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In northern climates, winter serves up the viruses that cause colds and flu with the same predictability as snow. And those contagions can linger in the air, pass person to person or hitchhike on your winter outerwear, especially your gloves and mittens. Plus, COVID-19 has made us all extremely aware of the need to stop the spread of germs. Here are eight ways to protect yourself and others from germs this winter, whether you’re grabbing a mocha from a coffee shop or chatting with neighbors at a local sledding hill....

Polar Vortex 2019 has been sweeping the nation with record-breaking cold weather this January, and Minnesota has certainly taken the brunt of it. On Jan. 30, 2019, Minneapolis experienced a temperature of negative 28 degrees Fahrenheit—not including that deathly wind chill. Thief River Falls, Minnesota experienced extreme temperatures of 77 degrees below zero the evening of Jan. 29. According to AccuWeather, Minneapolis was close to breaking record low temperatures that were set in the 1800s....

Shrubs get the short shrift. That’s not only a tongue-twister, it’s sadly a statement of fact. Homeowners may look to the beauty of flowers, productivity of vegetables and majesty of trees. But shrubs are often overlooked. Yet shrubs are a critical part of the ecosystem. They’re found throughout the world and play an important role in stabilizing soil, storing carbon and supporting myriad insect and animal species. And that’s before we even talk about their ornamental value, which has increased markedly over the past two decades, thanks to skilled plant breeding....

While the silver in your home may not require as much care as items like linens or glass, it still needs some TLC. It’s important to learn how to clean silver, as well as how to care for and store it. “Without proper care, over time, silver picks up sulfur contaminants either in the air, on the skin, or from contact with other objects,” says Gabrielle Martin, a supervisor for Bio Recovery, a professional cleaning service....

Toilet History In 1994 Congress decided to conserve water by requiring toilets to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. It was a good idea, but when manufacturers came out with their first water-saving models, they hadn’t yet figured out how to make toilets perform as well as before (most toilets at that time used 3.5 gallons or more). So homeowners got stuck with toilets that require two or even three flushes to clear and clean the bowl....

When I was nine, my father and I drove to our favorite lake in November to remove our floating dock. We left it in later than we should have, and although the water wasn’t frozen yet, a slick sheet of ice coated the top of the dock. A couple of difficult hours and several frostbitten fingers later, we got it out, although just barely. Dad told me we wouldn’t wait so long next year, and we never did again....

Keep paint off of the trim Paint rollers throw off a mist of paint that speckles everything below. Here’s the quickest way to protect doors and windows: Tape around door and window trim using tape that’s wide enough to project at least 1/2 in. from the trim. That way, you can stick light plastic to the protruding tape—there’s no need to tape the perimeter of the plastic separately. For doors, slit the plastic with a utility knife so you can slip through....

Even in warm climates, a working car heater is much appreciated on chilly mornings. And in cold climates, a properly functioning heating system is essential. A malfunctioning heater blowing cold air prevents the defroster from removing ice and fog from the windshield, creating dangerous driving conditions. Don’t ignore it. Why Isn’t the Car Heater Blowing Hot Air? Here are the most common reasons why your car heater isn’t blowing hot air....

Here’s an outfeed roller that you can adjust in seconds to support boards coming off stationary power tools of every height in your shop. And if you bolt the roller to a sturdy sawhorse, only a rampaging bull will knock it over. Along with the sawhorse, you’ll need: A heavy-duty scissors jack. A heavy-duty scissors jack. A bracketed roller. Buy the longest roller available if you want to support wide boards and plywood....

This FHM series introduces readers to some of the women who make up 11 percent of the construction workforce in the U.S., spotlighting stories of their careers in the field. Know someone we should feature? Email us here. Jenny McCarthy was in her early 20s, helping her father paint a house, when she overheard a conversation that changed her life. Her father was telling a friend about wallpaper school and recommended it to the friend’s son....

In addition to sunlight, nutrients and water, a newly planted tree might need support — the physical kind. Some young trees need to be staked until their roots take hold. Most trees only need to be staked if the tree cannot stand on its own, has a small root ball, or has been planted in a high-traffic area (like near a sidewalk) or an extremely windy location. This is especially true for big conifers that catch a lot of wind....

Yay! Cold mornings and raked leaves means lawn chores are finally over! Or not. If you’ve got scraggly turf or bare spots in your lawn, dormant seeding might be the ticket to producing a lush lawn next year, while reducing the headache of fighting spring weeds. Does Grass Grow in Winter? It depends on where you live. If temperatures drop below 40 F, grass becomes dormant and doesn’t grow much, if at all....

via Home Depot Depending on where you live and your water supply, investing in a water softener to pull harsh minerals out of your water can make a significant difference in your home’s water quality. Water softeners can also benefit your health and the lifespan of appliances and plumbing. What Is Hard Water? Before investing in a water softener, first check your water’s mineral content—this is how hardness is determined. According to maps from the U....

The sound of rain pitter-pattering on your windows in the early morning can be really soothing, until, of course, you remember that you left your car windows down. Yikes! Not only can it make getting in your car unpleasant (hello wet butt), but it can damage electronics from your stereo to more important equipment that helps your car run. And let’s not forget mold! If a wet car happens to you, don’t stress, just readily respond....

The price of wood has risen dramatically over the last year, driven to historically high levels due to a combination of coronavirus-related complications. COVID-19 slowed sawmill production in early 2020, lowering lumber inventory just before demand for housing and lumber ballooned in the summer. That along with issues within the supply chain and ongoing trade disputes with Canada, which serves as a major source of lumber for the United States, have caused the price of wood to skyrocket to the point where lumber now costs more than three times as much as it did in May 2020....

After an adventure-filled summer of travel, the time has come to store your RV for the winter off-season. Besides winterizing your camper, choosing the right storage location can mean the difference between effortlessly returning to travel next spring or spending time and money repairing winter weather damage. Why Store Your Camper? Storing your camper during the winter will protect it from rain, snow and freezing temperatures that can cause extensive damage to the inside and outside of your RV....

Kenishirotie/Getty Images For decades, first-time home buyers have gravitated to the affordability and manageable maintenance of smaller properties. But in recent years, these “starter homes” have become harder to find. What’s caused this scarcity of the once ubiquitous starter home, and what does the future hold for them? Starter Homes in Short Supply In the lead-up to the 2008 housing crash, the market saw a distinct drop in the supply of starter homes....

Electric radiator cooling fans use a lot of juice. So carmakers use a fan relay to switch them on and off. If your radiator fan doesn’t work, don’t automatically assume you’ve got a bum fan motor. First test the fuse for the radiator fan. If it checks out, test the radiator fan relay. Here’s how to test a radiator fan relay. Unplug the electrical connectors to the radiator fans. Then turn your A/C to the MAX position and start the engine....

I don’t like vacuuming my car, so I’m always on the lookout for something to make it easier. Most weeks, I take it to the car wash. My car’s interior usually resembles the sandy beach where I play fetch with my two dogs. Last week, I retrieved my vehicle at the car wash and the nice man mopped his brow and said, “Whew!” I think I need to vacuum a little more often....

Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock Security Cameras 101 Just the sight of outdoor home security cameras can help prevent a break-in. And if someone is snooping around outside your house, motion and sound notifications can alert you immediately. Indoor home security cameras let you check on your kids or pets while you’re at work. You can even use a speaker on the camera to tell your kids to start their homework. Storage and Power There are several types of security cameras, and getting started can be overwhelming....