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Want to build the best and biggest snow fort on the block? Then study up on some igloo building techniques. The Inuit people of the Arctic and sub-Arctic (Alaska, Canada and Greenland) invented igloos, creating shelters out of their most abundant natural resource — snow. Well-constructed igloos provide warmth and safety. While it’s unlikely you’ll need an igloo for survival, learning how to build one can be an informative and fun activity that will take your snow fort creations to the next level....

The first thing you need to know in order to prevent a cyber attack is how they occur in the first place. For the most part, they’re the result of a hacker trying to change your computer’s behavior using various technological tactics. An example of a cyber attack would be an email you receive that looks like it’s from your credit card company that lures you in with an urgent subject line, then requests you to click a link in the body of the email to resolve an important issue....

Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock When I was growing up, a lot of our normal routine made sense to me. My mom always had us help out with cleaning our home every two weeks. We folded the laundry as soon as it was done. We made sure to remove our shoes in the mudroom before entering our home. But one of the routines that never, ever made sense to me was having to rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher....

Sleet, snow and freezing rain are unescapable parts of winter, and the accompanying slippery sidewalks and treacherous winter driving conditions are annoying and dangerous. That’s where ice removal comes in. Sidewalk salt — also known as road salt, ice salt and rock salt — is a common, affordable and effective de-icing compound used by cities and homeowners across the country. But it does have some downsides. Sidewalk salt that gets into your lawn and garden can damage to a slew of things around your home....

I can paint just as well, and probably better, than any crew I could hire. I’ve done a lot of painting and a hired painter won’t be as persnickety about the details as I am. Or so I think. Recently, I was busy and hired a crew to paint my kitchen. I learned two things about inspecting a paint job: Consideration. There are other good painters in the world beside me....

iva/Shutterstock Making homemade laundry detergent can help save you money, not to mention you can eliminate harmful ingredients that can hurt the environment and cause skin irritation. Plus, once you have the ingredients on hand, it’s easy to make. Dr. Josh Axe, a certified doctor of natural medicine, is founder of the natural health website DrAxe.com. The website focuses on natural medicine and healthy lifestyles and includes a group of credentialed editors, writers and a Medical Review Board....

Not long ago, Family Handyman recruited me to help with a two-week spring backyard decking and landscaping project in New Mexico. Before I packed my tools and belongings, I chatted with the homeowner and took a quick look at the weather forecast. It was exactly what I expected for March in the Southwest — cool mornings with warm afternoons, and lots of sun. Earlier that week, I broke my safety glasses climbing into my pickup....

The brake caliper plays a central role in a disc-brake system and has two functions. First, it acts either as a bracket to support the brake pads on either side of the rotor or to support the caliper bracket itself — there are other designs, but these are the two most common. Second, it uses pistons to convert pressure exerted on the brake fluid by the master cylinder into friction on the rotor....

Tesla’s Powerwall, which the company began marketing widely in 2015, was the first significant application of lithium-ion technology to solar energy storage. Since then, several competitors have entered the market with products that are just as good or better. This is good news for solar households. Battery technology is just as important as the panels themselves, which are becoming increasingly affordable and more efficient. I moved onto my solar property in 2008....

Tires are one of your vehicle’s most important systems and they take a lot of abuse. A squeaking sound from your tires is, of course, a nuisance, but it can also indicate that other parts of your vehicle are worn or damaged. Here are some of the most common causes of tire squeak and what you can do to fix the problem. Underinflated or Overinflated Tires Under- or overinflated tires are the number one and most obvious cause of tire squeak, especially when turning....

Courtesy of Honda Power Equipment Honda Power Equipment is slowly becoming a major player in the world of generators. But their latest innovation is not another quiet, powerful generator. Instead, it’s yet another app for your smartphone. “The Honda My Generator Bluetooth® App combines remote generator operation and monitoring with impressive performance, unmatched convenience, and a host of other benefits designed to deliver maximum remote freedom and control to the user,” said Will Walton, vice president of Honda Power Equipment....

When it comes to organizing for school, all kids are wired a little differently. A workspace that meshes with their wiring allows them to be more efficient while giving them a greater chance for success. Use the ideas below to set up a pleasant and organized homework station tailored to your child’s individual needs. Assess Your Child’s Preferences and Needs Start by answering the following questions. You may not know the answers right away, so take a few days to observe your child in action....

Your hot tub filter has a big job to do. It keeps the water safe, clean and clear by filtering out dirt, minerals in hard water, sunscreen residue, hair and other gunk. A dirty filter can become clogged, resulting in dirty, unsanitary water. A clogged filter cartridge will also make the hot tub pump work harder and can potentially shorten its lifespan. That’s why most manufacturers recommend you remove and rinse your hot tub filter once a week — a garden hose is fine — and deep clean it with a cleaning solvent every three to six months....

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to turn off the voice assistants on your smart devices. Maybe you’re tired of accidentally triggering your Alexa, or maybe you don’t want tech company microphones listening to every word you say. Whatever the reason, turning off voice assistants is, for the most part, a simple process regardless of the device you’re on. Here’s a rundown of the steps you need to take to stop your devices from listening in....

A relaxing soak in a bubbly hot tub sounds like the perfect way to shake off the winter chill. But many hot tub owners close down their private spa while buttoning up their summer cabin or vacation home for the winter. Just like its larger cousin, the swimming pool, a hot tub needs to be properly winterized. If you do plan to use your hot tub in the winter, it’s still important to protect it from the harsh elements....

Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz/Shutterstock The first thing that you need to know about chalk paint is that it is NOT chalkboard paint. The paint’s magical matte finish and ease of application make it a great choice for repurposing vintage pieces and tired pieces. Chock full of creative uses, chalk paint may be the inspiration you need to spruce up your space. Who Created Chalk Paint? Annie Sloan created chalk paint in 1990....

The prerequisite to common household plumbing repairs like fixing a leaking faucet, replacing outdoor spigots or installing sprinkler systems is shutting off the water. If your shutoff valve is barely accessible — or worse, you don’t know where it is — you’ve got a problem. Any plumber who has to squirm through a 24-inch crawl space to find it won’t be happy and may even tack on an extra charge....

I started working on woodturning projects five years ago because I wanted to make rolling pins for lefse, a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread. In researching my second book on lefse, Keep On Rolling!, I learned of a guy in the early 1900s who made more than 150 lefse rolling pins for Norwegian-American bakers in his region. I wanted to be like him — not just making reliable standard pins but functional pieces of art, using handsome hardwoods as well as woodturning tools and techniques....

Sometimes, Internet cleaning hacks are intriguing. “Why didn’t I think of this?” I mutter to myself as I dust my ceiling fan with a pillowcase. “It’s genius.” Other times, though, you just know something’s not right. Cleaning your toilet seat in the dishwasher? Not right. This viral cleaning hack showed up on Reddit’s popular advice forum AITA four years ago, so it’s not exactly new. It is exactly disgusting, though....

If you’re sick of seeing the same old outdoor décor at the usual retailers, the Etsy Outdoor Sales Event is a breath of fresh summer air! You’ll find creative, handmade and one-of-a-kind offerings for your patio and yard. And now, for the first time, it’s all discounted. All your backyard summer party guests will want to know, “Where did you get that?” Want even more sales? Check out our weekly Deals We Love column....