We all need and use tools all over our house - both inside and out. Most of us store them in a garage, a basement or even in an outdoor shed like this. I'm a big believer in buying a good quality tool for the job you want it to do. But we need to maintain it and make sure it's going to last. The biggest culprit in tool problems is rust.

The problem with most tools - and most homeowners - is when we're finished with a job we're tired. We don't want to look at it anymore so we store it back in the shed looking like this. Don't do that! Take the time after each job to hose this off - even brush it if you have to! Get all the stuff off of these products and that way, the next time you go to use it, it's ready to go. And, when it's clean, spray it with a good lubricant to keep the moisture from getting in and rusting this thing out.

Don't forget your tape measurer. This thing needs to be lubricated as well. Pull it all the way out. Spray it with a little bit of lubricant, let it go back in. Then you want to check how accurate it is because these things can get off. There's a simple solution. You set the tape with its one-inch mark on the end. You mark it again at six inches. Then, you pull the tape up - and it better say five. If it isn't, then you can bend this tab one way or the other to make it right.

I'm Don Zeman with News from the Homefront. Trust me, you do this stuff!