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All of your vehicle’s fluids, along with the chemical additives in those fluids that protect parts from wear and tear, break down and decompose over time. Flushing fluids according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended service intervals is the easiest and least expensive way to extend the life of your vehicle and make driving safer and more pleasurable. Here’s what you need to know about fluid flushes. Fluid Change vs. Fluid Flush Changing a fluid simply means draining the old fluid and refilling with new, fresh fluid....

Cold temperatures and frost will damage or kill houseplants you kept outside in the summer, most of which claim roots in tropical climates. Bringing those plants indoors before winter arrives lets you enjoy their summer growth and appreciate a bit of the tropics on cold winter days. Here are our tips for success. Inspect the Plants Look for insects along the stems and on the leaves, especially the undersides. Lightly brush the potting mix surface to make sure no critters are hiding there....

In the beloved childhood book Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s ma uses a simple schedule to keep the week’s chores straight. “Wash on Monday, iron on Tuesday, mend on Wednesday,” it begins. “Churn on Thursday, clean on Friday, bake on Saturday, rest on Sunday.” Ma’s schedule made sense. Washing clothes before they’re ironed, then mending them after that, is a logical way to tackle things. Especially in pioneer days, when every chore was many times more difficult than it is now....

Like smoke detectors, dog doors and so many other home devices, nurseries have gone “smart.” Today’s most cutting-edge baby rooms feature high-tech devices that help keep your baby safe and comfortable⁠ — and make your life as a new parent a little easier. Here’s how to design your smart nursery. What Is a Smart Nursery? A smart nursery harnesses the power of the internet, advanced tech and your connected devices to deliver a new level of infant care and monitoring....

Construction Pro Tips In the fall of 1977, John Williamson woke up, ate a light breakfast, then headed out for his first day in the field as an electrician. Since then Williamson has worked in and around the industry as a licensed master electrician and electrical inspector. We sat down with Williamson to talk about everything he has learned over his career as an electrician and what he wishes he had known on his first day in the trade....

The Family Handyman To position a box fan at “just this height” or “just that angle”without risk of disaster, take a half hour to build this adjustable stand.You’ll need: ■ Two 3-in. x 3/4-in. x 38-in. boards for the risers ■ Two 5-in. x 3/4-in. x 22-in. boards for the feet ■ One 3-in. x 3/4-in. stretcher board cut the same width as the fan ■ Two 5/16-in. x 1-1/2 in....

One of the advantages of a tiled wall or backsplash is its permanency. Once properly installed, grouted and sealed, tile is there to stay. The durability of tile, however, can also be a drawback when it loses its luster or you’re just tired of it, because demolishing tile is a major project. Rather than go to all the trouble, many homeowners choose to leave the tile as is and cover it with another material....

According to the latest residential construction reports from the U.S. Census Bureau, homebuilding activity in the U.S. fell significantly in April in the face of rising material costs. Overall housing starts dropped 9.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.569 million units in April. Single-family residential starts fell 13.4 percent. “Housing starts and permits posted a monthly decline in April, as escalating prices for lumber and other building materials price out some home buyers from an otherwise hot housing market,” said Chuck Fowke, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders....

One common concern about smart TVs is whether they infringe on your privacy, either through a hidden camera or excessive data collection. Here’s what you should know about smart TVs, their cameras and how they collect information on users. Do Smart TVs Have Cameras? Some newer smart TVs are equipped with a built-in camera, but many are not. It really depends on the model. On This Page If your smart TV has facial recognition or video chat features, chances are it has a camera....

The back-and-forth swish of windshield wipers clearing your windshield of rain and snow is a reassuring sound. To ensure good visibility, windshield wiper squeegees (AKA inserts or refills — the part that actually touches and clears the windshield) should be replaced regularly, especially after a harsh winter or blazing summer. You also need to inspect the wiper frame that holds the squeegee for damage, as well as the swinging arm assembly....

Air conditioners represent a hefty investment for your home that hopefully lasts many years to come (especially if you purchased central AC). It only makes sense that you would want to do everything possible to ensure that your air conditioner lives up to its fullest potential. So, can you really double the life of your air conditioner? Well, it requires one important rule: Take care of it. Like any other machine in your house your air conditioner condenser needs regular attention....

Every summer, I strive to grow fresh cilantro so it’s ready to harvest when I have lots of ripe tomatoes and peppers. Then I make salsa. Cilantro doesn’t always cooperate because it grows better in cool weather. But over the years, I’ve come up with a few strategies so I can include fresh cilantro in my first batch of homemade salsa, even in the hot summer. If you’re someone who doesn’t like the taste of cilantro at all, that’s fine — it’s not for everyone....

Trying to open a stuck jar can be one of the most frustrating things in the kitchen and there are several ways people will try to open a stuck jar, but what’s the best way to open a stuck jar? Act Like You’re in a World’s Strongest Man Competition —You might not look like The Mountain from Game of Thrones but you’ll feel like him if you can get the lid to turn on the jar....

Looking for a way to beat the heat without spending a fortune on air conditioning? You might want to consider a pedestal fan. What is a Pedestal Fan? Pedestal fans are electric, oscillating fans with the blade or blades sitting on top of a long stand. The stands are often adjustable, and can be detached into two pieces for easier storage. They come in various heights, speeds and blade lengths, but all are freestanding....

If you’re in charge of maintaining a lawn that’s a half-acre or more, chances are you’ll appreciate the speed and convenience of a riding lawnmower. Whether you’re buying your first rider or upgrading to a newer model, check out this overview for a snapshot of today’s technology in riding lawn mowers. What Is a Riding Lawn Mower? Much as the name implies, a riding lawnmower is controlled by an operator who rides on top of the mower as the blades whirl in the cutting deck below....

When most people think of lawn mowers, they picture machines of two types: walk behind and riding models. Walk-behind mowers can be push powered or self-propelled, and are best for smaller lawns. Riding lawn mowers are bigger, more powerful and better suited to larger yards. Trouble is, not everyone with lots of grass to mow wants to sit on a noisy, vibrating machine for hours. Sitting may be comfortable, but studies show that doing it for too long may increase low back pain....

Courtesy of the Home Depot October 1, 2020— The Home Depot just announced the launch of some dramatic upgrades to their Pro Xtra loyalty program, adding earnable shopping perks as customer rewards and revamping the user experience to be more mobile-friendly. “We wanted to make this more than just a loyalty program — it’s what I call a ‘system for pros’ that isn’t just about rewards,” says J.T. Rieves, vice president of pro business at The Home Depot....

The second-largest retailer in North America, Minneapolis-based Target Corp. operates more than 1,800 stores and Target.com. Having revolutionized retail by adopting a “cheap and chic” strategy a generation ago, the company has had immense success. Whether you make a least one Target run every week or drop into one only on an as-needed basis, you have certainly come across the big red spheres situated outside the storefront. While at first glance they appear to be an aesthetic feature to accompany the big, bold, red bullseye logo of the brand, those big red spheres outside Target stores actually serve a much more important purpose....

I used to love my fireplace. On dreary winter days, I’d burn away the blues with a roaring fire that made the room delightfully cozy. Now I don’t feel so great, and it’s because of my grate. I’ve learned a grate is second-rate compared with a classy set of andirons. “If you had a big, beautiful fireplace, it would be a shame to use a grate in it,” says Leroy Hite, CEO and founder of Cutting Edge Firewood in Peachtree Corners, Georgia....

Mowing your lawn may seem like a pretty cut-and-dried chore. (No pun intended.) But there are definite do’s and don’ts when it comes to cutting grass. Check out these 10 helpful tips to learn how to mow like a pro and keep your lawn healthy. Don’t Mow During the Hottest Part of the Day Pol Bishop, a gardening and landscape expert with Fantastic Gardeners, says to avoid mowing your lawn when the temperature is at its highest....