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jakkapan/Shutterstock Saving Your Best Memories Have you come across a box of old print photos that stirred up lots of memories? Whether it’s from your great-grandparents’ wedding day, or your first steps as a baby, a single image can evoke deep feelings. And not to mention, these photos are from the days long before digital photos, uploaded to Facebook and Instagram, took over. These old-timey prints are often found in boxes, drawers and dusty albums....

If you’re like us, you’re probably tired of hearing about supply chain interruptions. Yet even as the pandemic (hopefully) wanes, the global supply chain has yet to catch up. Shortages of staff and raw materials persist, making products from small everyday consumer items to new cars to construction supplies harder to find and more expensive to purchase. If you own an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool, you’re undoubtedly already aware pool chlorine is one of those crucial supplies that’s suddenly hard to find and costlier than ever....

Gardening is one of the most popular outdoor hobbies, yet there are lots of people who have given up on it. They may appreciate a pretty landscape, but at some point in the past they met up with failure and just won’t try a second time. Here are some of the likely reasons you’ll hear, followed by a little green thumb advice on how to overcome gardening challenges. Whatever You Grow Dies Perhaps it’s because they put wrong plant in the wrong spot....

If you want to move on to the big leagues of woodworking, you absolutely have to learn how to flatten rough-sawn wood. That’s because the shrink-wrapped 3/4-in.-thick wood you buy at the home center is limited to, well, 3/4-in. thicknesses. Furniture building calls for a myriad of different thicknesses, any of which you can create yourself. But flattening wood takes a couple of essential and pricey tools, namely a jointer and a thickness planer....

You’ve determined your budget, outlined a plan and created a shopping list of supplies for that long-awaited renovation, addition or remodel. All that’s left to do is get started, right? Not so fast. Before you even consider breaking ground, you need to contact your city’s building department and apply for a building permit. “If the project requires it, it needs to be obtained,” says Chuck Khiel, vice president of FRED Home Improvement, based in greater Washington, D....

Congratulations! You’ve closed on your new home! Now the real work begins. Before you pack up your bags and hire a moving company, you should make a running list of what needs to be done before you move in. While you may have a lot on your plate, you don’t have to let it overwhelm you. If you stay focused on the priorities, you’ll be settled in and enjoying your house in no time....

Smart plugs are one of the best ways to automate your home quickly, with little to no tech knowledge. They are super simple to use and can transform just about any appliance or light into a smart device. Here’s how they work and some things you need to know. What Are Smart Plugs? Smart plugs are small box-like devices that plug into a wall outlet. If you plug a traditional or “dumb” item like a lamp into the smart plug, then download the smart plug’s app, you can control that item on your smartphone....

Structure Tech Do you live in an old home? If so, have you noticed two mysterious galvanized pipes sticking out of the ground in your yard? Those small, galvanized pipes are signs of something much bigger below the ground! Here’s why old homes have a tiny iron door leading to the basement. While natural gas and electricity power most furnaces today, many pre-1970s homes had fuel-oil powered furnaces and with that came an underground fuel oil tank....

Many DIY projects are not ones you would choose. Your house chooses them for you: the clogged toilet, the broken dryer, the lawn that needs to be rescued, etc. But there are also the projects you do because you’ll love them. And the best of these DIY projects are fast, cheap and easy. Here are some of our all-time favorites—ones we’ve done in our own homes and among the most popular we’ve ever published:...

A flat roof is the easiest type to build and offers perks you don’t get with a sloping roof. For one, it’s a potential garden area. It also gives you a place to put your lawn chairs, hang out in the sun and gather with friends. And it’s easy to walk on, simplifying maintenance and repair. The biggest drawback is the potential for leaks. Most flat roofs aren’t actually flat; they slope slightly to one side (a 1/4-in....

It’s been a long, hot summer in the U.S. From coast to coast, many cities experienced record high temperatures and heat waves that lasted for for weeks at a time. With so many brutally hot days one after the other, it’s fair to ask: Has this been America’s hottest summer? Had you asked that question at the end of June, the answer would have been yes. According to the Weather Channel, June 2021 was the hottest June in the U....

There’s plenty to consider as you consider painting your house and typically the first question is: What color should I paint my house? You might start with a search of popular house colors or trending house colors. You might even want to know the house paint colors that improve curb appeal like these 15 house painting ideas. But if you’re getting ready to sell your home, you’ll want to know the color that will add $6,000 to your home’s value....

With so many regions regularly experiencing record-breaking heat, more and more homeowners are looking for new and better ways to cool off. Enter outdoor mist cooling systems (a.k.a. patio misting systems), which offer an effective, energy-efficient and affordable outdoor cooling solution. That’s especially important as more people gather outdoors to limit the spread COVID-19. Read on to learn what outdoor mist cooling systems are, how they work and what makes them so great....

How to Remove ‘Barely There’ Car Scratches It’s no secret that car paint scratches easily. Ever set a grocery bag on your roof, hood or trunk lid and then slide it off? You know the result: Instant scratches. On This Page But don’t freak out. You might be able to remove these minor paint scratches yourself in less than an hour and for less than $30. To see if your scratches qualify for this DIY repair, run your fingernail across the scratch....

Today, it’s hard to imagine any city without squirrels. But before the mid-1800s, wild squirrels didn’t live in U.S. cities at all. That changed in the latter part of the century, thanks to attempts to beautify the nation’s industrial centers. Mayors from New York to Philadelphia started bringing in squirrels to town squares and parks. Those early city dwellers had to be fed by the city or well-meaning citizens because natural food sources like trees were scarce....

Humans respond to fire on a primal level. Maybe it’s a throwback to when our ancestors huddled together, holding back the darkness with crackling flames. Or maybe we just love the cozy warmth of a fire in our homes. Either way, it’s no surprise that many homeowners opt to install a fireplace. And in recent years, increased efficiency and lower prices have made fireplace installations a popular addition to American living spaces....

rvolkan/Shutterstock It’s always exciting to buy a new car, but the actual buying process can be quite the project. Before even test-driving cars you have to research cars, look at different dealerships, compare prices, and potentially negotiate for a cheaper sum. But thanks to the Costco auto program, these are things you’ll no longer have to worry about. Pro tip: If you love to DIY, you should be buying these 10 things at Costco....

Although you can beat back the general household dust invasion, dust will never go away. Wipe it up one week and by the next, a fine gray film has settled on the picture frames and mantel, and dust bunnies are scurrying around under the bed. No one yet has found the magic that’ll make dust disappear, particularly airborne dust. Hardware improvements such as vacuums with better filtration and whole-house air cleaners can make the job a bit easier, but dusting is still a weekly chore....

If your lawn mower won’t start after winter, it could very well be because you missed one of the critical steps listed below. Follow these tips to winterize your lawn mower and you’re far less likely to be dealing with a lawn mower that won’t start after winter ends! Clean the Undercarriage There’s a good chance that your mower’s undercarriage is covered in caked-on grass, dirt and leaves after a summer’s worth of lawns mowed....

Ikea Are your tools this cool? They can be! This February, Ikea is rolling out the new, limited-edition Borstad collection of cleaning tools and accessories, made chiefly from natural and recycled materials. They’re just what you’d expect from the popular budget-minded European furniture retailer: beautiful, economical and eco-conscious. “The inspiration was archetypal cleaning and clothes-care products from times gone by, today most of which are made of plastic in a modern style that is practical, but often not so beautiful … ,” says Caroline Krysén, Marketing and Communications Leader at Ikea....