January 1976

VENTILATING FANS: WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME?

There's nothing glamorous about a ventilating fan. It has a nitty-gritty job: removing hot, smelly, greasy, smoky air. But few household devices can contribute as much to your health and comfort for so little money.

HOUSEPLANT HOW-TO

Christmas gift plants provide lasting pleasure if given the proper attention. This isn't really so difficult; their basic needs are not greatly different from those of many houseplants you're already growing.

WHAT'S WHAT IN SOAP

Virtually every single soap manufactured today rates high in terms of cleansing efficiency. But that doesn't mean that all soaps are alike. In fact, not everything called soap today is soap: some soaps are made from synthetic detergents.

CAR RENTALS GETTING THE BEST DEAL

For most of us, vacation is all too brief-- just a couple of weeks and it's over. And that raises a question: Should you take your car? You'd probably save dollars that way, but you may squander precious vacation days driving hundreds of miles just to get to where the fun begins.

Step-by-step project scrapbook

Spend it on a Snuggery

According to Webster, a snuggery is "a cozy place or a small, comfortable room." If that sounds like something you'd enjoy having in your own home, read on. We'll show you how careful planning, a little remodeling, and a crafty touch or two can turn spare space into a room that's both snug and serviceable.

Create a Place for Crafts

If your family has been bitten by the craft bug, consider converting that spare room into a family workshop. Our "craft place" measures just 10 by 12, but whether your passion is sewing or sawing, there's room for it here. And if space is scarce, adapt just one or two of our storage, display, and work space ideas to turn an under-used corner into a mini-place for crafts.

TIPS TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

A REGULAR FEATURE DESIGNED TO MAKE AROUND-THE-HOUSE JOBS EASIER FOR YOU

Safeguarding your meat investment

Whether it's a juicy prime rib, a tasty pork chop, a hamburger, or a frankfurter that's bound for your kitchen range or the backyard barbecue, it deserves the same tender loving care that it got at the supermarket meat counter.

GOOD NEWS

In the past, chains, snow tires, and luck were the only weapons in the annual winter-driving war. But now this plastic traction product offers an inexpensive, easy-to-use alternative that can keep you rolling in snow, sand, and mud.

Quick-change decorating

At little cost, architectural interest was added to this room by suspending a series of fabric-covered frames from the ceiling. You might want to try this floating effect to camouflage a cracked ceiling, or to lower a too-high ceiling. Make 48-inch-square frames from 1x4s, then stretch and staple unbleached muslin to the frames.

Make-it-yourself indoor mini-gardens

Want to make a hodgepodge of houseplants add up to something spectacular? Try combining them to make an indoor garden, placing plants up, down, and around so you can enjoy their beauty at every level. You can create the look of a leafy bower by building a simple arbor to house your plants; the arbor's framework will let you suspend a lineup of hanging baskets without putting an ounce of strain on the ceiling.

Spring-Fresh indoor mini-gardens to grow now

Don't let your spirits sink into a seasonal slump --take action now and set up a mini-garden. Just for the fun of it, try your hand at water culture, or create a personalized stacked-up terrarium, a smart desert garden, a lush fernery. All are offbeat but easy to handle. And once you've filled a corner with some spring-fresh plants, you'll forget winter gales outdoors and think that April's already here.

CAMOUFLAGE

If your kitchen is filled with a dreary bank of cabinets, as in our "before" picture, it's time for some spirit-lifting treatment. You can change that head-to-toe woody look inexpensively with a paper face-lift.

America Rediscovered Part 1 The Great Southwest

Americans' reactions to the celebration of our country's Bicentennial run the gamut from lump-in-the-throat pride to indifference to outright disapproval of celebrating anything when there's still so much to be done. That range is probably healthy, and it's certainly consistent with this nation's eclectic heritage. America was, after all, born of idealism and turmoil, conflict and compromise, grit and polish, rebellion and ambition.

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence. If not delighted, each company will happily refund your money.

The Man Next Door

Modern merchandising tempts the Rev. George Hall to run some kind of special to get parishioners to services. Says he's thinking of advertising, "FIRE SALE-- For the wicked only."