From the Washington Post

This was interesting enough to share.


5 Things to Do With This Newspaper

Sunday, August 6, 2006; Page M01

Sure, you can always pop the paper in the recycling bin, but why not use yesterday's news to . . .


-Fix a flat tire. If you get a tear in your bike tire while riding, fold a quarter page of newspaper into a square big enough (and thick enough) to cover the hole. Slip the paper between tube and tire. Inflate the tube enough to hold the paper in place, then put the tire back on its rim and inflate the tube fully. This quick fix should keep you going for several miles.

-Keep weeds out of your garden. Layer three to four sheets of newspaper next to your plants (at least two inches away from the stems to prevent rotting). Water the entire area. Add a top layer of mulch, grass clippings or straw. The newspaper blocks sunlight -- which weeds need to grow -- and will help keep the soil moist.

-Quell the smell. Line the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh, or put newspaper in your shoes to absorb moisture.

-Ripen tomatoes. Wrap green tomatoes individually in a couple of sheets of newspaper. Store in an airtight container in a dark place at room temperature. Check them every three to four days.

-Wash your windows. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. Separate the newspaper into pages (avoid those with color pictures or ads). Crumple it into a ball, soak it in the solution, squeeze out the excess, and rub windows in a circular motion. For extra shine, wipe the window with a clean sheet of newspaper. (My grandmother does this. It works.)

-- Michelle Hainer