Housekeeping

When you first decide to make a DIY shower installation happen, you’ll see a lot of talk about adhering tile to a shower pan, or finding the right thinset for a particular shower pan brand. You might also start hearing people discuss picking up the right shower base. These terms seem pretty similar, but is there a difference between a shower pan and a shower base?

Dusting your home is a chore that never goes away. Some parts of your home likely get dustier than others, and it can be quite difficult to keep up. Many homeowners have asked themselves the question: why is my bedroom so dusty?

If you’re in the situation of struggling to be comfortable at your bathroom vanity, you may be wondering if it is possible to raise it. While raising a vanity might sound difficult, it can actually be quite simple. Raising a bathroom vanity can make your vanity more functional and easy to use.

Renting out a basement is complicated. The first step is to make sure your basement is legal for occupancy. If your basement does not meet living standards, and you decide to rent it out anyway, you could face serious legal ramifications. Though basement apartments seem like a convenient situation for landlords and renters, the reality is that many issues can arise if you handle the situation carelessly. 

Having black appliances can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they are sleek and can hide food stains well. On the other hand, cleaning can be difficult for appliances that come into frequent contact with food and fingerprints.

Countless homeowners choose Honeywell thermostats because of their convenience, and accuracy. Because you can program a Honeywell thermostat yourself, you can effectively custom tailor your preferences within your home. However, it is within the programming of Honeywell thermostats that many homeowners find themselves confused.

Interestingly, the first ceiling fans were made from palm leaves hung on the ceiling. Electric ceiling fans have been around since 1882. Philip Diehl used a sewing machine motor to power a fan he attached to the ceiling.

A condemned house is one that the government has decided is unfit for any occupants. The government will seize any condemned property and all occupants must then vacate the property.

Sliding glass doors are a wonderful addition to any home. Sliding glass doors are typically characterized as a large glass window opening that provides door access. This door leads to the outdoors, it provides fresh air and natural light. Sliding glass doors are typically made as one single unit with two panels, and a screen running along one side. 

Indoor plants are a fantastic way to bring color, life, and even oxygen into an indoor space. They help cleanse the air and give a natural feel to an otherwise man-made space. Often, indoor plants require very little maintenance and need water once a week or even less. But from time to time, just like with any item in your home, indoor plants get dusty. This can give your otherwise green and vibrant indoor plant a dull and dirty look. But what do you do when your indoor plants start to collect dust?

It can be tricky to pair a transformer with a doorbell if you struggle to get enough power or volume. Doorbells come with specifications about their power requirements, but some homeowners want to use an overpowered transformer. So, can you use a 24V transformer on a 16V doorbell?

The water coming from our faucets may be purified, but that doesn’t mean it is pure. City water often has fluoride in it, and the pipes in your home can put other minerals in your water, too. Sometimes this can cause water discoloration, especially if you turn the water off for a period of time.

There is nothing pretty about going to the bathroom. Regardless of that, the simple fact of the matter is that we all use the toilet on a daily basis. With frequent use, there will no doubt be a mess in the bowl sooner or later.

Rust stains on concrete are actually quite a common and ugly problem. They can be caused by fertilizers, soft rock like limestone, or just imperfections in the concrete mix. Getting rid of them may not be as difficult as you may think.

A lot of people still use mothballs to control moths and other pests like snakes and rodents. But having that mothball smell is not pleasant for us humans either. In fact, the chemicals in mothballs are actually dangerous to humans and pets.

If you want to park in front of your house or have your guests do the same, that’s your prerogative. More than likely, you keep the area in front of your house clear for mail delivery, garbage pick-up, and similar events. But what do you do when your neighbors keep parking in front of your house?

Kerosene is known for being one of the most pungent types of fuel on the market, and if you are like many people out in the country, you sometimes have to carry it indoors during winter months. The only problem? Kerosene can spill, and when it does, it can reek and also stain your carpet something awful. So, what can you do if you’re faced with a kerosene spill?

Exterior paint is known to be both strong and durable. But, is it appropriate for indoor use? It may seem like a great idea to use exterior paint on interior walls; however, this option has serious downfalls. One has to beware of the dangers of exterior paint when it’s used indoors.

One of the best and most thorough ways to ensure none of your pantry items expires is to clean and organize your pantry regularly. To properly clean and organize this space in the kitchen, you must remove everything from the shelves.

Dealing with a broken window can be very frustrating. It can ruin your ability to control your home’s temperature and ruin your sense of security.

Before a roommate can move in, you must take a practical look at your home. This can help you divide space, designate a room for them, and set a rental price. Think realistically about how much space you have at home and how much you frequently use.

Nothing ruins wash day like a broken appliance. Not that wash day is much fun to begin with. But when you have a problem, it just makes it that much worse. You get all your wet clothes into the dryer and turn it on and… nothing happens.

If you have severe allergy symptoms while in your home, especially in the spring when pollen counts are high, then an air purifier is a wise idea. Air purifiers can remove pollen, dust, and all sorts of other airborne allergy triggers from the air.

You’ve been thinking about this for a while now: Eventually, you would love to have two adorable babies with your partner. But first thing first, you need a house that will allow you to build a happy family. So, you’ve probably wondered how many bedrooms would you need if you have a family of four.

Your Airbnb guest won’t leave a kind review if the bathrooms and kitchen in your home are dirty. Clean bathrooms and kitchens go a long way in making a great impression on your Airbnb guests. Deep clean these rooms as if you’re showing your home to potential buyers. 

If you only have one type of vinegar in your home, then it should probably be distilled white vinegar. While this isn’t necessarily the most flavorful vinegar, it is certainly the most versatile. White vinegar is inoffensive in flavor, which allows for its versatility in cooking. It’s perfect for poaching eggs and adding to baked recipes, as it doesn’t have an overwhelming flavor. This vinegar is also ideal for cleaning, as it has no color, and is great at removing bacteria.

If you are looking for the cheese that will last the longest in the refrigerator, look no further than the firm and delicious parmesan. Parmesan can last months or even a year in your refrigerator. This cheese lasts so long because it is dry, aged, and salty. Typically the driest parmesan and aged varieties of this cheese last the longest.

So, you had mice, but you got rid of them. And maybe you got a cat to help keep them away. But what about that horrid smell that is left behind? The strong scent of urine in the carpet and wood floors just will not go away.

Sausage makes for a delicious treat any time, day or night. Have some sausage links or patties with breakfast or a big fat brat with dinner. There really is no time of day or year where a sausage doesn’t work perfectly.

When you aren’t able to use your kitchen, this can put a strain on your household for several reasons. A kitchen is a place to not only cook meals but where we find ourselves spending a lot of time with our family. Plumbing issues can make you feel helpless, especially when they affect an everyday appliance like the kitchen sink. 

Hardwood floors are becoming increasingly popular due to their beauty. They match with any wall color and help to spread the natural light coming in through the windows. Some people are even replacing their carpets with wood floors. If this is something that interests you, how much will it cost?

Have you bought a Kobalt brand tool from Lowes recently and noticed their Hassle-Free Lifetime Guarantee advertised on its packaging? If you haven’t, the guarantee states that “you should never have a problem with your Kobalt tool. However, if you do, return the item to the place of purchase for a free replacement. No questions asked.”

Is your Kwikset door latch stuck and are you experiencing retraction issues? With a compromised door latch, your daily routine becomes distrusted and your privacy severely diminished. It’s important that you find a solution as quick as possible and also a way to fix it that will prevent the issue from reoccurring.

Nobody enjoys washing clothes, but it has to be done. And you want to make sure you have the right size washing machine for your needs. If you have a large family, you know you need an extra-large washing machine. But for a single person or couple with a king-size comforter, what size washing machine are you going to need when you wash that oversized bedspread?

No matter where you live or what your lifestyle is like, it’s safe to say that you’ll need some outdoor lighting at night. Dusk to dawn lights are one of the more popular categories of outdoor lighting on the market. This category is meant to turn on when motion hits the light, or when the sun sets. If you have them, you’re probably wondering why your lights keep turning on and off.

These days, liquid detergent isn’t the only thing one can use to get their dishes clean in the dishwasher. Now there are dishwasher detergent pods, and these are beneficial because they pack a good cleaning punch while also being convenient and easy to use. But are dishwasher detergent pods safe? Such is the question that this article will answer.

Ferrets are cute little animals, but they produce a musky odor that some people find unpleasant. If you keep a ferret in your house as a pet, the entire space could have a strong odor, especially if you fail to keep its cage clean. Failure to wash the animal and its litter box and bedding could also contribute to the musky smell in your house.

If you’ve just moved into a new home, there might be a homeowners association to join. Homeowners associations are known for beautifying neighborhoods and raising property value. However, not all communities come equipped with one from the outset.

It’s perfectly normal for your furnace to be making a little bit of noise while it’s running. Most appliances emit a low buzz or a soft hum while they are in use. However, if your furnace is making a loud humming noise, you might need a maintenance specialist. 

If there’s anything I learned to hate, it’s meter readings. No, I don’t want to have to see how badly I’m clobbered with electricity use. I just don’t want to look at it.

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.

While they may be cute to some, rats can be a real pesky problem. When they’ve gained access to your home or have settled in your backyard, it can be challenging to get rid of them. Whether you’ve got one rat or a whole infestation, it is vital to quickly and carefully deal with the issue.

This pointer might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but when it comes to small spaces, it’s a game-changer. Remove closet doors and replace them with curtains. Here’s why.

Suction cups provide excellent utility. They enable us to hang a variety of items around our home in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

When we think of a circuit breaker that keeps tripping, common wisdom would be that you’re dealing with a home that’s using up too much energy. So, if it’s happening to you, you might unplug some stuff. But, sometimes, the breaker just will keep tripping regardless of how much stuff you unplug. Clearly, it’s not energy consumption anymore. So, what gives?

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.

Your garage fridge is likely to freeze if it is overcrowded and stuffed with food. Overstuffing your fridge typically means that many items get crowded in the back. This can easily block the vents in the back of your garage fridge and make the contents freeze.

Instant Pot’s multi-cookers have grown more and more popular over the years. More homeowners have started turning to them as they have sought faster, more versatile, and more convenient cooking appliances. Does that convenience extend to maintenance though? Can you count on your dishwasher to handle your Instant Pot or do you have to hand wash it?

When you have central air and heat, air vents are typically in each room. Some large rooms have two or three. But what about the return air vents? Do you need one of them or more for each room?

When looking for ways to protect your home, there are a lot of different things to think about. Your driveway is something that gets used every day but isn’t often taken into consideration with regards to protection. By covering your asphalt driveway with a seal coating, you can help keep it in good condition.

Oatmeal is one of the most popular breakfast food in the world. It is also a common physician recommendation for those looking to lower cholesterol. Oats contain soluble fiber, which helps reduce your LDL cholesterol.

Heating a house is something that requires either a central heating unit or individual heaters for each room. Federal laws require that every habitable space has access to heat.

Having an efficient swamp cooler in the summer results from taking care of your cooler in the winter. In this article, we will give you a step by step process to winterize your swamp cooler properly. Preparing your swamp cooler for the off-season is not difficult, and it will increase the life of your unit.

Clogged drains can cause problems in the kitchen and bathroom. The last thing anyone wants is their kitchen sink to back up or their clogged tub drain overflowing. Luckily, in many cases, white vinegar is the perfect home remedy for unclogging drains, depending on the cause.

There is no worse smell for a non-smoker than the stench of cigarette smoke. The worst-case scenario is that your house smells like cigarette smoke when you’re not even a smoker. So, why does my house smell like cigarette smoke?

If you have a lot of floor space in your home, then you might have a great way to burn calories without even knowing it. Mopping the floors can burn anywhere from 100 to 300 calories in an hour. Mopping is an activity you do standing up, and uses many of your muscle groups, from your lower body to your core, and especially your upper body.

You can’t safely clean a self-cleaning litter box if it’s connected to power. First, locate the control panel and press the “power” button. The location varies between units, so check the instructions if you can’t find the control panel.

The first method you should try to remove stains from your cutting board involves your kitchen sponge, soap, hot water, and elbow grease. Use the same method you would use to wash your other dishes, only apply extra effort to the stained area.

Does your heat pump have a buildup of ice or is it having trouble entering defrost mode? Eventually, almost every heat pump will reach a point where it creates ice on its mechanisms. The machine will then enter a mode known as defrosting in order to combat and melt the ice.

For some people, too much dust in their house makes them self-conscious about their cleaning habits. But for others, excessive dust leads to constant sneezing, itchy eyes, and other health problems, as it triggers significant allergic reactions. Whether for your health, your home’s appearance, or both, there are easy ways to reduce dust in your home.