To myself and my neighbors in arid California, people with enough rainfall and a high enough water table to need a sump pump seem fortunate. My friend who lives in the Detroit area would disagree. His sump pump stopped working while the family was out of town, and they returned to a flooded basement and a big cleanup. They had to junk some expensive furniture they were storing there. Two years later, they’re still having a problem with persistent mold....
Ants are absolute pests that can invade your home, wreaking havoc on your health and happiness. While there are plenty of poisons out there to kill ants in their tracks, most contain a cocktail of chemicals that are just as dreadful to your beloved pets. If you want to learn how to get rid of ants without harming your dog or cat, we’ve got you covered. Start With Ant Prevention The first step in learning how to get rid of ants, whether you have animals in your home, is don’t make your home attractive to the ants in the first place....
During the holiday season, seasonal candles and incredible Christmas decor DIYs go hand in hand. Perhaps, you already have your stocking filled with all the crafting essentials to make and decorate your home for the holidays. However, if you are looking for one more easy Christmas decor DIY idea to top off your crafting bucket list, you’ll want to add floating Christmas candles to your need-to-make-it list. Igniting crafting curiosity, TikTok creator Roco Ruiz, @rocioruizhomedecor, posted a video showcasing how she filled glass vases with water beads, water and a few holiday fillers to make her Christmas floating candles float....
Family Handyman A Mini Air Jack Pry bars are great for lifting windows, appliances or cabinets to level them. But they’re also great at leaving scratches—and sometimes you need three hands to lift, align, level and shim all at the same time. The AirShim Inflatable Pry Bar & Leveling Tool solves all that. This 6 x 6-in. bladder inflates with the squeeze of a bulb, up to about 2-1/2 in. thick....
Family Handyman Some say PVC is best for long-term, leak-free drain lines because it’s stronger. Others say ABS is actually more durable because it’s less brittle and less likely to crack. Most agree that ABS installs faster, because it doesn’t require the purple primer. But some say PVC is easier to work with because it’s stiff and stays straight. Search the Web for clear answers and you’ll only become more confused....
Time Magazine unveiled its anticipated Best New Inventions of 2022 list, its annual roundup of 200 innovative products and ideas that hit the market in the last year. The list features many invention categories, including virtual reality, health care, robotics and style. With such interesting innovations across several sectors, most people would never expect a digital tape measure to make it, but the T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure did. With so many digital tape measures on the market, you’re probably wondering what this one did to land a coveted spot on the Best Inventions list....
What is a multimeter? A multimeter, also known as a volt-ohm-milliammeter (or VOM), is a device that measures voltage, current (amps), resistance, and continuity. Multimeters are used by electricians, auto mechanics, HVAC professionals and other technicians whose job it is to troubleshoot electrical and electronic equipment. The multimeter was invented by a British post office engineer named Donald Macadie who was tired of carrying around several instruments to troubleshoot telecommunication circuits....
If a stranger knocked on your door and asked to take a video of your home’s floor plan and contents, you’d shut the door in their face, right? But what if that stranger added that you’d never have to clean your floors again? Would it change your mind? For millions of Roomba users, the answer is “yes.” Or is there more to the deal? On This Page The parties have one year from the Aug....
Shutterstock/ gpointstudio A large percentage of construction firms across the country are struggling to meet deadlines because they can’t find enough skilled jobsite workers. As a result, it’s crucial that business owners find the right people and offer incentives to keep them. A study from the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) found that one-third of the companies surveyed are looking to increase their construction labor force, and the biggest challenge facing the industry is the supply of skilled jobsite workers....
There are so many fun ways to ring in the holidays. Tech lovers looking to find ways to use their smart home products will love the way one doorbell is celebrating the season. “Ring” in the holidays with Ring doorbell Christmas chimes! Whether you’ve been looking for a reason to buy the Ring Video Doorbell or are already the proud owner of one, did you know that you can keep an eye on what’s happening around your front door, as well as use it to create a more festive environment?...
Do you love the convenience of having groceries, pet supplies and meals delivered straight to your door? Add firewood to the list of things you can have delivered. Questions To Ask a Firewood Delivery Service Before you “add to cart” and confirm when and where you want your firewood delivered, here are some good questions to ask. On This Page Where is the wood from? Firewood that you purchase locally will cost less for shipping....
milicad/Getty Images Most motorcycle brakes work like the disc brake system on a car. Some have a drum brake, but front- and rear-disc brake systems represent the vast majority of motorcycle brakes today. Brake Configuration The major difference in braking systems lies in how the brakes are triggered. On a car, the brake pedal triggers all of the brakes at once. On a motorcycle, there are a couple of options....
Ever try to grow red raspberries, or the less common golden variety? Both can can seem hard to do, especially because pruning instructions often seem complicated. But as I’ve heard said, “If it’s hard to do, you’re probably doing it wrong.” Once you know how raspberries grow, and how simple they really are to prune, you confidently grow them in your own garden. Read on to learn how. Types of Raspberries Raspberries are bramble-type plants that send up new shoots from the ground every year....
Did you know that a single weed can produce 100,000 to 200,000 seeds that can survive in soil for 40 years, germinating every spring and fall without fail? They’re more than a nuisance too. Weeds can cost the agricultural industry billions of dollars every year in lost crops, with billions more going toward the effort to get rid of them. For individual lawns and gardens, it might not be a billion dollar problem, but the weeds are the same....
Since late 2021, a new aesthetic has taken root among home decor lovers on TikTok. Tastemakers @billiamthewadford, @cowboyrasputin and @gorgonglare, among others, cultivated a cousin of maximalism called “cluttercore.” Videos with the hashtag #cluttercore, showing off the homes of TikTok users, have received nearly 60 million views. “Prior to the pandemic, there was a lot of conversation about Marie Kondo and decluttering,” says Latoya Nelson Kamdang, director of New York operations for the architecture firm Moody Nolan....
via amazon.com Raking leaves, picking up lawn debris and keeping your lawn looking beautiful is a chore. Not only can it be hard on your back and joints, the tasks seem never-ending. Enter the lawn sweeper. Make quick work of leaves with these 15 tools. What is a Lawn Sweeper? This machine can basically replace yourrake, as it can sweep up leaves, acorns, grass clippings and other debris. On This Page...
Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock Spring cleaning is on your to-do list, but you keep putting it off because you know it’s a major undertaking. Cleaning under the bed? Organizing the closet? Washing the windows? Oh man! While it can be intimidating, your best bet is to tackle one chore at a time, and not all in a day’s work! Check out these 45 handy hints that will make spring cleaning a breeze....
Family Handyman Want to show your home a little love by setting it up for a fresh start? Take Family Handyman’s 5-Day Declutter Challenge, which tackles five of your home’s major problem areas — kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, laundry room and entryway. We worked with pro organizers Jamie Novak, author of Keep This, Toss That, and Michele Vig of @neatlittlenest to pin down the most efficient way to spend half an hour in these targeted spaces....
digitalreflections/Shutterstock The first time I used a Magic Eraser, I simply couldn’t stop. Truth be told, I caught on a bit late. In fact, it wasn’t until a few months ago that a house guest, after listening to me complain about the scratches on my wall, introduced me to the gift that is this magical white sponge. Dampened with water, I went through an entire 12-pack of Magic Erasers, scrubbing the red coat rack paint from my stark white entryway wall and the coffee mug rings on my white kitchen table (that I thought were there to stay)....
How nice is it that you can sit back, relax and order a device to tell you the time, find a recipe for you or remind you to pack an umbrella for work tomorrow? Google has done an incredible job of expanding its Google Home commands, so if you have the device, or are considering getting one, you’ll want to full advantage of all it can do. We’ve outlined some of our favorite commands to serve as your cheat sheet!...
