Lint Traps & Stroller Wheels

September 13, 2007

It is a beautiful fall day here in southern British Columbia. Cold and crisp in the morning when I walk my little girl to school. And blues skys and hot temperatures in the afternoon. The last load of laundry is out in the sunshine to dry. You see, I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for the fuse in my dryer breaking this week. This is how I like to see it:

I have a husband who’s a manual-reader, regularly does laundry, and I know he’s cleaning the lint trap all the time……. so I don’t have to. That line of reasoning has worked very well for nearly two years.

And oh Mommies - let this be a warning to you - CLEAN YOUR LINT TRAPS after every load. And thank God we had an over-heating fuse/breaker in our dryer. It shut off instead of setting on fire. So, while the neighbours can envy my environmentally friendly laundering, you all know the truth!

This afternoon, I’m taking my 3 year old to the doctor for a follow-up - everything should be fine. And working on coordinating a new project - a Walking School Bus. I confess, I’ve only read about it online, but it is such a great idea. And I’m spurred on this year, as there is an apartment complex being constructed on the tiny Drive opposite the elementary school. Those dump trucks consume the entire Drive, and there are little kids and oodles of parents transporting kids to and fro. I hope that there will be some interest in this project from my neighbours. Truthfully though, Mommies, I need some help picking up my daughter from school right in the middle of nap time!

Now, something to store away until you need it:

I did some tinkering on my stroller - changing the rear tires (that I accidentally drove over - but that’s another story). Here’s what I learned on this project:

* the model and serial numbers for most strollers are located on a sticker on the rear frame above the left wheel. I’m working on a Babytrend stroller (2002), using parts from an older Graco Literider (2000).

* To remove the rear wheel: pry off the hub cap(blue), little button cap (white), and washer (pink). On the other stroller of mine (Babytrend) the washer and button cap are metal.

What you are left with, is the axle stem.

* To replace the wheel, I salvaged one from an older stroller (thus the well-loved appearance).

Replace in the reverse order - wheel, washer, button cap, hub-cap. Be sure to place the wheel spoke-side toward the stroller (see below). Turn the wheel a few times to make sure that it is positioned far enough away from the brakes to turn freely, and close enough so that they work.