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kirstyokeeffe/Getty Images While stainless steel resists rust and corrosion, there is a downside: the sleek appearance shows every single fingerprint, smudge, water spot and streak. Here are the best cleaning solutions, products and step-by-step instructions for how to clean stainless steel appliances. Best DIY Cleaning Solutions for Stainless Steel At-home solutions for cleaning stainless steel are easy, inexpensive and, most importantly, effective. On This Page Use a simple combination of white vinegar and olive oil, or dish soap and baby oil, for regular cleans....

I have several rental properties that seem like they’re always in need of repainting. Instead of throwing out leftover paint, only having to buy more later, I put it to use. I take multiple cans of interior latex, partially used paint and primer, any sheen, any color, and mix them all together. It doesn’t matter how much junk or debris is in the paint. Just pour it all in. I use a power mixer to blend them, and then dump all of the mixture into a bigger container....

Get a head start on Memorial Day savings with the Wayfair Memorial Day Sale that’s starting a whole week early! You’ll find deep discounts (up to 70 percent off!) on everything you need for the home and yard. Save big on the expected items like furniture and decor — but this sale includes a lot more. We’re talking major appliances, pet essentials, hot tubs, fire pits, even backyard recreational items like trampolines and tents!...

Betsie Van der Meer/Getty Images During the height of World War II, nearly 20 million households in the U.S. tended to so-called Victory Gardens. While that number is not nearly as high today, the coronavirus pandemic and a heightened interest for independent sustainability led to a resurgence in the once popular gardening trend. What is a Victory Garden? Victory Gardens, also know as “War Gardens,” have one main purpose: Creating produce on a more micro level....

Frost can bring a sudden end to your fall harvest, just like it can kill tender young plants early in the spring. Spring or fall, you have to be ready for the first time the mercury dips below freezing, so it’s important to know when to expect freezing temperatures so you can deal with the weather before it harms your plants. What Is a Frost? In short, it means freezing temperatures outside....

A bathroom renovation is a surefire way to add value to your home, along with a sense of contentment to your day-to-day routine. Envision going from a dingy old bathroom with outdated everything to a light, bright and spotless new one. However, you risk a serious letdown if you make certain mistakes during the renovation process. Here are eight things NOT to do during a bathroom renovation. Don’t Fail to Plan Before you start ripping out tile, ordering towel bars or re-working the plumbing, take a step back and map out a complete plan....

Family handyman, Getty images (3) When you hear the term “textured paint,” you may be thinking about — and cue the horror movie soundtrack here — sponge paint or popcorn ceilings, which we know you don’t care to revisit. That’s not what we mean here. But there are rumblings that textured paints — or, to other pros, specialty wall finishes — are back on the rise. In particular, you may have heard about or seen images of limewash, Roman clay, or microcement as trending wall finishes that may nevertheless be sometimes categorized as textured paint....

A pressure washer can be a great tool for improving the appearance of your home. It’s a terrific time- and back-saving piece of power equipment for cleaning a patio, garage floor, deck, driveway, walkway, fence, vinyl siding or even a boat. And let’s be honest: Using a pressure washer makes a day of mundane and exhausting cleaning almost fun! What’s not fun, however, is discovering your pressure washer refuses to start....

via amazon.com Solar garden fairy lights create a mesmerizing glow for indoors or out. If you’ve been looking for the right lights to add to your decor, then warm, white solar-powered lights should be your go-to option. Plus, here are 15 of the best outdoor string light ideas for your backyard. What are solar garden fairy lights? Unlike electric lighting, solar-powered lights consist of LED lights, which are powered by the sun....

The most common reasons for a dead battery are cold weather, age and leaving the lights on overnight. If a jump-start revives your engine, your problem was most likely a dead battery. If you cannot jump-start your car, the battery may be completely discharged or damaged. There are also several mechanical and electrical reasons why a car won’t start when trying a jump–start, including the most frequent listed here. Safety first!...

prochasson frederic/Shutterstock Will a Car Wash Hurt Really Your Car’s Finish? Will taking your car through an automatic car wash damage the finish? Sadly, the answer is potentially yes. While some types of car washes are worse than others, any time you wash your car—even if you are carefully hand washing it—you are essentially applying an abrasive and/or harsh chemicals to the paint finish and the risk of swirls and scratches in the finish is always there....

Whether you’re tackling a kitchen remodel or building an entire home from the ground up, you need to decide what kind of cabinets you’ll install. The most straightforward but expensive route is to hire a carpenter or cabinet maker to craft custom-made cabinets. Custom cabinets will look great in your kitchen — and eat a large chunk of your budget. Another option is to buy pre-built cabinets from your local home improvement center....

If you’re a lawn care enthusiast, you love spending time working on your turf grass. Spending a few hours in your yard can be just the therapy you need after a long work week. Like me, you understand and appreciate the benefits of aerating your lawn. Renting an aerator works best for most people, but bringing one home from the rental store can be complicated. Finding a friend with a truck, or even renting a trailer before you rent the aerator, makes many homeowners decide it’s not worth the hassle....

There’s one unavoidable fact in gardening and landscaping: No matter how modest your task, at some point you’ll need to move large amounts of heavy stuff. Maybe you’re that rare person with the time and patience to move a pile of rocks from the driveway to the backyard stone by stone. Props. But what do you do with a one-ton load of topsoil? The point is, if you’re going to tackle any kind of landscaping or gardening project, you’ll need a wheelbarrow to move heavy loads more efficiently....

Termites are small creatures that cost homeowners big — in the U.S., more than $5 billion in property damage every year. They are voracious eaters, and there are plenty of them, too. The U.S. is home to about 50 termite species, in every state except lucky Alaska. According to Nicholas Martin, entomologist and founder of Pest Control Hacks, infestations of subterranean, sapwood or drywood termites are most likely throughout the South (coast to coast) where the climate is warmest....

What is a Nail Set? A nail set, sometimes called a nail punch, is a tool used by trim carpenters, woodworkers and metalworkers. This tool is most often used to drive nails into the wood so that the nailhead is below the surface. When using hand nails, a carpenter will drive the nail within one or two strikes of being set, and then use the nail set to finish driving the nail....

ivan_kislitsin/Shutterstock Macramé is everywhere! You don’t have to look far for a workshop at a yoga studio dedicated to showing you how to weave together a knotty wall hanging, a drapey plant hanger or a small key chain. The combinations of boho and minimalist makes for a warm but chic look. If you’ve recently adorned your home with it, whether it was a DIY project (like this breezy macrame room divider), or picked up an already made piece at the flea market or even TJ Maxx, your parents may be perplexed when they visit....

No one is 100 percent sure, but pigweed may have gotten its name because it was used as food for pigs. In some places this weed, also known as amaranth, is an important source of nutrition for people as well. If you spot this common weed growing in your garden or lawn, you probably just want to get rid of it. Here’s what you need to know. What is Pigweed? Pigweed is just that — a weed....

For a gardener, there’s nothing worse than watching your hard work get overrun with weeds and invasive plants. These green pests come in all shapes and sizes. There are trees and bushes along with vines and other types of plants. Invasives are defined as nonnative, adaptable plants that reproduce by seeds, stems and roots. These are spread by wind, deposited by birds or carried into new areas by people, pets and visiting wildlife....

Do you toss those freshly-laundered jeans in the hamper after one day’s wear? You don’t need to. Jeans, like most clothing, don’t need to be washed after every wearing. “Washing our clothes too often is the number one reason they lose color and shape,” says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and CEO of Steamery. It’s also wasteful. The average washing machine runs through 23 gallons of water per load, and older models even more....