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Mikhail Sedov/Shutterstock Let’s face it—no matter how hard we try, it’s tough to keep a gas stove top clean. Food particles get cooked on the grates, the top gets covered with grease and grim and before you know it, you have a mess on your hands. Follow these 11 tips for a clean kitchen. In addition to being unsightly, a dirty gas stove can also be a safety hazard. The Maids, a nationwide home-cleaning service, warn that a dirty gas stove top can be a fire hazard....

It’s hard to find something positive to say about aphids. These pesky insects damage food and fiber crops across the world and have killed many an ornamental, vegetable and houseplant. They’re hard to prevent and challenging to treat, and get this — they adapt and become resistant to chemical pesticides. And did we mention that females can reproduce on their own, and their female offspring are often born pregnant? Entomologists call it telescopic reproduction, which can quickly turn an aphid visit into an aphid infestation....

Nothing brightens up a room like a fresh coat of paint. And, because it’s a relatively low-cost, high-reward makeover, you may encounter multiple layers of paint already on your walls. If you have peeling paint on your walls, do you have to remove it before you repaint? Short answer: Yes. Here’s how to get paint off walls the right way. Get Paint off Walls Safely: Check for Lead First things first....

If you’re new to the world of fireplaces, it’s likely yours will be a gas-burning model. And for that, you’re lucky. A rustic, wood-burning fireplace can be a delight in a northwoods cabin, but in your home, gas-burning is the safer option. Plus, there’s no reason to be intimidated by a gas fireplace. Read on for some background and safety tips that will help you enjoy your fireplace for years to come....

Sponsored by Jeld-Wen New windows in a home are always a welcome feature. You already know why you need them-that’s probably why this article caught your eye. Old windows can look shabby, open and close only with persuasion, and can be so drafty on a winter day that you’re not sure whether you’re indoors or out. As a builder, I often get questions from homeowners concerned about their windows. Here’s the advice I give them before they go out and shop....

Protect Sprinkler Heads in the Rocks… Many of my sprinkler system heads are surrounded by landscape rocks. To keep the rocks from interfering with the sprinkler heads, especially when they’re coming down, I protect them with PVC pipe. I cut the PVC pipe into 6-in. lengths and push it into the ground around the heads so the pipe sticks up a little bit higher than the rocks. — Bob Riedel...

For a creature the size of a poppy seed, clover mites can be a big pain in the neck. Fortunately, clover mites don’t bite or harm humans. They don’t carry diseases, damage buildings or eat through your bags of flour and sugar. And they don’t munch holes in clothing, curtains or carpeting, either. So then why should you care if you have clover mites? Read on. What Is a Clover Mite?...

Having a yard that’s a wide, open expanse comes has its perks — and own set of responsibilities. With all that space and privacy comes maintenance. Fortunately, there are simple, effective solutions when it comes to caring for, and enhancing, your acreage. Enlist intelligent design Keeping your large yard looking good is no easy task. Design your landscape in such a way that it minimizes the amount of yard work required....

This Article is sponsored by Fujitsu Photo: Courtesy of Fujitsu Hot, sticky weather is just around the corner. If you’re like me, you’ll probably dial down your thermostat and rely on your home’s central AC system to keep you cool, calm and collected. My strategy works great until the electric bill arrives. That’s when I get a little hot under the collar. The simple truth is that running an old duct-style central AC system is expensive and wasteful....

If you’re dreaming of a low-maintenance garden that buzzes with busy bees and flutters with butterflies amid the zigzag flights of dragonflies and hummingbirds, it’s a good time to go native. Prairie plants, especially those that grew wild in the Midwest and Great Plains before development and farming took over, have been embraced for water conservation. They provide food for birds and wildlife, and they play a crucial role in supporting and reviving the flagging population of pollinators....

Alexa may not be able to keep your hands squeaky clean, but she can help you make sure you’re washing them as efficiently as possible. As a tech editor, finding new ways to pursue great hygiene while also leveraging our smart home gadgets is an exciting vision of the future. And this cool little soap dispenser is a fun preview of what’s to come. On This Page It flashes as it counts down the minimum time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to kill the bacteria traveling on your mitts....

My partner and I began our dive into solar power for two reasons. We want to build a workshop in a rural area without access to grid power, and my mom keeps asking if she should install solar panels on her house in the city. These two scenarios have different costs and installation complexities. But the good news is, both are DIYable if you have some electrical knowledge. And now, there are also tax incentives available that can significantly reduce the cost of installing solar power systems in your home that were approved as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022....

Rain gutters protect your home’s landscaping and siding from severe runoff while also preventing damage to your home’s foundation. But when gutters fill with leaves, sticks, and other debris it can cause clogs that result in water creeping under the roof and eventually into the foundation. Winter storms can wreck havoc on your home, especially the roof. One of the most common risks associated with heavy snow storms is the formation of an ice dam....

Homeowners everywhere are renovating backyard spaces so they can make the most of their time outdoors. If an outdoor hot tub is in your plans, here are some tips to make sure you wire it correctly. As always, safety first, so make sure you’re confident in your wiring skills before taking on this project. Before You Start Your Outdoor Hot Tub Wiring Project First things first. Be sure to consider:...

With recent reports that rat sightings are up 71% in New York City since 2020, and infamous videos like the subway pizza rat still circulating, you’d think the Big Apple would easily take the prize as America’s most rat-infested city. But in Orkin’s annual survey of rattiest cities, New York only checks in at number two. Chicago took the top (or bottom) prize for the eighth consecutive year. Los Angeles came in third, followed by Washington, D....

Living in a city with lots of history (such as Chicago or New York) means living in apartment buildings with lots of charm…and lots of dirt. I’ve lived in countless apartments that have needed a hefty hand in cleaning up the space—grout being one of the most time-consuming cleaning jobs to date. I have spent numerous hours on my hands and knees, scrubbing the nooks and crannies of tiled bathroom floors....

When it comes to RV travel, creature comforts can make a big difference in your overall experience. You’ll certainly notice if your RV lacks sufficient space, heating and cooling capabilities and bathroom basics, like hot water. Traveling with a reliable source of hot water in your home on wheels will make you, your passengers and the RV trip itself so much more fun. RVs come in a wide range of sizes and levels of fanciness, sometimes including a full plumbing system with taps, sinks and a shower....

If you take pride in your car’s appearance, you’re certainly not alone. Few things are more satisfying than climbing into a shiny new or well-maintained vehicle with a flawless coat of paint. Trouble is, vehicle paint never stays flawless for long, even if you’re as careful as possible on the road. Flying gravel is one of the biggest culprits. Those small, annoying chips that appear on your vehicle’s body panels are most likely caused by little chunks of rock flung towards you on the road by other vehicles....

photosthai/Shuttersock If you live in a region where winter is a five-month-long ice and snow storm, it’s always a good idea to do a little car cleaning when the temperatures start warm. But don’t wait until the spring. Do it between bouts of winter weather so that the dirt and grime from winter can cause lasting damage to your ride. Rock sale and ice melt in particular can be corrosive, and the can cause lasting stains to the materials on the interior of your car....

In many parts of the U.S., the unofficial beginning of summertime is marked by an annual strawberry festival in late May or early June. Who doesn’t love a bowl of strawberries and shortcake with a side of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or both? If you have a sunny garden, you can grow strawberries and enjoy your own strawberry festival every year. Types of Strawberries In general, there are three types of strawberries: June-bearing, day-neutral and everbearing....