Home Improvement Disasters

Sometimes doing it yourself is risky business. Check out these anecdotes from homeowners who learned the hard way.

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I reached to pick up the crowbar

Car Trouble

I had just pulled into a parking spot at the huge home improvement store when smoke and flames began pouring from under my hood. Frantic,

I bolted into the store and ran up to the first clerk I saw. As luck would have it, he was standing behind the courtesy counter.

"Please help," I gasped. "My car’s on fire! I need a fire extinguisher."

Without even looking up, he replied, "Aisle 12."

 -- Nicholas Bancalari, New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Tool Mix-Up

Our old house needed constant TLC. Fortunately my dad is handy and can do most of the work himself. One day he crawled under the foundation to prop up some sagging floorboards. Suddenly we heard a muffled yell, and Dad crawled out on his hands and knees at a speed I hadn’t thought possible.

"What’s wrong?" my mother asked.

"I reached to pick up the crowbar," Dad gasped, "and it slithered out of my hand."

 -- Robert Shelley, Weatherford, Texas

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Daily Tip

“ Trying to do everything is a one-way ticket to serious stress. Be clear about your limits, and stop trying to please everyone all the time. ”

Bonus Tip

“ Hand washing is so important that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made official guidelines! They advise people to use soap and warm water while scrubbing vigorously for at least 20 seconds. ”


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