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Some homes don’t have enough available outlets to meet modern electronic demands. The Powrui Multi-Plug Outlet offers the quickest way to solve that problem. Its sturdy construction, six outlet capacity and smart plug components provide one of the easiest ways to upgrade your living space without calling an electrician. Is it worth the $20 investement? As a tech editor and electronic appliance enthusiast, I was thrilled to review the Powrui Multi-Plug Outlet....

Though commonly found outside homes, the Pennsylvania Wood cockroach (Parcoblatta pensylvanica) has been known to creep into houses and create issues for homeowners. What are Pennsylvania Wood Cockroaches Living in the wooded areas of the Midwest and northeastern United States, the Pennsylvania Wood cockroach is a common pest outdoors in the summer months. One of the flying species of cockroaches, this insect thrives in the wet and warm elements of the woods....

For trade professionals, purchasing materials and keeping track of those purchases is a complicated but necessary part of the job. The Home Depot hopes to simplify that process by introducing a new credit card for pros, the Pro Xtra Credit Card. The Pro Xtra Credit Card comes with a handful of features to make day-to-day business operations simpler and more convenient for pros. With the Pro Xtra card, The Home Depot’s pro customers can:...

Whether you’re decorating a new home or refreshing an existing space, interior design doesn’t always come naturally. If you struggle to picture how furniture will look in your home and waffle over paint colors, you’ll love the newly popular idea of online design services, which provide expert insight and product recommendations for your space. What Are Virtual Design Services? Virtual design companies like Modsy and Spacejoy operate like a traditional interior designer, with one important distinction: everything takes place online!...

Microfiber towels can hold water like a sponge. That has made them extremely popular, replacing cotton cloths as the “go-to” wipe for house and car care cleaning and polishing. Positively charged, they also effectively hold dirt like a magnet away from the surface and won’t scratch the finish as you clean or polish. They’re better for cleaning than natural organic fibers like cotton, which push dirt and debris around and scratch the finish....

If a real Christmas tree isn’t your thing, if you live in a small apartment or if you just want to add a little more natural color to your holiday decor, you may want to consider a Christmas cactus. A lovely houseplant found all over the United States, this low-maintenance and pet-friendly plant is a popular choice among novice and expert gardeners. Its brilliant — usually pink — blooms delight onlookers year after year....

Supapornkh/Shutterstock Fruit flies are pesky little creatures that are annoying, unhealthy, and mostly just plain gross. The yucky part is, as soon as they find a food source, they begin laying hundreds of eggs while eating the fermented fruit or whatever else has attracted them. You may also like these 10 most disgusting house bugs and how to get rid of them. How to Prevent Fruit Fly Infestations When it comes to dealing with fruit flies, the first thing you should do is practice prevention, as in taking away their food sources....

Family Handyman Is Bamboo for You? Bamboo flooring has evolved into one of the biggest segments of the wood flooring industry over the past 10 years. That’s because it’s much cheaper and more durable than most wood flooring options out there. But will it work as a building material for your? Here’s a bamboo flooring primer. First of all, bamboo isn’t wood at all. It’s a type of grass, the biggest grass in the world, and there are dozens of varieties....

via amazon.com In addition to mowing, trimming and edging, feeding your lawn is also an important seasonal task. But, when it comes to choosing lawn fertilizer, many homeowners get confused by the options. So, what’s the difference between liquid and granular lawn fertilizer? Keep reading! Start With a Soil Test Begin with a soil test. Feeding your lawn nutrients it doesn’t need is wasteful. A soil test analyzes the pH of your soil as well as key nutrients....

After more than a year of skyrocketing costs, lumber prices are finally trending downward. The price of lumber dropped dramatically over the last two weeks, settling near $1,000 per thousand board feet for the first time since late March 2021, the onset of the pandemic. That dropoff marks a 40 percent decrease from peak May 2021 prices when lumber hit an all-time high of $1,686 per thousand board feet. Abnormally high lumber prices have been a major concern for the homebuilding industry, creating unpredictability and uncertainty at a time when the industry was otherwise booming....

Everything About Putty Knives The 2-edge putty knife is a putty and utility knife rolled into one. This genius little combo knife is a big help for the professional contractor, home-improvement buff and weekend crafter alike. On This Page Chances are you have one or more standard putty knives in your toolbox. Putty knives are used to apply putty or surfacing compound into cracks and nail holes, patch divots with wood filler, and spread drywall mud into drywall joints and seams....

The presence of a pool often has little to no effect on the value of your home. But what about a hot tub? Although hot tubs and backyard pools often require similar effort and expense for upkeep, the two differ in that it’s a lot easier for a home buyer remove a lightly-used hot tub. So, let’s find out — will your investment in a hot tub increase your home’s value?...

Stuck at home with the kids? Turn off the screens and go outside for some friendly competition! With just a few supplies from around the house, you can DIY one of these outdoor games for kids. Add to the fun with some peppy tunes and refreshing snacks and drinks. And why should the kids be the only ones having fun? You might as well get in on the action as well!...

Hurricane Ian devastated numerous Florida towns and homes. But unlike many areas on the western Florida shoreline, one community 30 miles inland, Babcock Ranch, suffered insignificant damage. While the storm displaced many families before and after, this community returned to “normal” fairly quickly. Babcock Ranch claims to be the first solar-powered town of the future. Its homes and utilities were designed to withstand major storms, a significant factor in limiting the damage from Hurricane Ian....

Have you ever suspected your non-toxic cleaning products are overpriced? Maybe laundry detergent and multi-surface spray could cost less if they didn’t have expensive advertising and marketing costs. And why do companies ship spray cleaners with water? Wouldn’t it cost less and be better for the earth if you just added your own water to a concentrated cleaning pack? These are the kinds of questions Brandless asks and answers when they make non-toxic cleaning products....

Family Handyman Soundproofing Solution: Do Putty Pads Block Noise? Electrical junction boxes are a weak point in your wall for soundproofing. One solution is to wrap boxes with “putty pads” to block noise. Some pads are labeled for fire blocking and others for sound, but they’re essentially the same stuff: sheets of putty that you mold over the box. They’re easy to install, but do they really work? To find out I bought a box ($60 for 10 pads), installed and tested them....

Outdoor living is one of the hottest lifestyle trends this year, fueled by the increased amount of time people are spending at home. From elaborate patios to pretty pergolas, homeowners are expanding and upgrading outdoor spaces to make them as comfortable and inviting as their home’s interiors. Here’s a simple, all-weather accent that adds cozy appeal to your yard while also providing the shade and privacy you need for everyday use: Outdoor curtains....

Hill Street Studios/Getty Images According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry added 16,000 new jobs in August 2020. Residential construction employment added 25,000 new jobs, counteracting a 16,000 job decline in nonresidential specialty trade contractors. “Construction is becoming a tale of two sectors, as homebuilding and limited nonresidential niches thrive but most other private, as well as public, construction shrinks,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)....

Sink manufacturers offer multiple bathroom sink sizes, so if you have a standard-size bathroom it’s usually easy to find a sink to fit. But what if your bathroom isn’t a standard size? You could have a tiny bathroom nestled into a space that used to be a closet, or an oversized one with a super-long countertop to serve a large family. Can you find a sink to fit? The answer, of course, is yes....

sukiyaki/Shutterstock Curtains can help tie a room together. Not only do curtains offer privacy, they can lend color, control light and add texture and warmth to your space. Here’s how to make curtains double as insulation in the winter. So when it comes to hanging curtains, do you go low or do you go high? Do you let the curtains fall just below the window or let them drape across the floor?...