Housekeeping

The main reason fabric starts to smell bad over time is because it’s dirty. If you never wash your throw pillows, you shouldn’t be too shocked when they start smelling bad after a while. Throw pillows typically have a pillowcase you can remove and wash, as well as an insert you can wash. 

On average, a septic tank will need to be pumped every three to five years. However, there are other measures you can take that will help extend this time and prevent any backups, clogging or unpleasant odors.

For amateur craftsmen, building a new structure can be an interesting challenge. There is the need to build the physical space, sure, but the bigger challenge becomes getting power to that new structure with a sub panel located a good distance away.

Skylights are a great way to add natural light and a feeling of airiness to any room of your house. They can also help with your home’s utilities, decreasing heating and lighting costs. When you decide to install this gorgeous product, you may wonder how long you can expect it to last.

You have invested a lot of time and money into your home. Unfortunately, you’ve noticed your driveway, garage or other concrete surfaces don’t look as good as they once did. You’ve done some homework and concrete resurfacing seems like the best option to repair and refresh that concrete slab. But before you spend the money, you need to know if it will last.

High heating bills are among the most dreaded parts of winter. However, it is posible to turn the furnace off without sacrificing warmth and comfort. Staying warm at home during the winter without heating is much easier than you may think.

Water pressure regulators are an essential part of our plumbing systems. These devices help to bring the pressure of the water to a safe level. Most pressure reducing valves have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.

For those of us who like to change things up every so often, Pottery Barn offers a variety of couch slipcovers. They have a wide range of materials, colors, and textures to suit any style. And here’s some great news: Pottery Barn couch covers are so easy to wash and maintain!

A portable generator can come in handy in countless ways. However, connecting a portable generator to your house without a transfer switch can present its challenges. A transfer switch can divide an electrical load between sources and is often used for backup generators in the event of power outages.

Not too long ago, I had a friend who’s reckless cooking habits ended up making a huge dent in their kitchen. More specifically, a pot that was tossed on a glass stovetop ended up causing the glass to break.

Appliances such as washers and dryers are a modern necessity, but that doesn’t mean that they’re always easy to use. Dryers are prone to operational errors or unexplainable behavior just like any other appliance. So, why is your dryer blowing cold air, and should you be worried about it?

Hard water: An oxymoron or the cause of cleaning nightmares around the nation? While the term seems contradictory, hard water buildup is a real problem plaguing many households. It also poses the question of how exactly one would clean water stains without using more water.

Do you have a home improvement project coming up? Are you thinking about doing up the exteriors of your home? Then it is imperative that you zero in on the right exterior house paint. Your choice of materials for the job will determine whether you are making a sound and sensible investment or just increasing your costs.

Many homeowners are drawn to dimmer switches because they provide any lighting options in one switch. Understandably, many of those homeowners are left confused about the difference between the variety of dimmer switches available.

Since your pet can only walk into your home from one or two entrances, you must arm these entry points with mats. Place absorbent mats or an outdoor rug with bristles to help absorb mud and remove dirt particles from your pet’s paws and fur.

I love the look of a microfiber couch, and really, who doesn’t? Microfiber is the modern alternative to suede and is regularly ranked as one of the easiest to clean materials for sofas. It’s even pet-friendly! Cleaning it, though, can be a bit of a hassle. Is it possible to wash microfiber couch cushions, and if so, how?

A sprinkler system can be a multi-faceted tool that you can use for not only home protection but for properly watering gardens and landscaping. They are meant to make things easier but there are times where they simply won’t turn off and an adjustment doesn’t work.

Hosting your entire family for one of the winter holidays is a significant undertaking. There is a lot to coordinate and plan, and the costs can quickly add up. Food, decorations, and equipment rental fees can amount to many hundreds of dollars, which is why it can be helpful to find ways to save money when hosting a holiday gathering.

If you have young children, you likely know all about the challenges of keeping a home clean. Young kids are bundles of boundless energy and they tend to make a mess when they’re having fun. Give them crayons to play around with and things can get messy pretty quickly.

Tempered glass is one of the most durable types of glass in the world, which is why it’s often used in convenience store counters, cellphones, as well as commercial furniture. When you first get it, it has a tendency of having a shiny, pristine look that’s not unlike regular glass. As the years pass, though, it starts to become harder to clean and even a little cloudy. Thankfully, if you clean it the right way, you can restore it to its former glory…

No matter where you live, your house needs to have solid insulation in order to keep you (and your family) comfortable. A lack of insulation will make cold intolerable, increase your air conditioning bills, and even cause humidity to potentially harm your furniture and items.

If you’re looking for the ideal drinkware for daily use, acrylic glasses are an excellent choice. Not only are they inexpensive, they are also incredibly durable and versatile. This makes them perfect for home, commercial, and even industrial situations. But, how do you clean acrylic glasses? Or, more specifically, “Is acrylic dishwasher safe?”

Having a comfy couch is easily one of the best parts of a living room. After a long, exhausting day, nothing beats sitting on the sofa and relaxing. Since it’s one of the most heavily trafficked furniture pieces in your home, it’s important to have it just how you like it. 

A Jacuzzi is a great way to add a sense of calm and luxury to your home. However, there is nothing luxurious about getting into a Jacuzzi full of chunks of black flakes. So, what is the black stuff coming out of my Jacuzzi jets?

One of the easiest ways to preserve garlic for later use is to freeze the entire bulb, raw. To make this method most effective, use a vacuum-sealed bag or an airtight container. Add your cleaned whole garlic bulbs, seal them, and simply store them in your deep freezer.

Fiberglass is one of those materials that many craftsmen have a hard time with, at least when they first start working with it. This is especially true if you want to decorate it and add your own personal touch to your project.

Nothing is inviting about dirty gym equipment. Not only is it unsanitary, but your gym equipment will only get dirtier with time if you don’t clean it. Zogics is a popular brand of disinfectant wipes that many people use to clean their gym equipment. 

If you are looking to build or repair something, then liquid nails are a fantastic tool to use. When using real nails, you have the possibility of hurting your hands by hitting them with a hammer. This can be tiring, cause pain, and be all-around frustrating. There are also times when a space is too tight to get into with a hammer and a nail. In cases like these, we recommend using liquid nails!

Furnaces can generally come in both gas and electric. There is, however, the issue of a gas-like smell that occurs when running the furnace. Keep in mind that this will not be a problem for the electric varieties; this is a gas-only problem.

Have you ever driven through the countryside, through farming areas? You may have passed by farms with vast fields set far apart from the barn. How do farmers contain their animals in a setup like this? How did the electric fence span the whole area of the field when the barn so far away? Doesn’t an electric fence have to create a loop for it to work?

Have you ever turned on the faucet to fill your bathtub only to be surprised by the water coming from your shower head? Believe it or not, this is a pretty common issue. The good news? It may be super easy to fix! It’s just a matter of finding out the problem and knowing how to repair it.

Wood-burning stoves can save you hundreds of dollars every winter. We all know that running the heat can make quite the dent in our wallets. One of the last stages of installation when it comes to a wood stove is putting in the chimney. 

What do you do when your power goes out? A standby generator is an excellent piece of equipment to have. After all, this provides electricity to your home in the case of an accident or a storm. Depending on your particular generator, you will have an interlock switch or transfer switch. Both are different in the way they operate.

Home Depot is amongst the most reliable outlets for home goods and services. They offer thousands of products, but where they excel is their in-store services. So, does Home Depot rekey locks?

You cannot establish rules with your roommates until you have a conversation. This is everyone’s chance to voice their opinions, concerns, and expectations. Make a mental list of talking points before the conversation to make sure you cover everything.

Undeniably, if you cook using pots and pans, you also have to clean your pots and pans. Though, if you cook often, you may start to notice that your daily washing routine isn’t enough to prevent grease and food residue from forming stubborn stains. With this in mind, and for the sake of convenience, you might find yourself wondering: “Is Farberware dishwasher safe?”

Home is where the heart is, but it can be detrimental to your health if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings. Indoor air quality affects everything from your mental health to your lungs, skin, and eyes. Many homeowners understand this but ask the question: Why is my home air quality bad?

There are many different components to your fridge. When one of them goes bad, there is a chance that your fridge may not work efficiently and could stop working altogether. Identifying the various components can be difficult, particularly if you don’t know what to look for.

You may or may not be aware of the heavy price tag associated with vinyl plank flooring. It is because of this fact that most homeowners will want to go to extra lengths to ensure that the flooring is protected and can last as long as possible. You may find yourself asking, “Can you put heavy furniture on vinyl plank flooring?”

Preparing for the winter is an important part of life for those living in colder climates. If you own a home in a cold region, you probably have one or more fireplaces that get lots of use in the winter months.

Vaulted ceilings are in right now. Like, super in. They’re considered to be one of the most frequently requested amenities in luxury apartments as well as in regular homes. Of course, there are different types of vaulted ceilings. One of the more popular is called a “tongue and groove” vaulted ceiling. If you’re debating installing this ceiling, it’s a good idea to know what you’re in for.

Carpet on stairs presents a few extra challenges when it comes to cleaning. It’s not like you can quickly run your vacuum across the steps. However, knowing how to clean carpet on stairs doesn’t take a lot of specialized knowledge or tools.

If you are leaving your house for the summer, there are quite a few things that you should do. The temperature inside the home is as important as the temperature outside. Making sure that it stays in the correct range will lower your risk of any problems.

Getting blood stains on your carpet can be a very problematic experience. Whether you get a small or large amount of blood on the carpet, it can have a staining effect which can seem quite irremovable at first. Fortunately, however, there are a few surefire ways to clear up the mess.

There are all sorts of wood you can chop, season, and burn in your fireplace. The exact varieties all depend on where you live.

Window mounted refrigerated air conditioning units are popular when a bit of extra cooling power is needed. Window mounted air conditioners are easy to install and economical. But, what if there is no window in the space you want to cool?  Can you install a window air conditioner unit through a wall sleeve?

When it is clean and given the chance to shine, aluminum can be stunning. There are a ton of retail products out there that claim to be able to polish the surfaces of aluminum items, but there are some caveats.

Freezing leftovers and any perishable food item you don’t plan on using immediately is a great way to preserve freshness. Food lasts longer in the freezer than it does in the refrigerator, and often tastes just as good once it is properly thawed. While food might last for upwards of months in the freezer, it doesn’t last forever. How long should you store food in the freezer before it goes bad?

When you have a dog or a cat, letting them roam around your yard just makes sense. They need fresh air, after all. Unfortunately, if you have a gap under your fence gate, the safety you are trying to offer them through your fence just won’t be there. A gap under a gate doesn’t have to be a major issue, though. All you need to do is know how to fix it.

Rainy weather can be relaxing if you’re at home, that is until your house smells like rotten eggs afterward. It can come as a shock when you notice sewer odors in your home, especially right after a peaceful rain. So, why is it that your house smells like rotten eggs when it rains?

There’s something super relaxing about a warm bubble bath or a hot shower. But, when your water runs cold after a few moments or never gets hot at all, it’s anything but relaxing. When your water heater goes bust, it can be a considerable inconvenience. 

Bathroom ventilation is essential to prevent mold growth, mildew, and odors from lingering. However, it is easy said than done to vent a bathroom when you have no outside access. So, how can you vent a bathroom with no outside access?

Whether you’re looking to restore a piece of furniture, wooden molding, or another type of woodwork, you’ll likely find yourself needing to strip down the pre-existing layers of paint. As with any other paint job, the initial preparation is the most important step. In fact, the condition of the painting surface heavily determines the quality of the finish once you’ve completed painting.

Finding out that your home contains asbestos can be frightening and shakes things up. If the asbestos has been disturbed, it must be removed, and that can be nerve-wracking. Removing asbestos comes at a price, but it is worth it to eliminate the threat that it poses.

Blinds serve an important function in our home. With them, we have privacy and the ability to control how much light gets into each of our rooms.

Bissell has been a leading manufacturer of home cleaning appliances for more than 140 years, and it’s been said that this company even supplied England’s Queen Victoria with sweepers in the 1890s. Since that time, their products have improved substantially, and one can find their sweepers, washers, vacuum cleaners, and bare-floor vacuums being used by not only homeowners but business owners as well.

When your Whirlpool Duet electric dryer appears to stop heating, it is not just inconvenient and frustrating. You might be thinking about costly repair bills as well, but don’t.

Tune in to any weather report during the fall or winter and you’re likely hearing something about wind chill. If you live in a part of the country famous for having icy conditions, you’re probably very familiar with that term already.

Basmati is one of the most popular and distinct grains of rice on the planet. This rice is easy to distinguish from other varieties when it’s cooked due to its signature long grain. It expands lengthwise significantly when cooked, making it one of the longest-grain rices on the planet.

A faucet aerator is a great way to conserve water usage and save a bit of money on your water bill. Faucet aerators mix air in with the water stream, saving up to an extra 16 gallons of water per day! It’s essential to clean your faucet aerator regularly and replace it every year to ensure continued efficiency.