imaginima/Getty There’s a lot to love about robot vacuums, those compact, computerized vacuum cleaners that clean floors without any effort from you. The tricky part is deciding which robot vacuum to buy. There are hundreds of models on the market, and they all have different features and capabilities. Do robot vacuums really work? Here’s what one owner has to say. There’s also the issue of how much will a robot vacuum cost, in dollars and cents....
Whether you purchased an old car, you’re the culprit yourself or you let someone else borrow your ride, a cigarette burn in your car is a scourge. However, when it comes to how to fix cigarette burns in your car, we’ve got you covered. Cigarette burns can happen in an instant, even simply as a result of fallen ash. The aftermath, however, isn’t so simple to fix. Check out these 100 super-simple car repairs you do NOT need to go to the shop for....
Maybe the new puppy or kitty you brought home hasn’t learned the rules yet. Or maybe your housebroken pet had an accident. As most pet owners know, accidents do happen. And sometimes it may not be an accident. After all, dogs and cats are biologically wired to communicate through their urine — marking territory, among other behaviors. That means even pets with generally good house manners may be leaving an important message....
urbans/Shutterstock When it comes to buying (or selling) a home, the most important step is a thorough home inspection. Home inspectors will help to find the things you may not have noticed during your quick walkthrough of the space. However, home inspections can get rather expensive. You could save a ton of money by quickly walking through a home inspection yourself before having an inspector check out the house. No, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t hire a home inspector....
The Rice Pack If you’ve never heard of a rice pack, you’re in for a treat. There are several reasons why I prefer rice packs to regular ice packs or heating pads. First, a rice pack can be used as both a heating and a cooling pack. Second, rice is readily available and cheap. Who doesn’t have a bag of rice in the kitchen? Third, rice is flexible—so you can shape the pack around whatever body part is hurting....
After all the effort you put into prepping your new lawn, don’t blow it with mowing mistakes. Watch the video above and read below to learn how to mow for better grass: Use sharp blades. Dull blades hack off rather than cut grass tops. The damaged tips will give your yard a brown tinge. Skip the grass catcher. Mulching blades chop up the grass clippings before they fall. Once there, they’ll give up their nutrients to nourish the grass and help keep moisture in the soil....
Getting stuck overnight in a giant department store during the holiday season sounds like many people’s worst nightmare. But when that exact scenario happened recently to 31 people in Denmark, they were saved from a long, uncomfortable night by one simple fact: They were in an IKEA. “We slept in the furniture exhibitions and our showroom on the first floor, where we have beds, mattresses and sofa beds,” store manager Peter Elmose told the Ekstra Bladet tabloid....
This FH series introduces readers to a few of the women who make up 11 percent of the construction workforce in the U.S., highlighting stories of their careers in the field. Know someone we should feature? Email us here. Tami Gallagher used to help people organize the inside of their homes. She did it so well that some of her clients suddenly had free time to focus on their yards. Then Gallagher discovered she was good at that, too....
New Africa/Shutterstock You probably know by now that everyday white vinegar is an effective natural cleaner to use in the home. But you may have also noticed a product labeled “Cleaning Vinegar” on the store shelf. It can tackle just about any dirty, grimy or dusty job in your home. At about $3 to $4 dollars a gallon, it’s extremely affordable. And just like other types of vinegar you’re used to, it’s nontoxic and environmentally friendly....
Gasoline and diesel fuel are perishable commodities, and that’s why fuel stabilizers matter. Add a small amount of fuel stabilizer to stored fuel and your lawn mower, snowblower, rototiller, chainsaw, generator and vehicle will start easier and run better. Fail to use fuel stabilizer can mean poor performance or an engine that fails to start at all after several months of storage. What Do Fuel Stabilizers Do? Fuel stabilizers keep fuel fresh and effective for at least two years of storage time....
Understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn is a major component to maintaining a healthy, lush yard. Fertilizers give your lawn a healthier root system while eating up unhealthy nutrients. With some simple steps, you’ll be on your way to having a lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood. When to Fertilize Lawn Knowing when to fertilize your lawn depends on how often you plan to apply it. If you fertilize once a year, do it around Labor Day; that’s when lawns absorb the most nutrients....
According to the Land Market Survey released by the National Association of Realtors, land sales increased by 6 percent last year, and for good reason. Undeveloped land is still one of the most affordable forms of real estate, making it more financially accessible to first-time buyers. Unfortunately, buying land can be an intimidating and overwhelming process. Let’s walk through the steps so when you decide to buy land, you can do so with clarity and confidence....
Our basement bathroom drove me nuts. This small area contained four types of wallpaper, including a border featuring classic cars (ugh!) running along a built-in cabinet. It all had to go. I asked a few professional installers for their wallpaper removal tips before taking full sheets from a bedroom wall. When I inquired about the wallpaper border, they all said the same thing: It’s just like removing full sheets. Really?...
Have you ever dreamed of owning a famous movie house? If so, now’s your opportunity to make it happen! The house from the fan-favorite holiday movie A Christmas Story recently hit the market in Cleveland, Ohio. The 1895 Clapboard-style home where Ralphie Parker and his family resided even comes equipped with the iconic leg lamp. Talk about owning a piece of movie history! If that wasn’t enough, you’ll be interested to discover that the entire campus of A Christmas Story-themed buildings near the home are also on the market and come with the house....
Everyone has neighbors. Some are closer than others, but we all have them. And because the typical homeowner stays in their home for about 13 years, according to a recent analysis by Redfin, having a good relationship with our neighbors means those years are spent enjoying life instead of fighting. When we last moved, the house had a half-finished, falling-down fence that we immediately decided to replace with a cute picket....
There are plenty of residential snow and ice melt products. You can spread rock salt or liquid ice melts, but some have negative effects on your home and the environment, and you’ll need to keep them in stock all winter long. If you’re unsatisfied with traditional ice melt methods, a deicing system might be the answer you’re looking for. Snow Melt and Deicing System Options There are two types of residential deicing systems: radiant heat systems and removable floor mats....
Got gophers? If so, that’s one reason why you might want to level your yard. Those pesky little critters can wreak havoc, turning flat earth into an obstacle course of dirt mounds and caved-in tunnels. And if your ideal is a nice flat yard covered with healthy turf, you’ve got some work to do before you plant any grass seed. That is, of course, assuming you first get rid of the gophers....
Did you know that, according to The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Susan Lang, carpet acts as an air filter? It traps dust, pollen and other particles, keeping these problematic pests out of the “breathing zone” until they can be vacuumed. But as good as you might be at vacuuming, a deeper clean is required from time to time. Carpet cleaning can be a DIY job, but there are times when you should call in the professionals....
Family Handyman Do you need to winterize your lawn mower? Well, that depends. Do you want it to work when you go to start up in the spring? We’re assuming that you do, and if that’s the case, you need to get it ready to sit unused for a few months. Winterizing outdoor power equipment is one of the most important maintenance tasks to keep your gear in working order. One of the main reasons to winterize your lawn mower is to prevent corrosion....
The Dempseys—JD, Heather, sons Donavan and Jack, and their puppy, Joe Louis—have lived in their home for 14 years but had never given their garage any TLC. “It was kind of a mess, just a place to keep things,” says Heather. “When we first started the project, all I wanted was to declutter and clean up. Now it’s a great space to hang out with friends and family and entertain more often....
