The winner: It seems that the tall lilies always take a beating after a hard rain. A little bit of fishing line helps keep them upright and off the ground. This also works well for adding extra places for vining flowers to climb, and to keep roses, gladiolas, and other tall plants standing tall. Mark Bargeloh, Concord
The winner: I wanted to draw back my curtains on our French door but I didn’t want to drill into the steel frame. So I came up with the perfect solution! I got a stick-on hook (the kind that can be removed easily), put it on sideways, and turned it into a tie-back.
The winner: Tired of digging tangled earrings out of a dish? I attached a simple wire desk basket to the bathroom wall beside my mirror and hang my earrings on it. Easy to find what I want and makes a pretty decoration as well. Jan Foster, Concord
The winner: Some people still hang their washing outside in the fresh air and sunshine. So what do you do when the clothespin bag breaks? I took a used plastic coffee can and drilled 2 small holes about 2 inches apart and inserted the bag wires from the holder from the inside out (so you don’t snag your fingers when reaching for a clothespin). My wife has had this one for about two years and still looks like new. Jack Neumeyer, Albemarle
The winner: Every time I pick up my six-pocket wine carrier, I say to myself, I’ve got to share this idea! I put cleaning stuff in each pocket: furniture cleaner, window spray, half roll of paper towels (a whole roll won’t fit). I have it all together as I go from room to room. Sigrid Sacra, Charlotte
The winner: I had trouble finding a tie rack that held many ties without taking up too much space. So I bought a prefabricated closet drawer and removed the bottom. I drilled holes in the sides, inserted 10 wooden dowels, three-eighths of an inch in diameter, 1 1/4 inches apart, and glued them in place. The drawer ran about $50 and the dowels about $10. Gary Wilhite, Charlotte
The winner: This week’s winner is more involved than most weeks. It’s also more Clever. Check out this homemade wall-mounted shoe rack that gives just enough of a toe-hold for footwear storage. Erik Insko of Ballantyne created a mini-shelf with two parallel boards. You wedge the toes of the shoes into the slot.
The winner: I save my 100-ounce plastic detergent bottles, rinse them out and use them to mix my Miracle Grow liquid plant fertilizer. It makes it easy to pour around my flowers and I keep several bottles made up in the summer and line them up on the back porch where they will be ready to use on my beautiful flowers. Alice Driggers, Wallace, SC
The winner: To provide good drainage, but no soil loss in my potted plants, I place squares of fiberglass window screening in the bottom. Alice Habbal, Monroe
The winner: Ever wondered how old the spices in your kitchen are? There are no dates on the tins or bottles. In fact, I may have moved from house to house with the same cinnamon and paprika. When I come home from the grocery store with a new one, I now write the date on it with a permanent pen. Tricia Robertson, Tega Cay
I'm So Clever is compiled by Observer assistant features editor Roland Wilkerson. Send your tip, name, address and phone by email or mail to Home Section, Charlotte Observer, P.O Box 30308, Charlotte, N.C. 28230.
