It's not hard to get a handle on replacing bathroom faucet

Q. With the holidays just around the corner, I've been wanting tospruce up for guests. One of the things I would like to do isreplace the faucet in my guest bathroom. Can you give me somepointers?

A. When shopping for your replacement faucets, the easiest thingto look for is a set with the identical dimensions and configurationof the one you have now. Since most bathroom faucets are fairlystandard, this shouldn't cramp your style.

The first thing you will need to do is to cut off the watersupply to the faucet. This can be done either under the sink if youhave supply stops or at a main cutoff. (If you don't have cutoffvalves under your sink, this might be a great opportunity to installsome.)

With the water supply off, start removing the old faucet. Mostfaucets are held in place on the basin by locknuts from below at thesame points where the water lines run up into the faucet. Removecoupling nuts and then the locknuts. An inexpensive tool called abasin wrench can be handy for getting up into tight spots if you havea problem. Depending upon how your drain stopper works, you may alsohave to remove the retainer clip which operates the stopper. Now,lift up the old faucet and gasket.

Before putting the new faucet set down on the sink orcountertop, clean the area thoroughly of all grime, dirt and water.Make sure you also replace the gasket that fits between the counteror sink and the new faucet.

Compression fittings can make the connections a snap.

Hopefully, your holiday guests will be impressed.

Q. Our ceiling is the type that has a blown-on texturing withsome type of sparkles in it. What's the best way to clean a ceilinglike this?

A. Very carefully! Any tool you use can knock off lots of theblown-on material. An old-timey feather duster is one of the bestways. This gets rid of dust and surface dirt. If there are stains,you can try bleach in a spray bottle, but be sure it can't drip ontoanything that bleach will remove color from.

Send your tips or questions to Al Carrell, The Super Handyman,in care of Chicago Sun-Times Features, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago 60611.