Briefs: Gas prices propel buyers downtown

The cure is in your kitchen

Every couple of years author Joey Green turns up with one of his loony books full of weird uses for brand-name products. (Polish Your Furniture with Panty Hose is among his 30 volumes.) Thing is, they really work. The latest: Joey Green's Fix-It Magic (Rodale, $17.95). Amaze yourself and your friends by fixing a broken dishwasher with Tang, cleaning mirrors with Mott's apple sauce, or lubricating pliers with ChapStick, Pam cooking spray or Crisco.

Gas prices propel buyers downtown

As gas prices rise, so does interest in moving downtown, a survey of 903 Coldwell Banker real estate agents shows. Minimizing the commute was cited by 81 percent for increased buyer interest in urban living. Access to public transportation appealed to 54 percent, and 75 percent said the ability to walk more places was a plus. More than half the agents said there was greater interest in urban living than five years ago. Eighty-four percent reported greater interest in properties with a home office.

Spray paint for almost anywhere

What can you paint with Rust-Oleum's new Universal spray paint? Just about anything, the company says: wood, metal, plastic, masonry, concrete, fiberglass, aluminum, glass, plaster, laminate, vinyl. It comes in 16 colors in gloss, satin, flat, metallic and hammered finishes. Look for it at Home Depot, Lowe's and paint and hardware stores. Suggested retail is $6.50 to $8, depending on finish.

Grant yourself power on vacation

Here's a vacation tip from Family Circle: Bring along a power strip. At your hotel room, you can all plug in your cell phones and cameras in a common area, and you're less likely to leave something behind.

Where old houses go to retire

The best places to buy an old house are . . . well, in Florida, it's in St. Augustine. That's according to This Old House magazine and thisoldhouse.com. Editors came up with 17 categories, including best place for city slickers, fixer-uppers, Southern belles and gents, and on and on. Pick up the magazine or go to thisoldhouse.com/toh/best-places.

Compiled by Times Homes and Garden editor Judy Stark