Take on tough jobs

September 9, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Take on tough jobs

Tub O’Towels is an amped-up version of cleaning wipes. The disposable towels were originally designed for contractors and are thicker and bigger than typical wipes. They’re soaked in a cleaner that the manufacturer says will remove tough messes such as grease, tar and permanent marker.

The citrus-based formula contains lanolin, aloe vera and vitamin E to make it easier on hands. The towels come individually wrapped or in a 90-towel canister or portable case.

They’re available at some hardware stores, home centers, auto-parts stores and other retailers.

You can find a retailer at www.TubOTowels.com. The 90-towel canister has a suggested retail price of $14.99.

Create bird habitats

Mariette Nowak is helping bird lovers step up their games with “Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening With Native Plants to Attract Birds.” Nowak, a retired nature center director, encourages her readers to create yards filled with native plants that provide not just food for the birds, but also cover, nesting and water.

The book includes photos and descriptions of nine wildlife gardens in urban, suburban and rural settings to give readers ideas about what they can accomplish in their own yards.

“Birdscaping in the Midwest” is to be released soon from the University of Wisconsin Press. It’s priced at $34.95 in softcover.

McClatchy Newspapers