Cherkas/Shutterstock Ants are undoubtedly pesky pests. Seeing a swarm of them in your home is grounds for freaking out. But rather than be frustrated, be active! There are plenty of ways to get rid of ants. You might also be interested in how to get rid of spiders. There are many different types of ants, yet some of the most common house-invading ones include odorous house ants, carpenter ants and thief ants....
If you regularly shop for cleaning products, it’s hard to miss the Fabuloso display. Bright, vibrant colors stand out amid more medicinal greens and yellows. And the fragrance names — Ocean Paradise, Tropical Spring and Floral Burst — would be equally at home on a tropical drink menu as they are on this popular cleaning product’s label. It turns out those fragrances have a story to tell. When Fabuloso was created more than 40 years ago, household cleaners weren’t exactly known for smelling great, according to Fabuloso’s origin story....
Nothing can bring down the look of a room faster than a dingy looking radiator. While radiators have hidden crevices and can be a challenge to paint, painting them is possible. Here are some tricks to paint an old radiator so you’ll be happy with the finished product. Hide ugly radiators with these 12 clever radiator cover ideas. Be Aware of Lead in Existing Radiator Paint If you believe the paint on your radiator was applied before 1978, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said you should assume it contains lead....
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released its list of the ten most frequently cited workplace safety standard violations in the fiscal year 2020. The data included citations occurring between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020. Patrick Kapust, deputy director of OSHA’s directorate of enforcement programs, presented this during an exclusive webinar hosted by the National Safety Commission (NSC). “Use the top ten as a guide for your workplace,” said Kapust....
When is Tractor Supply Black Friday 2022? Black Friday doesn’t only apply to brick and mortar stores anymore—hundreds of retailers are bringing their sales online. What once was a single-day shopping event has turned into a month-long buying extravaganza, with more and more stores offering markdowns to suit everyone from DIY enthusiasts to homesteaders. Tractor Supply Black Friday deals are already in full swing, with discounts on dozens of different brands like Itasca, Bosch and Porter-Cable....
With more people working remotely, I’m finding gas-powered lawn equipment increasingly belligerent. The people I interview for articles often yell over a ruckus of leaf-blowers and lawnmowers whirring outside of their home office windows. While their cursing leads to some hilarious Zoom outtakes, the collective annoyance — combined with growing environmental awareness, health concerns and local bans on gas-powered equipment — is propelling an electric lawn care revolution. “The transition to electric landscaping is being driven by demand from homeowners in the suburbs,” says Jeff Cordulack, owner of Organic Ways and Means in Stamford, Connecticut....
I went through four cars by the time I was 22, although each one served me well. Two died of old age, while the other two met their ends in unfortunate accidents. All were used cars my late father helped me purchase. My dad had a need for speed he fulfilled with sports cars, motorcycles and airplanes. He thoughtfully selected every engine that graced his garage with the care most people put into picking a spouse....
Very few things add more dimensions to a home than a porch. It could be an open affair just outside your front door, a screened-in extension of your dining room or a cozy nook between your kitchen and the backyard. To make that porch even more enjoyable, you’ll need the right lighting. We’ll help you choose the right porch lights to make it your home’s most sought-after living space. Types of Porch Lights There are four types of porch lights to consider:...
Does Setting Your Thermostat Save You Money? It’s true: You can save money on your heating and cooling bills by simply resetting your thermostat at night and when you are away from home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “you can save as much as 10 percent per year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back seven to 10° for eight hours a day from its normal setting....
As multi-generation households become more prevalent, finding a home temperature that’s comfortable for everyone—from an aging grandparent to a young child and everyone in between—can get, well, complicated. It almost makes handling disputes over what to make for dinner or which movie to watch on family night seem easy by comparison. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the Halcyon™ Mini-split cooling and heating systems from Fujitsu General....
The water we use for bathing and showering is corrosive, and nothing demonstrates that better than your water heater. Oxygen rusts metal, and water is loaded with oxygen. This is one reason why water heaters don’t last forever. Here’s another: sediment buildup. Most residential water, even from a municipal treatment plant, contains minerals like calcium and iron. When these minerals settle and collect on the bottom of the tank, there’s less room for water, which also takes longer to heat....
: K Quinn Ferris/Shutterstock How often should you change your brake pads? The answer depends on the unique combination of your vehicle and typical terrain, as well as the habits of those who often drive it. Read on to find out more. When Should I Change My Brake Pads? Any mechanic will tell you that it’s time to change your brake pads when the lining is in the 3 mm to 4 mm range....
For most homes, hanging outdoor Christmas lights is pretty straightforward. You can usually attach light strands or other decorations to the siding, soffit, or window frames with a nail or some staples. But what if you live in a brick home? You can’t just sink a finishing nail into the mortar. Even if your home isn’t brick on the outside, you may run into this issue indoors when hanging holiday decorations around a brick fireplace or a similar rugged surface....
MCarper/Shutterstock The wind can be brutally strong at times, so powerful in fact, that it’s capable of knocking down large trees and power lines. When the wind gets that strong, it’s a wonder that we are able to keep our garbage cans from blowing away. While some people may be content with simply placing a concrete block on the bottom of the trash can. Thankfully, there are a number of simple fixes you can do that will keep your trash cans where they are supposed to be....
CapturePB/Shutterstock A bathroom remodel can be a stressful endeavor, whether it’s a DIY job or you hire a professional. However, when done right, the payoff can be enormous. If you’re getting ready to embark on a bathroom remodel, you want to get it right. You know you need to set a budget (and stick to it), have a plan and set a realistic timeline, but there’s so much more to think about....
Not so long ago, installing laminate flooring in a basement was a sure way to void the warranty. The laminate’s fiberboard core would soak up moisture seeping through the concrete floor and floating around in the humid air. The result? Warping, bending and curling. Today you can buy waterproof or water-resistant products, changing the game for basement installations. “Waterproof” and “water-resistant” are different designations, and a waterproof product is definitely better for the basement....
A piece of jewelry is more than a fashion statement. It can be a precious family heirloom, a sentimental gift, a symbol of commitment and a financial investment. With the right jewelry care, your prized pieces can last for generations. Here are some expert tips on cleaning and caring for jewelry. How to Prevent Jewelry Damage Preventative jewelry care is crucial for long-term sparkle. The wrong light, temperature and moisture conditions can fade or damage gemstones, says the Gemological Institute of America....
Whether you’re parked outside your home or in a parking ramp downtown, theft prevention starts before you even leave your vehicle. Most car break-ins are crimes of opportunity, so follow these tricks to prevent thieves from burglarizing your vehicle. Hide Valuables If you have valuable items that you must leave in your vehicle such as a laptop, briefcase or shopping bags, keep them out-of-sight. Most thieves are opportunistic, so if they see something that is valuable, they may try to smash the window and take it....
Yes, that really is my garage floor pictured to the right. It’s a detached garage—one of those that looks like a little cottage in the back of a small city lot. At one time it was a poured concrete floor that was probably pretty flat and crack-free. That was likely some time in the 1930s. Now it’s a dismal collection of broken chunks and miscellaneous rocks with significant dips and bumps throughout....
It’s easy to forget that many of the rights women in the U.S. enjoy today are less than a century old. From suffrage to wage equality, legal protections we take for granted were hard-won, thanks to the efforts of activists and advocates throughout the 1900s. The battle for women’s property rights and ownership was one of the longest and most significant, stretching from the 1700s to the beginning of the 20th century....
