Sun protection isn’t just for roofers and landscapers. It’s a must for everyone out there who likes to spend time in the yard, on the boat, riding a motorcycle or firing up a smoker. Personally, I’m diligent about applying sunscreen. At least, I thought I was. But after succumbing to the dermatologist’s scalpel, I’ve learned I don’t reapply nearly as much as I should, and rarely have sunscreen available when I need more....
These days, you don’t have to carry around one of those heavy lights filled archaic D batteries to have a strong flashlight in your possession. On a recent camping trip, a friend opened my eyes to the Lixada Blocklite, a bright, inexpensive, and ultra-compact flashlight. After returning from that trip, I promptly ordered a few to test for myself. What Is the Lixada Blocklight? The ultra-tiny Lixada Blocklite is an LED light block that snaps securely onto any common nine-volt battery....
From doing laundry to mowing the lawn to vacuuming, household chores are one of life’s constants. One way to ease the burden and foster family teamwork is to get kids to pitch in. “Teaching children chores instills leadership and lets them know that their skills and abilities are a benefit to the family,” says Laura Clary, a leadership speaker, trainer and consultant with a background in family life education and child development....
GROGL/Shutterstock If the idea of sleeping in a tent doesn’t appeal to you, but traditional campers are out-of-reach financially, perhaps it’s time to try van camping. Van camping is just what it sounds like—camping in a van. While some camper vans are decked out with small kitchens, some use stripped out vans with an air mattress in the back. Some camper vans can sleep up to five people! If this sounds like fun, here are some things you should know before you hit the road....
Family Handyman Hammer drills and rotary hammers are both excellent for drilling masonry. Rotary hammers are more powerful, though, and have a “hammer-only” mode with no rotation. They usually have an SDS chuck, which is better for hammering. Sure, you can drill a hole or two in a concrete block with a regular drill and a masonry bit, but you’ll want to step it up a notch if you have a whole bunch of holes to drill into 50-year-old concrete....
As clean energy becomes more available and affordable, households across the country are looking for ways to take advantage of it. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimates more than 13 percent of homes in the U.S. will have a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system by 2030. And some towns—like Babcock Ranch—are turning to solar power completely. But not every roof in the U.S. is suitable for a solar setup. That’s where community solar comes in....
A lot of us aspire to replace our natural gas and propane-burning appliances with electric ones. One pressing reason is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But there are other benefits, too, like lowering indoor air pollutants, cutting energy bills and increasing your home’s comfort and value. “New appliances and technologies are surprisingly effective,” says Ted Lamm, a senior research fellow at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment at the UC Berkeley School of Law....
Which is the best hammer head? How heavy should it be? Most hammer heads weigh anywhere between 16 and 22 ounces. But that can be a little misleading because there is no industry standard on how to weigh a hammer head. Weighing a hammer head with wooden and fiberglass handles is straightforward: just take off the head off the handle and weight it. But there is more of a gray area when it comes to hammers that are made with integrated steel handles and strike guards....
How your engine idles is a good indicator of how several of your car’s operating systems are working together. Rough idling is a common problem that can be difficult to diagnose. Understanding and recognizing how to identify rough idling, what can cause it and what you can do to fix it are critical to the overall health of your engine. What Is Idling? Idling is what an engine does when it’s running but your vehicle is not moving....
Don’t let perks such as the absence of a dress code and unlimited trips to your own kitchen overshadow the reality that working from a home office requires many hours of chair-time. Whether your chief priority is preventing back pain or creating a space that reflects your personal style, here are three of our top affordable picks for best home office chair. Best Home Office Chair for Your Back: via amazon....
REDPIXEL.PL/Shutterstock Vacuuming is Good for Your Carpet Dirt—even dirt you can’t see—is abrasive. So when you walk across a dirty carpet, dirt particles grind away at the fibers. The result is carpet that looks dull, stains easier and soon becomes matted down. That’s why regular vacuuming is the best way to maximize the life of your carpet and delay the heavy cost of replacement. Vacuum Smarts: Vacuum often. Vacuum entrance areas and high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of the carpeting at least weekly....
Check your furnace filter monthly and change it when it’s dirty. You’ll get better heating in the winter and air conditioning in summer. You’ll save on your utility bills and extend the life of your furnace too. When to Change a Furnace Filter If you’re thinking that you only have to change your filter once a year, you may well be shortening the life of your furnace. Actually, you should check your filter monthly and often change it monthly, depending on the type of filter you use....
When was the last time you cleaned your toilet, including the tank? Never? Welcome to the club. The toilet tank is one of the most overlooked spots in the bathroom for cleaning. For the most part, the water in the tank stays clean — the lid help keeps out bacterial and mineral buildup, along with dirt. So why do you need to clean it then? Inside the tank there are metal parts that can corrode and rust....
My niece recently moved from the Midwest to the South. When she and her husband bought a house, they became first-time palm tree owners. Their tree, the focal point of their backyard, survived several hurricanes. Now she wants to make sure she knows how to take care of their palm tree so they can enjoy it for many more years. One of her big questions involved the palm fronds. Trees just don’t make leaves that big in the Midwest!...
The brake light switch on your vehicle serves an important safety function. When you press the brake pedal, it supplies power to the signal lights at the back of your vehicle to warn other drivers you have slowed. Where is a Brake Light Switch Located? As part of the brake-pedal assembly, you can find this switch under the dashboard or on the firewall near the top of the pedal lever. Replacing one is easy....
If you’re a fan of spacious open concept kitchens and dining rooms, consider incorporating the same aesthetic into your bathroom. A wet room bathroom essentially blends the shower and bathroom into a single space, combining the convenient, watertight construction of a shower with the sophisticated feel of an open concept floor plan. According to Ezra Laniado, founder and president of Landmark Construction in Los Angeles, wet room bathrooms have been around for a long time, especially in homes requiring wheelchair access to the shower....
QualityHD/Shutterstock First sold in 1927, Craftsman was the flagship brand in the Sears tool section. For 90 years this esteemed brand name was synonymous with quality manufacturing, affordable pricing, and an almost legendary lifetime warranty. These three traits meant that it was almost impossible to find an American garage or workshop that didn’t have at least some Craftsman tools hanging on the walls. Today, with Sears is going through bankruptcy proceedings, many DIY enthusiasts consider this the end of an era....
Behind every great-looking painted surface there’s almost certainly a coat of quality paint primer. As an undercoat, primer prepares the surface, promotes paint adhesion and serves as a foundation that will make paint look better and last longer. Although not every painting project requires primer, taking this step will enhance your results. Typically, DIYers looking to save time and money consider skipping the primer stage. It’s OK to do so if your surface is in good, clean condition and if you’re using a paint color that’s similar to the one you’ll be covering....
I’m on a quest for the perfect garden hose. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be perfect, just durable, reasonably priced and not weigh a ton. For years, I used a hose that I inherited from my grandfather. It was a heavy rubber 50-footer and it was truly a bear to drag around. It knocked over flowerpots, chopped the heads off the daisies when I wasn’t careful, and it wasn’t easy to roll up and store....
Black Friday may have come and gone, but leading up to Christmas, Home Depot continues to provide exciting savings for DIYers. The home improvement superstore is offering free power tools from five top tool manufacturing brands. To get yours, purchase a kit from one of the brands, and you’ll get up to two free power tools or batteries from the same brand. Here’s when to order your gifts for DIYers to ensure they arrive before Christmas....
