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Hex keys, Allen keys or Allen wrenches all refer to the same six-sided tool included with every piece of ready-to-assemble furniture from Walmart, Target, IKEA or Wayfair. The name Allen derives from the Allen Manufacturing Company, which made a six-sided hex bolt and wrench as early as 1910. Eventually, the term Allen wrench became as common a reference for any hex key as Kleenex for facial tissue and Sawzall for a reciprocating saw....

Outdoor cushions add a pop of patio décor to porches and decks. Typically made to withstand moisture and UV rays, a little tender loving care and routine cleaning will keep them in top shape. We’ve rounded up some tips to help you learn how to clean your outdoor cushions. Protecting outdoor furniture and cushions mean they’ll last longer, saving you money while keeping items out of the landfill. With a few simple supplies, this how-to-clean outdoor cushions guide will keep them shining all season long....

While the ghosts and goblins that appear each fall may elicit warm childhood memories, waking up to a tree full of toilet paper is rarely a welcome sight. For the pranksters responsible, there’s something to behold about a roll of TP sailing through the air, tail flapping as the roll unravels. Of course, there are worse things these tricksters could be up to. But for folks stuck cleaning that mess, there’s no time to waste....

Your gas grill has been a trusty companion these last few months, the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen and a way to relax outside. But now that winter’s here, if you’re not planning any more outdoor cooking, it’s important to winterize your gas grill before the snow starts flying. Think of it like winterizing your lawn mower, another step to preserve your stuff. There’s a little more to winterizing your grill than just throwing a cover on it and stowing in the shed for the next four months....

Terrazzo, a flooring material that’s been around since the Neolithic era, is back for a 21st century encore. Once used exclusively for interior and exterior residential and commercial flooring, in the last few years terrazzo began showing up on walls, countertops, tables and home décor accessories. So why has terrazzo endured through the eons? Here’s what we know. What Is Terrazzo? Terrazzo is a composite material first used exclusively as flooring....

What Is a Sauna? A sauna is a small room or free-standing, hut-like structure heated to temperatures ranging from 100 to 140 degrees F. The purpose of a sauna is to generate sweat through a combination of steam and heat. In the case of “wet” steam saunas, that means moist, heated air. During a typical sauna session, users sit on benches for 15 to 20 minutes and let themselves perspire....

The first house I rented had a wooden deck. Neither the landlord nor the previous tenants had done any maintenance on it. As a result, the wood was badly checked and nails were protruding (watch out, bare feet). It was also a bit creaky, and there was moss growing on the east side. I never forgot that. So when it came time to put a new deck on my house, it was a simple decision to go with composite decking....

There’s no better time than summer to enjoy an outdoor living space, and a patio or deck is the perfect place to soak up beautiful weather with family and friends. But sometimes that summer sun comes with searing heat, blistering UV rays and tropical humidity levels. Here are nine ways to protect your deck or patio and ensure years of future enjoyment. Built-In Sun Blockers Pergolas and Trellises Create instant shade by constructing a pergola or overhead trellis....

Intro to Garden Apps Gardening is such a physical, “get your hands dirty” kind of job that the idea of using an app on your phone as a gardening tool seems almost backward. But in a world brimming with smartphone applications for all kinds of purposes, many gardening apps provide terrific resources and tools for anyone trying to up their growing game. Here’s a look at the garden-related apps out there, with a few standouts from each category....

Gurgen Bakhshetyan/Shutterstock On the afternoon of Apr. 15, 2019, one of the most iconic architectural structures of Paris went up in flames. Notre Dame cathedral is one of the oldest and most memorable buildings in France’s history. People gathered around the cathedral to watch as beautiful parts of the structure fall, praying and watching in disbelief. It was a sad day for architectural history and the world. The initial construction of Notre Dame Looking back at images of this Gothic cathedral, it’s almost impossible to believe that the initial build of this masterpiece happened over 800 years ago....

It’s no secret that raccoons are a nuisance. On the hunt for food and a place to establish their den, they can show up in your yard, your attic, your chimney, rummaging through your garbage and more. While they’re not out to destroy your home sweet home, it is important to get them out and keep them out. Here’s how to get rid of raccoons. If you see a raccoon nosing around in your neighbor’s trash, they would probably appreciate a heads-up....

I like to bookend my gardening year with pansies. In early spring, the owner of my local retail greenhouse texts me to lets me know the pansies are beginning to flower and ready for planting. So I drop what I’m doing and head over to buy pansies and violas to start my gardening year. Repeat in the fall! What Is a Pansy? Pansies are short-lived perennials in the violet family....

Ted Gough/Birds & Blooms What does an Anna’s hummingbird look like? A stocky, medium-sized hummingbird, the Anna’s has a straight, short bill and a broadtail that extends past the wings. With bold, metallic greens above a gray belly, Anna’s is the only North American hummingbird sporting a full reddish crown. Males proudly display a brilliant magenta throat, called a gorget, and crown. If it appears to be more violet than rose in color, the bird could be a hybrid that is the result of mating between Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds....

Sponsored by WD-40 EZ-REACH™ I’ve used the original WD-40 product for decades as a multi-use lubricant around the house and garage. It works great to quiet squeaking door hinges and rollers on sliding doors, and to loosen up rusted nuts and bolts. But the biggest issue with the original product was keeping tabs on the red straw-it seemed to disappear at the worst possible moment. WD-40 solved that problem with its Smart Straw product: The straw is permanently attached to the actuator assembly so you never have to search for it....

What is a foyer? If you’ve just bought a house or moved out on your own, you might find yourself wondering if your home has one and how to furnish it in style. Fortunately, it isn’t nearly as intimidating as it might sound. What is a Foyer? Merriam-Webster defines a foyer as “an anteroom or lobby … or entrance hallway.” In simpler terms, a foyer is the space where your guests enter your home....

The quality of a basement stairway usually matches the quality of the basement itself. An unfinished basement used primarily for storage likely has a straight, steep stairway with open treads, or perhaps a spiral staircase. A finished basement usually features a more sophisticated staircase with closed treads, and maybe even a landing. A basement staircase is almost always more functional than decorative. That means it’s typically made from wood or plywood, without ornate details or extra-long treads....

Miter saws are popular tools among professionals and DIYers for good reason. They let you precisely cut a variety of materials, helping complete work quickly and safely. But even the best saw will only cut as well as its blade allows. Most miter saws ship with a blade that’s good but not great. When you’re ready to upgrade that starter blade, or seek a specialty blade for specific materials, here’s what you need to know....

I loved my mid-century modern home in Sarasota, Florida. But when I had to tear out some bull nose tile behind the toilet to make bathroom repairs, I faced a quandary. I had to replace four 4-in. by 4-in. aqua blue tiles original to the 1958 home. Despite scouring resale and vintage shops in the area, I couldn’t find the vintage tiles I needed. My solution? I painted white tiles to try to match the blue and coated them with clear spray-on enamel....

Photographee.eu/shutterstock When it comes to home decor, the focus over the last several years has been on minimalism. But what if the sparse look of minimalism isn’t for you? Enter maximalism, the opposite. Maximalism mixes colors, patterns and textures for an eclectic style. Here are 10 ways to embrace the maximalist decor style. Here’s our collection of 100 cheap decor ideas that look expensive. Think Small Doses While it’s called maximalism, there is such a thing as going overboard....

If you or someone in your life regularly takes baths, you probably know all about bath bombs. A few years ago, bath bombs seemed like just another trend. Now they’re a well-known and commonly used part of bath time routines in homes around the world. Bath bombs infuse bathwater with fragrances, oils, and fizzy bubbles that create a spa-like environment in any bathroom. But could the ingredients in bath bombs quietly damage your plumbing?...