If that nice winter wool coat of yours isn’t looking so fresh and new anymore, it’s time to get it cleaned. But depending on the coat, cleaning the garment doesn’t necessarily mean a time-consuming and expensive trip to the dry cleaners. Find out whether your wool coat is a candidate for at-home cleaning, and learn the best techniques for how to wash a winter coat at home. Can I Wash My Wool Coat at Home?...
Occasionally losing power during severe weather is a fact of life, but helplessly going days without electricity doesn’t have to be. That’s because next-generation power generators like the Generark solar generator can quickly and easily bring your home back to life long before the energy company does. Losing power isn’t that big of a deal when it’s restored quickly. But if a storm leaves you without power for a few hours or days, you’ll face a myriad of problems....
Ten years ago, I installed a pathway from my house to my shop using concrete stepping-stones that looked like log cutouts. I never did like the way it turned out, and it was a monster pain to keep the grass trimmed around the pavers. I finally decided to replace those pavers with a proper walkway. I thought I would try out the Quikrete WalkMaker system. Before The WalkMaker is a reusable concrete form designed to create walkways and patios....
There’s no question the 2020 holiday season will look a lot different from years past. But even if most of us will be forgoing parties and family get-togethers, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate together — from a distance. Check out these ideas for staying connected with virtual holidays. Video Calls Video chat platforms like Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, FaceTime (only for Apple devices) and HouseParty allow for virtual group hugs — not as good as the real thing, we know, but “improvisation” is our word for 2020!...
In case you’re not up with the popular memes on social media, there’s a common one about middle class dads who love lawn care constantly batting around Instagram and other outlets. It’s not one I identify with. I’m not a fan of lawn care. In fact, one great selling point for me about living in the desert after years in the Midwest is that I don’t have to mow a lawn anymore....
Grass rust (Puccinia sp.) is a common visitor to residential lawns beginning in August and persisting through the fall months. It is a fungus that feels right at home when visiting stressed Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass in the North and tall fescue and zoysiagrass in the mid-South. No need to sweat, it’s generally just a nuisance and causes no serious damage to your lawn. What Does Grass Rust Look Like?...
When it comes to fall garden maintenance, shutting off your sprinklers shouldn’t be the first task on your list. Make it one of the last so your plants will be better equipped to make it through the winter. Let’s take a closer look at why. Why Watering Plants in Fall is Important Falling leaves may indicate the growing season is over, but there’s something going on underground — active root growth....
Let’s say you’ve got your car’s front hood up and you accidentally set a wrench on top of the battery. If the wrench touches both the positive (+) and negative (-) battery terminals, it could cause a spark that ignites the battery’s mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases. And there will be an explosion. Battery terminal covers greatly reduce the risk of this happening. New covers provide a professional look while protecting battery terminal ends from shorting and corrosion....
Even the best windows don’t last forever. That helps explain why the window replacement industry generates an estimated $5 billion in annual revenue. Whether your old windows need replacing or you’re building a new home or addition, you have plenty of options. Unless you install them yourself, you’re looking at an average cost of $800 to $1,400 per window, depending on type. Unfortunately, federal tax credits that partially offset these costs expired in 2021....
Even a cursory scroll through Instagram or Pinterest quickly shows all-white home-décor color palettes are still trending white hot, years after the trend launched. A recent survey released by Ace Hardware and Benjamin Moore revealed up to nearly one-third of respondents say white is their top pick for almost every major room in their home. But if you’ve ever confronted the wall of white paint chips at your local paint or hardware store, you know choosing the best one is anything but, well, black and white....
Question: Is it acceptable to leave a dead wire buried in the wall, when removal is not possible or very difficult to accomplish? Answer: Yes. If the wiring method consists of raceways, such as rigid or flexible metallic or nonmetallic conduits, abandoned, discontinued or disconnected conductors should be removed. For cable-type wiring methods, abandoned cables that are accessible and are not terminated at a piece of equipment or tagged for future use should be removed....
Mickis-Fotowelt/Getty Images As the United States continues adapting to new ways of life during the coronavirus pandemic, many construction projects have been delayed or canceled. Project owners or government mandates shut down thousands of construction job sites across the country, leaving the sites vulnerable and enticing to potential criminals. “The crooks know that it’s open season,” home builder Kurt Wilson told Lens. “Construction is shut down, so it doesn’t take much for someone to connect the dots....
When you’re ordering soil in bulk, getting the right amount is crucial. One or two bags of potting soil should be fine for a small number of flower pots,. But a new raised garden bed or a similar landscaping project will take a lot more than a few bags of Miracle Gro. You might be wondering, “How much soil do I need?” Unlike the bulk section at the grocery store, ordering soil is not about weight....
Sponsored by Realtor.com The good news is that DIYers have a much better chance of getting a great deal on a great house. Here’s how to put your DIY smarts to work to find the right home for you and your family. Look beyond the surface (and don’t expect perfection) Selecting a home is always a series of compromises. Make a list of the nonnegotiable items and find the best match according to that....
Dishwashers are wonderful devices that save tons of time in the kitchen, but they’re not always beautiful to look at. In fact, depending on your taste you may never want to see it at all, except while using or repairing your dishwasher. As someone who designed and built my own kitchen to look as beautiful as possible, I can certainly understand the impulse for a hidden dishwasher. As helpful as they are, dishwashers have a way of making an otherwise elegant kitchen design look tacky....
It’s pretty clear that having mice in your home is not a pleasant experience. Even if they seem innocent, mice can create dangerous conditions in your home. However, getting rid of mice doesn’t necessarily mean buying a slew of mousetraps and cheese. Mice can be easily avoided around your household by simply adding the scent of peppermint in corners where they congregate. Yes, that’s right, peppermint. How to Use Peppermint to Keep Mice Away Although natural remedies aren’t always the answer when getting rid of pests (like using cucumbers to get rid of cockroaches, along with many other methods that don’t kill cockroaches), peppermint offers a successful natural remedy that works when trying to repel mice....
Frost buildup in your freezer can cause a wide range of problems for the appliance and the food stored in it. But do you know what causes freezer frost — and, better yet, how to prevent it? What Is Freezer Frost, and What Causes It? Accumulated frozen moisture on the interior walls and shelves of your appliance is commonly known as freezer frost. It occurs when “moisture comes into contact with the evaporator coils inside your freezer and then freezes,” according to General Electric....
Whether you’re building a new deck or replacing old, worn boards, you’ll find an overwhelming number of decking options. The two main categories, wood and composite, include dozens of choices. I’ll walk you through the most popular ones to help you choose the right material for your deck. Types of Wood Decking Wood decking is beautiful and typically much more economical than composite. However, after a few years it loses its warm tone and turns a dull gray if it’s not meticulously maintained....
Zivica Kerkez/Shutterstock Are You a DIY Addict? Do you find that you spend too much on your DIY projects? Do you need a bracelet that literally shocks you for spending too much? It could help. Some projects can quickly spiral out-of-control if you’re not careful. Here are five things to keep in mind when determining your DIY addict budget. Plus, check out these 12 home renovation budget tips. 1. Set a Budget A specific projects budget can very, but to truly ensure that you are getting the most out of a project, it is important to set a budget right off the bat....
Briq, a software company that specializes in construction finances, just announced the launch of their new platform “BriqCash“, an all-in-one financial system for contractors. Through BriqCash, contractors will be able to process invoices automatically, manage expenses and employee payment cards, and make direct payments all while earning rewards and cash back on purchases. The service is intended to provide contractors and construction accountants with one central tool through which they can control a construction company’s entire money workflow....
