heavy rains on the warmer days. Be careful with WD-40 as it may damage or discolor plastic satellite dishes or components and it is really flammable. I usually use cooking spray, but have used WD-40 in a pinch. It works great and will keep your TV snow free during the next snow storm.

Turn up the Heat On Your Satellite Dish

If you happen to live in a very cold climate or your dish is way up on your roof you can also try one of the commercially available satellite dish heaters.  Dish heaters don't work very well on plastic dishes and will cost about $100 plus installation.  If you receive losts of snow and have a metal dish this may be your best option.

Cover Your Dish

Another technique I have used is a good old trash bag.  This works really well if you are expecting a big snow storm and have time to prepare.  Just take a large trash bag, one with draw strings works best, and place it over the receiver and around the front edges of the dish.  Use the draw strings or some zip ties to secure the bag to the dish.  My friends and I have had some succuess with this method, so if it works in your circumstances you may want to look into a commercial satellite dish cover.  You can get one for around $40 and can be used year round.

Enjoy your snow free dish TV.

Simple Snow Shoveling Tip

I cannot believe that I am already posting about snow shoveling, but we had a few flakes the other day prompting me to start prepping for the white stuff. I got my shovel out of the garage, checked it for any cracks, and put it in my mud room for easy access. I always spray the shovel with WD-40 (you could also use no-stick spray) and wipe off the excess. This causes the snow to slide right off of the shovel after each shovel-full of snow. In my opinion, shoveling is an annoying task to begin with and any help is tremendous! As always, lift with your knees and try not to hunch over the shovel as you work. Also, make sure that your shovel is the correct size for your body. I am over 6' tall and always struggled with shoveling until I found one that was actually made for people my size.

Time To Prep Your Mower For Winter

I just finished cutting my grass for the last time this year. It is now time to prep my mower for winter storage. First, add some gasoline stabilizer to your fuel tank. Gas stabilizer is available at any hardware or automotive store and it will keep your gas from breaking down before the next spring. Second, remove the spark plug and place it in a sealed bag or container and store it inside. Now turn the mower on its side and remove all grass clippings from under the mower. Always be careful when working around the blade! Pay special attention to the area around the exhaust outlet. Finally, spray down the metal and the blade with WD-40 to keep rust at bay!

Get The Bugs Off Your Car

I do a lot of country driving and I swear that the bugs are attracted to my car like some strange suicide pack. My hood and bumper are always covered. A simple way to remove them without hurting your paint is to soak a clean rag with WD-40 and scrub the bugs off. Removing them before they get burned on by the sun will make your job easier. Also, make sure that you wash and wax your car after you remove them, this will make them come off even easier next time you clean them.

Sticky Price Tag Blues

If you have recently bought an appliance or other plastic device and it was covered with stickers or price tags, here's a simple tip. Once you have removed the majority of the sticker, spray WD-40 on a clean towel and scrub the stickiness right off. This works great even if the stickers have been on there for years, as was the case with my recent yard sale purchase!

Duct Tape Fixes Everything, But What About The Sticky Residue?

Duct tape is one of the handiest things in the world. Just about everything can be fixed with a little duct tape. But when you remove the duct tape, the sticky residue can be a nightmare to remove. On most surfaces, WD-40 will break up the residue. Spray it on and let it sit for a while. Work the residue off with a towel. A second application of WD-40 may be required. If the tape was stuck to a painted surface, blot the stain with a cloth soaked with WD-40. Always do a test spot first! Then carefully remove the residue with the cloth. Clean the surface as you would normally after removing the residue to remove the remaining WD-40.

How to Remove Crayon Marks from Carpet

Kids (and many adults) cannot get enough crayons. It sometimes seems like kids cannot get enough paper. If you have found a mysterious crayon mark (or a full picture) on your carpets don't worry. First, you need to remove as much of the crayon as possible. Using a fingernail or dull knife, scrape off as much as you can. Next, spray the marks with WD-40 and let it sit for 5 minutes. Using a stiff brush, scrub the marks and then wipe with a paper towel. Apply a second coat of the WD-40 to the marks. Now, scrub the mark with a mixture of liquid dish washing detergent and water. Scrub the marks again with the stiff brush and work the mixture in a circular motion. Finally, use a sponge and warm water to clean up the remaining cleaner and WD-40. Repeat if necessary.