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Sann von Mai/Shutterstock If you’re looking for environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives to a turf grass lawn, be sure to take a good look at clover. Easy-to-grow clovers do not require mowing, but they help keep the lawn green and create a nourishing playground for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. What You Need to Know About Clover Lawns For decades, clover was a part of any mix of lawn seed. But about 60 years ago, it fell out of favor because new weed killers on the market eliminated it along with dandelions....

Composite decking hasn’t been around all that long. Trex intoduced it in 1996, and for awhile that brand name was synonymous with the product. Because it uses recycled materials and gives builders an alternative to wood — a dwindling resource — composite decking was a great idea whose time had come. It didn’t take long for other companies to get in on the action. Today the best composite decking isn’t necessarily Trex, although it might be depending on what you’re looking for....

I think it’s safe to say that this is about to be the grossest thing you’ll read all day. However, it’s probably one of the most important reads as well. Why? Because if you don’t close that toilet lid when you flush, a lot of unfriendly bacteria is going to spray all over your bathroom. And no, this is not a joke. Pro tip: Leaking toilets aren’t sanitary as well, so here’s how to fix it....

Cleaning your vacuum is an important part of maintenance and extending the life of your equipment. How to Clean Vacuum Filters Always refer to your owner’s manual for specific instruction on cleaning and replacing vacuum filters. Vacuum manufacturers Dyson and Bissell note that cleaning filters is quick and easy, so there’s really no reason to avoid it. First, turn off the vacuum and make sure it is unplugged. Then remove the filter(s)....

Dajahof/Shutterstock Avocados are one of those fruits people can’t seem to get enough of—no matter how expensive they are! They’re creamy, full of healthy fats and are delicious to eat alone, as a topping on a salad, smashed onto toast, in a smoothie and so much more! If your love affair with them has you wondering how to grow avocado at home, we’ve got you covered. Step 1: The Toothpick Method Creating a houseplant is one of the ways you can learn how to grow avocado at home....

Good at hiding and fitting into tight locations, the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is excellent at reproducing, nesting and infesting inside and outside the home. Pest control efforts will not be easy in removing this particular species of cockroach. What are Oriental Cockroaches One of the largest of its kind, the Oriental cockroach is a distinguishable species of roach. Often called the “black beetle cockroach,” they are dark brown to nearly all black in coloration, showcasing a smooth and shiny exterior....

You’ve probably heard about smart TVs, since they’re advertised heavily and sold in stores everywhere. But what is a smart TV, exactly? Here’s what you need to know about this new generations of televisions and how they work. What Is a Smart TV? Smart TVs, sometimes called connected TVs, connect to your home’s internet network. That allows you to stream online videos and movies, browse the internet, and do other activities that were once restricted to computers or smartphones....

You’re doling out glasses of water from the refrigerator door to your kids and their friends after an exhausting backyard kickball game. The one kid says their water is warm. What gives? Your first instinct may be that your refrigerator’s water dispenser is broken. That’s probably not the case, says Bob Tuck, franchise owner of Mr. Appliance of Port Charlotte, Naples, Lee County and Asheville, North Carolina, a Neighborly company. The water temperature is more a function of the fridge design, not the dispenser....

The old standby rule is to replace a mattress about every seven years, but is that the best rule to go by? The Better Sleep Council has recommended that people replace their mattress every 7-10 years, depending upon the condition of the mattress. Also, do you know why it’s illegal to remove a mattress tag? The lifespan of your mattress depends on how you take care of it, how often you rotate it and how you sleep on it....

via amazon.com See-in-the-Dark Tape Measure There’s a lot to like about Lufkin’s Shockforce tape measures. But I like the markings best: big, bold numbers on both sides of the blade and increments of 1/16 in. (1/32-in. marks are just clutter, in my opinion). The Nite Eye version—neon green on black—took some getting used to, but it’s easier to read in dim basements, while the matte coating prevents glare in bright conditions....

Building New Cabinets on Curved Walls To accommodate a new cooktop, we tore out the old sink-and-stove cabinet and built a new one. Mostly, it was a standard cabinet project. But the concave walls threw us for a loop. There are lots of tools and techniques designed for scribing cabinets and countertops to perfectly fit a wall. Our method usually involves whatever we happen to have on hand — in this case, a piece of cardboard....

Question: Can a subpanel have power supplied from a circuit breaker into another subpanel? In other words, can you daisy-chain subpanels? Answer: Yes. The main electrical service panel is where branch circuits originate. A branch circuit consists of the circuit conductors between the final over-current device protecting the circuit and the lights, receptacles and equipment supplied by the branch circuit. There are three main types of branch circuits: General-purpose branch circuits for illumination and other general purposes; Appliance branch circuits that supply power in the kitchen for countertop receptacles, such as small appliances; Individual branch circuits that only supply one utilization equipment, such as a central heating gas furnace, an electric clothes dryer, an electric range and so on....

As a kid, I once made a snowman after a heavy snowstorm. The snow from the driveway was wet and rolled into balls beautifully. After putting the corncob pipe under the snowman’s carrot nose, I realized much of the driveway surface was clear and the remaining patches were melting in the sun. My dad smiled through the front room window. So the answer, of course, is yes. There are lots of ways to remove snow from a driveway without a shovel....

Chainsaws are incredibly useful tools. If you buy a good one and treat it well, it will serve you for many years. My own chainsaw is more than 10 years old and still going strong, and my father owns a beefy old Jonsered that’s going on 35 years without any issues. Both saws endure lots of heavy use, like cutting hundreds of logs into firewood-length blocks to heat both our houses each year....

Overall construction employment in the U.S. decreased by 7,000 jobs from May to June, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction employment has now fallen by 38,000 jobs over the last three months as the industry has struggled to regain momentum in the wake of the pandemic. “Ours is an industry that, pre-pandemic, had workforce shortages, not just in New York, but really across the country,” said Mike Elmendorf, president and CEO of the New York State Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America....

Outlets for Island Countertop Spaces In recent years the electrical code has taken a very minimalistic approach for kitchen islands, partly to provide some clarity, and to also minimize any confusion and misinterpretations. In the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), only one receptacle outlet is required to be installed for each uninterrupted, basic island countertop space that has a long dimension of 24 inches or greater, and a short dimension of 12 inches or greater....

Nejron Photo/Shutterstock When heading out into the woods for a hike or camping trip, you know you need to bring the basics—a first aid kit, something to start a fire, sunscreen, water and food. But there are a few other things you should pack that will come in handy if you’re out a bit longer than anticipated or something unexpected happens. Here are five items everyone should include in their outdoor gear kit....

Emily Pilloton, founder and executive director of the nonprofit design-and-build program Girls Garage, recently published a refreshingly different kind of DIY book. Entitled Girls Garage: How To Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build The World You Want To See, Pilloton’s book seeks to empower young women by teaching them to use tools, build real-world skills and envision themselves as change-makers. “Tools for many [women] are a metaphor for power, a metaphor for voice and a metaphor for how we see ourselves in the world,” Pilloton told Family Handyman....

Family Handyman Lawn Seed Know-Hows Quality seed mixtures contain different species and varieties of lawn grasses that will better adapt to your lawn’s conditions. Don’t try to save money when you shop for grass seed. Look for the highest-priced seed on the shelf and follow these tips to buy grass seed: Pay attention to the label. The lower the amount of weed seed, crop seed and inert matter, the better. Consult your local county or university extension service for a list of recommended lawn seed varieties for your area....

LOGVINYUK YULIIA/Shutterstock When to Clean Washer You may not realize you should clean your front load washer. But it’s important to do so once a month to keep it smelling fresh. Regular cleaning also helps prevent mold and odors from forming. How to Clean a Front Load Washer First, empty out the drum. Then remove the detergent dispenser and clean the tray and any attachments. Replace the items when they’re cleaned....