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CatherineL-Prod/Shutterstock When you go into the bathroom, it’s expected that you’re going to clean up in some way. Either in the bathtub, brush your teeth, or even after using the loo, you keep up with your basic hygiene in this room. But although you’re getting clean in the bathroom, that doesn’t mean the bathroom is completely clean with you. In fact, it can be infested with all kinds of germs. Especially if you’ve been cleaning your bathroom wrong....

Your home may have a kitchen trash compactor and you have no idea what to do with it. Or perhaps you don’t remember the last time you even saw one! What’s with the aversion to trash compactors? Why have they become so rare? M.S. Wells patented the first commercial trash compactor in 1941 as a means for crushing oil cans. By the 1970s, John A. Boyd filed a patent for compacting household trash using hydraulic pressure from a direct water connection....

LightField Studios/shutterstock Buying a mattress has the pain points of most big purchases: It’s going to shrink your bank account balance, and it’s sure to stir up buyer’s anxiety. What could happen if you sleep on an old mattress may be the extra push you need to go through with it. Your search for the perfect mattress has to start with which type is going to give you that good night’s sleep you need....

Elenathewise/Getty Images The change in seasons from fall to winter means that it’s time to start thinking about clearing snow and ice. While you can take some steps to prepare your driveway and sidewalks before it snows, you’ll still need to spend some time clearing them throughout the season. But what happens if you go outside to dig out and your snowblower won’t start? Don’t panic. Chances are it’s something that you can fix yourself....

There are a lot of important maintenance steps to take before leaving your cabin for the season, including what to do with your refrigerator. Your fridge is one of your largest and most important appliances, so make sure you’re doing everything you can to prolong its life. You’ll save money on your energy bill as well. Should You Unplug the Fridge When You Leave? Yes. Unplugging a refrigerator significantly lowers your energy expenses when your cabin isn’t in use....

It seems like vessel sinks are absolutely everywhere — in restaurants, hotels and even your neighbor’s main-floor bathroom. And we can understand why. Bridging the gap between practicality and fashion, vessel sinks are on-the-counter saucers that shake up the notion of what a sink should look like and how it should function. What Is a Vessel Sink? A vessel sink is a bowl-shaped container that rests atop the bathroom vanity or counter, unlike the traditional sink style, which is recessed below the surface....

Sponsored by Rust-Oleum This wagon was given to my wife and me as a wedding present by two very close friends. I thought it was a strange gift at the time, but to be honest, I can’t remember any of the other gifts we received. This wagon has been used to haul kids, pets, garden supplies, grass clippings—you name it. After 17 years, it was still in solid working order but was starting to look a little tired....

noraismail/shutterstock If you have a car that hasn’t been driven for a while, you might be wondering if the gas in the tank is still OK or if it needs to be removed and fresh gas added. Here’s your answer. Is old gas in the tank bad for your car? The quick answer In almost every case, old gas is not an issue. Gas that sits does slowly go bad. However, gas that sits, even for a few months can be redeemed by topping off the tank with fresh gas....

If you’re making boxes for a woodworking project, the classic box joint is a great choice for crafting corners that are as strong and tight as they are aesthetically pleasing. The simple interlocking design of box joints makes them relatively easy to create. They also provide a lot of surface area between both pieces of wood, giving you a strong and stable connection when the joint is glued together. What is a Box Joint?...

According to KidsHealth.org, more than-one third of accidental injuries to children happen at home. Babyproofing or childproofing helps guard against burns, which account for some of the most traumatic and permanent home injuries. Stitches or staples from a child face-planting on a brick hearth are no picnic, either. Peter Kerin, owner of Foresight Childproofing, is an advanced certified professional childproofer through the International Association for Child Safety with 20 years experience helping parents keep their kids safe....

Refinishing your wood deck with a semi-transparent acrylic-based stain is a great way to protect it from water, snow and sun while allowing the natural wood grain to show through. Behr Premium® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer is designed to provide maximum protection for up to six years depending on sun, traffic, weather and most of all, the prep work. After prepping the wood deck, the application process is fast and easy....

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock There’s an old hobo legend that goes: a hobo can walk into a post office with a piece of cardboard or other material in the shape of an envelope and mail it without a stamp. The truth is, it doesn’t work that way. Mail in the U.S. requires postage but there are some interesting exceptions. What Happens When You Send Mail Without a Stamp If you’ve ever accidentally forgotten to include a stamp on a piece of mail you’ve sent out, you probably saw that piece of mail again in your mailbox after the post office sent it back....

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the residential construction industry in the U.S. is back at pre- COVID-19 employment levels. After gaining 37,000 new jobs in March alone, residential construction has added 518,000 new jobs over the last 11 months — more than enough to offset the 471,800 jobs lost to the pandemic. But non-residential construction employment hasn’t bounced back as quickly. Just 64 percent of the non-residential construction jobs lost in the early months of the pandemic have been recovered, though the sector added 73,000 new jobs in March....

10'000 Hours/Getty Images If you’ve tried to log in to a WiFi network recently only to be presented with two options — one labeled 2.4 GHz and one labeled 5GHz — you might have found yourself faced with a few questions: Which one should you connect to? Is one faster than the other? Are both options even part of the same network? The answer to the last question can help make the difference between 2....

Four Common Causes of Grinding Brakes Brakes are one of your car’s most essential safety systems. Never disregard grinding noises while driving or braking. When it comes to your car’s brakes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Fortunately, most brake noises are considered normal and do not indicate a problem. Constant or strange grinding noises can be a sign that your brake hardware simply needs to be lubricated, or it can be a warning one or more brake system components are worn out or need servicing....

Labor Day sales offer the best prices of the year on big ticket items like washing machines, mattresses and vacuums. Now’s the time to explore home improvement deals that make the most financial sense. Save thousands when you replace an old appliance, or go all out and upgrade your entire kitchen before the Christmas holidays. Why pay full price when you can score huge discounts now at the Best Buy Labor Day Sale?...

Every state has different driving laws and regulations, so check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for updates. Picture this: You’re driving along and the snow or rain is coming down hard. A few of the cars in front of you put their flashing lights on, but other cars don’t. You think to yourself, “Should I have my flashing lights on, too?” If you’ve ever pondered this question, you’re not alone....

Electric vehicle (EV) battery chargers come in three categories: Levels 1, 2 and 3. The higher the level, the faster it charges the vehicle. When you purchase an EV, it should come with a Level 1 charger. These offer portable convenience but take a long time to recharge a battery. Learn how to charge your EV in winter. A Level 2 charger is much faster than a Level 1, though both work on the same principle....

Light has profound effects on our health and mood. We light our homes to create feelings of warmth, and use lamps to combat depression. Movies and video games even have warnings about lights and seizures. Clearly, lighting and our brains have a deep relationship. It’s no wonder, then, that Christmas lights, with their twinkling and flashing and sheer ubiquity during the holiday season, can create problems for people with LED light sensitivity....

All exterior paint interacts with its environment during application and over its lifespan. This means that factors like heat and humidity must be understood and accounted for when planning your exterior painting project. The Challenges of Heat High painting temperatures can be a challenge, especially if painting in direct sunlight. These factors combine to make paint dry extremely fast, which creates two pitfalls. First, it’s difficult to maintain a wet edge, which results in lap marks in the body of the paint and hat banding around trim areas....