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Around the house

By JUDY STARK
Published May 12, 2007

Maytag repairman goes to work

By now you've seen him: the new "Old Lonely, " the Maytag repairman who used to sit around the office waiting for service calls that never came. The idea was to underscore the reliability of Maytag appliances. This month Maytag rolled out a series of TV commercials and online ads showing him out of the office and repairing other things (your office copier, your cable box). The idea is to show that Old Lonely is a capable guy who can do more than sit around the office playing solitaire, the company said. The character has been around since 1967.

Handy lighting

The Mechanix Wear Glove Light puts illumination where you need it with a bright LED light on the back of the hand, powered by replaceable batteries. No more fumbling in the dark under the sink or under the car. To conserve battery life the light turns off automatically after seven minutes. The gloves have padded, lined Spandex knuckle and finger panels and a synthetic leather palm. The gloves are $26.95; find details and order at mechanix.com.

Keep it squeak-free and dry

Jig-a-Loo calls itself the world's first invisible lubricant and water repellent (the manufacturer uses the term "lubripellent"). The silicone-based spray protects shoes, coats, outdoor furniture and camping gear. It de-squeaks hinges, bike chains, lawnmower wheels and fishing reels. It lubricates keyholes, candleholders, mailbox flags and the sections of telescoping golf ball retrievers. It's a Canadian product (visit jigaloo.com) making its U.S. debut at Wal-Mart and Home Depot, among other places. A 10.9-ounce can is $6.99. And the name? It's derived from a Canadian phrase, "Ti-gi-dou, " meaning, "I've got it!"

Compiled by Homes and Garden editor Judy Stark

[Last modified May 11, 2007, 12:24:27]