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Storing your appliances has never been this easy—or looked this good! If you’re familiar with the concept of hiding something in plain sight, an appliance garage may appeal to you. The appliance garage took social media by storm when one TikTok user posted a video revealing how she uses one to disguise her smaller appliances and regain some much-needed counter space. Whether you have a small space and are in need of some organizing ideas or want to give your kitchen a polished appearance, installing an appliance garage allows you to keep your smaller items out of your line of vision....

David Papazian/Shutterstock Color coding is used in a variety of industries, from the medical profession to food safety to construction. Some color coding is used for safety, other times it’s used simply for convenience. So when it comes to all those colors of insulation, what’s the difference? The short answer: Not much. Identifying Insulation Colors The color of the insulation in your home verses the color of the insulation in your neighbor’s home isn’t generally due to the type of material the insulation is made from....

Question:Would you suggest having a whole home surge protector installed in the main service electrical panel? Answer: It’s a smart idea! Appliances, computers, entertainment devices, lighting controls, and HVAC are just some of the systems controlled by sophisticated and sensitive electronics. Replacing these devices that have been damaged in a power surge has become such an expensive issue for homeowners and insurance companies that there is a proposal for the upcoming 2020 National Electrical Code to require a Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective device at the service panel for every new dwelling unit....

CapturePB/Shutterstock The right home improvement can give the value of your home a big boost, but not all home improvement projects are created equal. If you’re looking to sell your home in the coming years, there are some projects that won’t give you much of a return on your money. These are the best (and worst) projects to improve your home resale value. A Luxury Bathroom Addition Breadmaker/Shutterstock If you’re looking to up your home value with a luxury bathroom addition, don’t go overboard....

Family Handyman Don’t Be Overwhelmed by All the Different Wood Deck Stains The right wood deck stain can bring out the natural beauty of the deck’s wood grain and extend its life by protecting it against sun and water damage. But choosing the right stain can be confusing because there are so many choices. Walk down the exterior stain aisle at any Home Depot store and you’ll find an endless selection of transparent, semi-transparent and solid stains in both oil and water/acrylic formulations....

Rainbow Gardens You Can DIY Rainbow gardens are a fun way to add more color and cheeriness to your landscape. Whether it be through vivid flowers or vibrant vegetables, we’ve got some creative rainbow garden ideas for you. On This Page Plus, if you want a beautiful garden without a lot of fuss, here are six low-maintenance landscaping tips that will keep your garden looking great with minimal effort. A Rainbow Garden of Unusual Vegetables via ParkSeed....

Makita has been an industry leader in power tools, outdoor power equipment, pneumatics and more for more than 100 years. But even the best tools need service from time to time. In response to nationwide shelter-in-place orders, Makita walk-in repair service counters are closed until further notice. But there is a way to get needed tool repairs done during these uncertain times. For a limited time, Makita is offering free labor and free shipping on tool repairs....

The allure of old furniture comes partly from imagining its story, who used it and what they were doing. Sometimes those questions actually get answered. While refinishing a chest of drawers with a butler drawer, antique restorer Marshall Young found a photo of a young man, the father of the person who brought it in. “Our customer was amazed at the transformation of the chest, and said he remembered his father sitting there, worrying over the bills,” says Young....

When you’re choosing concrete block for a retaining wall, keep in mind that some types of block allow more design options than others. There are two key differences: Some block systems allow graceful curves, even tight curves. Others allow only large-radius curves—or no curves at all. Some systems include a variety of options such as capstones to top off the walls, blocks intended for above-ground “seating” walls, matching stair blocks or patio pavers....

Anyone who’s owned or maintained a pool knows how rapidly water levels can drop. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical uncovered pool can lose between 12,000 and 31,000 gallons of water annually, simply due to evaporation. Here’s what can be done to preserve the water you’ve already paid for! Cover It Up The most effective way to prevent evaporation is to put a lid on top of the pool, effectively keeping pool water locked in....

Cleaning our homes has always been a private activity. Immediate family and pets comprise the audience, and let’s face it, that crowd’s not giving us the feedback we need. There’s the satisfaction of a job well done, but come on. It’s nice to get some external validation. Social media figured that out quickly, and over the years a cleaning subculture emerged. One powerhouse is TikTok’s #CleanTok hashtag, which has nearly 47 billion views....

A dirty or clogged fuel filter can starve an engine of fuel and is always a likely cause of low engine power. Most modern vehicles with fuel injection systems use filters rated to trap debris between 10 and 30 microns (a micron is .001mm in diameter) a human hair is approximately 70 microns (.08mm). Due to their abrasive nature, even microscopic dirt or grit that gets past a faulty or dirty fuel filter can damage your engine....

The Best Black Friday Fire Pit Sales When the weather cools, fireside stories and sticky s’mores are the quintessential outdoor duo, but finding a fire pit that doesn’t break the bank is an undertaking. This Associate Shopping Editor loves a good sale, so when I heard about the Black Friday deals on fire pits from top brands like Solo Stove, I may have freaked out. Solo Stove Black Friday Sale A fire pit sale is always worth shopping, but a Solo Stove sale is a savings unicorn!...

sakkmesterke/Shutterstock We get it—there’s nothing as satisfying as looking out at a freshly mowed lawn on a summer’s day. Mowing your lawn means keeping those weeds and wildflowers tame around your landscape, which probably seems like a problem that needs to be dealt with frequently. However, you may want to consider letting those wildflowers and weeds grow just a bit for the bees. Yes, bees. By mowing your lawn every week you are leaving no life for bees to feed on....

My first exposure to an electric bicycle (aka an e-bike) was on a 20-mile ride with my dad. He rented one while I rode my self-powered mountain bike. When I finally reached our destination, red in the face and weak in the knees, I found him casually lounging on the patio with a cocktail, wondering what took me so long. I still like my regular bike, but now I’m also hooked on e-bikes....

Whether you’re a novice camper, expert-level fisherman or handy pro at the jobsite, the new Yeti Camino 2.0 insulated tote bag is the waterproof wonder you’ve been waiting for. It makes a perfect all-purpose addition to any list of must-have adventure or tailgating gear, debuting in new appealing hues just in time for holiday shopping. What is the Yeti Camino 2.0 insulated tote bag? This new and improved iteration of one of Yeti’s bestselling tote bags is tougher than ever inside and out....

The most wonderful time of the year is in our rearview mirror. Now it’s time to look forward to 2023, which warrants new projects and endless home improvement possibilities. Get a head start on your resolutions and stock up on essential winter workwear and tools with savings upwards of 70% during these after-Christmas sales. This Sales Editor already filled her cart with items from Carhartt and Solo Stove. The Very Best After-Christmas Sales Tools and Outdoor Furniture Aerogarden: Get indoor gardening kits and supplies for up to 50% off with these daily deals....

Cyber Week is over for most retailers…but not for Wayfair! From December 7-18, Wayfair is offering Twelve Days of Markdowns, featuring a new deal every 24 hours. There are savings available for the taking across categories, including furniture, decor and appliances. As Sales and Deals Editor, this definitely piqued my interest—extended sales are so rare, and trust me when I say I’ll be taking full advantage of the continued markdowns....

The U.S. Green Building Council is now seeking feedback and concepts for the next version of LEED certification, issuing a call for proposals on July 9th. The ideas presented in these proposals will be used by the USGBC to re-shape, improve, and update the LEED v4.1 rating systems, which were released in April 2019. Proposals can be submitted here. “We received an overwhelming response to our LEED v4.1 call for proposals, which has helped us to deliver on the market needs making LEED v4....

The problem of how to move standing water from one place to another preoccupied scientists for thousands of years. Historians report that even the great Greek mathematician and inventor Archimedes worked on the problem. Fortunately for modern homeowners, the problem was solved in the late 1940s with the introduction of the sump pump. Standing water is a headache for homeowners with basements built into ground with a high water table or poor drainage....