photo by mangpages

DEAR SARA: My son has denim jeans that are torn in both knees and a pocket here and there. What do you do with the denim material once they are no longer wearable? Dust rags? I need ideas. I have five pairs that I need to do something with. I hate just throwing them in the trash. I spent a lot of money on these jeans. — Melissa, Texas

DEAR MELISSA: There are a few crafts you can try.
POT HOLDERS: Can be made by cutting a square from a pant leg. Two sides will have seams. Insert a section of a cotton towel, table felt or a product called Insul Bright combined with cotton batting. Stitch the two sides that remain open and you have a pot holder or hot pad.

PURSE: Can make a purse from the pockets. This doesn’t have to require sewing. You simply cut the pocket out and glue, use a safety pin or use velcro to attach the leg seams, beading or ribbon for the purse handle.

PILLOW: Can cut off the legs and sew the openings and use the zipper to stuff the pillow.

Why not patch the knees and pockets? You can find fun patches at the craft store. Patches are due for a fashion comeback.

Added note: This recycled overalls purse is adorable.

DEAR SARA: Do you have an easy way to clean oven racks? I have a new oven, and already the racks look as if they’ve been run through the mill. I can’t stand the smell and fumes from oven cleaner, and a scrub pad doesn’t do a good enough job for me. Thanks for your help! — Laura, New Hampshire

DEAR LAURA: Place the racks in your bathtub in hot water and add powdered dishwasher soap. Let it soak overnight. You can also replace the dishwasher soap with ammonia.

DEAR SARA: I have my home for sale. It’s getting a lot of people visiting, but no offers yet. It’s in good shape, and nothing needs repair. While it’s not brand-new, it’s a great house. Can you think of anything that I can change cheaply that might help? — Annie, via e-mail

DEAR ANNIE: Think like a buyer. First, make sure that your closets are well organized. Remove items if you have to. If a buyer sees stuffed closets, they immediately think there’s not enough space. You should try removing personal items, too. For example, you’re showing the features of your house and not the 10-point buck hanging on the wall. Remove any strong themes, collections or bold colors. Buyers might be instantly turned off by it. I’m still scarred for life from a picture I saw hanging above the bed of a house I visited. Let’s just say it was titled “Lion and His Mate.” Enough said.
If a bedroom is small, remove some furniture. If the focal point of your living room is a window or fireplace, then clear a visual and physical path to showcase it. Pull furniture away from walls and windows. Buyers tend to look at kitchens, bathrooms and storage, so have those areas look their best.

The buyer sees the outside and entryway first. You want that area to look exceptional, so invest in small details outside like potted flowers, a new doormat, door wreath and a mailbox. They help give a positive first impression. Your entryway should have good lighting and be free from clutter, too.

Finally, if you have pets, don’t leave any sign that you do. No smell, fur or toys, etc. Although some people love pets, others don’t.

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