Housekeeping

Also known as Berry Bugs, chiggers are tiny pests that resemble something between a wood tick and a bed bug. These bugs don’t pose a threat to humans but can deliver a nasty rash that can disrupt your sleep. If you have chiggers in your home, there are simple things you can do to get rid of them. 

Having fried food is not exactly healthy, but that doesn’t stop us from indulging in it from time to time! But thanks to air fryers, it’s possible to have our favorite fried foods, with less oil, fewer calories, and more goodness.

If nobody ever told you not to pour coffee grounds down your sink into the garbage disposal, now you know. Coffee grounds are not supposed to go down the drain. Throw them in the garbage or use them for your garden compost. They are good for your soil.

Being woken up by a smoke alarm in the middle of the night is bad enough but it is even worse when it is a false alarm.

A flooded septic tank is nothing to mess around with. Your septic tank is responsible for draining all the wastewater from your home, so a flooded one poses a problem. A flooded septic tank can cause sewage to back up into your home’s drains and emit a foul odor. This is a stinky problem you’ll have to deal with sooner rather than later.

It’s not unusual for there to be several gallons of water inside the water softener at any given time. However, there is certainly something wrong if your water softener is overflowing. If you are experiencing this, you want to know how to fix it and what is causing it immediately. Delaying this issue could cause thousands in damage and hours of work to clean.

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.

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?

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.

You might be the breadwinner and adult, but you should always get your child’s input before preparing a school lunch. If they don't like what you make, then there’s a good chance it will go uneaten.

Granite is one of the most popular home building materials. It’s especially popular inside the kitchen where it is often the material of choice for creating gorgeous countertops.

Do you somehow keep ending up with a yard full of branches, even though you don’t have any trees? If your answer is yes, then you’re likely the victim of an oblivious or inconsiderate neighbor. But, if the branches are from your tree, that’s a different story.

One reason people get maggots is because they empty their trash infrequently. Sure, fewer trips to the dumpster means using fewer plastic bags. This is often smart logic. If, however, you live in a warm climate, and have an open-air kitchen, then this may also mean you have a breeding ground for maggots.

When you live in an apartment, it’s difficult to prepare for services like pest control. Unlike homeowners, you likely won’t have the convenience of talking with pest control beforehand. You may have to rely on secondhand information from your landlord.

Marshmallows are an amazing part of almost every summer and fall season. You can’t make smores without them, and let’s just face it, Halloween wouldn’t be the same without marshmallow ghost treats. The thing is, sometimes, they can end up in awkward places…such as the carpet. So how do you get this sugary treat off your rug?

Boilers play an important role in any home. These units work by heating water and the house with steam. The steam travels through the house in pipes and radiators. Boilers are expensive to install, but have a long lifespan and are energy efficient.

The mini fridge is a smart way to keep things cold in spatially-challenged places, such as dorm rooms or the garage when you’re working on a project.

Leeks are a vegetable closely related to the onion and often have a very similar flavor profile. This vegetable is commonly used in salads, sauces, stews, and soups. With a softer flavor than an  onion, the leek is a perfect vegetable substitute in many familiar recipes.

When choosing the perfect pots and pans for your home, the options seem endless. With so many home chefs around the world, the choice of cookware options has increased in recent years. In addition to the cookware brand, you also need to choose the material, whether you want steel, copper, or another type of cookware. Copper cookware is often considered top-tier, but is it right for you?

Cats, like many animals, have a strong sense of smell, which you can use to your advantage. Many smells deter cats, such as thyme. Many people love the smell, but cats dislike it enough to avoid your counters altogether. 

Coffee machines are super convenient to have in your home, especially cause so many of them come with timers now, so you don’t have to remember to turn the coffee pot on in time before heading to work or starting your day. However, one thing that gets super annoying is the need to descale it. But, it needs to be done! But what if you have a Breville Coffee Maker? How do you descale that?

If you share a roadway or driveway with one or more neighbors, a shared driveway agreement is a good idea.  In many instances, a shared driveway agreement comes into being haphazardly leading to legal issues in the future.

Does the constant squeaking of your hardwood floors get on your nerves? What can be done about those annoying, squeaky hardwood floors? Many online forums and housekeeping guides recommend using baby powder to alleviate the squeaks. But what does it do? How exactly do you do this? We’ll tell you!

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.

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.

Hoverflies are pesky little insects that love your garden as much as you. While they’re necessary for the ecosystem, they can still be a nuisance. This is especially true if they occupy your home.

As a New Jersey citizen, I have learned to take pasta sauce seriously. There are few things that are as upsetting as Italian gravy that’s gone bad, especially in the fridge. If you are like me and have a fondness for some good sauce, you’re wondering how long you can keep it in the fridge before it goes bad. As it turns out, the answer might surprise you…

Paint thinner, along with similar solvents, can be very dangerous when disposed of improperly. They can pollute groundwater or potentially cause fires when thrown in your household trash. Not to mention, that the EPA has proposed banning the major chemical found in most paint thinners: methylene chloride. Studies show that short term, it can poison your central nervous system and prolonged exposure can result in lung cancer, liver cancer, and even death.

It really is incredible to think how far something as simple as laundry has come. Thanks to washing machines, we can now handle a week’s worth of dirty clothes in just a few hours. Moreover, modern washing machines have made it easier than ever to simply start a load and go back to our day.

Having kids is equally fun, stressful, heartwarming, and fulfilling, but it comes with a lot of work. Keeping the house clean while simultaneously tending to all of your child’s needs takes a lot of coordinating and experience. You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled with keeping your house clean with kids, especially if they’re young.

Some people swear by Water Heaters as a cheaper alternative to Boilers for radiant floor heating. Like most topics in home improvement – both options have their merits.

Tea is a beverage that has shaped societies, sparked revolutions, and is a drink that millions of people enjoy every day. Even with its widespread consumption and popularity, a significant amount of tea goes stale in the pantry in many households. To prevent good tea from spoiling in your home, you’ll need to find ways to keep it from going bad.

Having a wavy roof may sound like fun but it really isn’t. In fact, it can be a sign of something majorly wrong up there. Wavy roofs are not normal, and they do not happen on their own naturally. So, what are some of the reasons your roof can look wavy.

Window boxes fit in perfectly in any home and can liven up your exterior when you fill them with plants. Some window boxes don’t require drilling, but you can get around it with others if you use vinyl siding hangers. Whether it be using vinyl siding hangers or purchasing a special window box, let’s take a look at how you can hang a window box without drilling holes.

Doing any type of home improvement project is going to be a pricey matter, and if you have to hire a contractor, then things get even pricier. Of course, hiring any contractor comes with a risk. What if work is bad? Or worse, what if they don’t do the work? One of the most common issues people have is dealing with a contractor that charges far higher than what their initial estimate shows. So, what can you do?

Pet ownership has a miraculous way of turning people into cleaning gurus, even with a pet as “self-sustaining” as a cat. Let’s face it. Cats clean up after themselves for the most part, but even the daintiest of kittens can still have gross byproducts. A good example of this is dealing with cat litter that’s gotten stuck to carpeting after Fluffy uses the litter box. So, how do you fix this issue?

Ninja blenders are amazing! They work so diligently to chop up your favorite fruits and blend them into a great tasting smoothie. They can also double as a food processor, chopping up onions or celery to put into your favorite salads. The downside? The cleanup that comes afterward. They’re not fun to wash by hand. 

When you first start learning about the plumbing process, you’ll start to uncover a lot of different parts of your home you might not have realized existed. This can include things like septic tanks, drainage fields, and a lesser-known part of your system called a seepage pit. So, what is this thing, and why do people have them?

If you prepare even the most basic meals, you’ll quickly realize you need spices. Eclectic collections of spices are found in nearly every kitchen. Whether they live in a spice rack, cabinet, or drawer, these small bottles of flavor are undeniable kitchen essentials. While everyone knows spices are important, far fewer know exactly the most important spices to have within arm's reach.

Washing dishes is part of everyday life as an adult. While the task of washing by hand can be a bit tedious, there are all sorts of devices and accessories that make washing dishes less annoying. The dishwasher is the best example of a device that makes doing dishes less time- and energy-consuming. But if you are worried about your energy costs, you might wonder if it costs more to do dishes by hand,  or in a dishwasher.

Brussels sprouts are the perfect fall vegetable that can pair nicely with pork, chicken, or pasta. This option is a healthy vegetable that is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Brussels sprouts will last a surprisingly long time if properly stored.

Wallpaper from the late 70s might make you nostalgic for grandma’s house, but it can make your home feel seriously outdated. If you’re looking to update your home, it might be time to remove that old wallpaper. But what is the best way to remove the wallpaper? You don’t have to buy expensive equipment. You can use vinegar and fabric softener!

Kitchen mats sure can tie the room together. Not only that, but they also serve a functional purpose. Kitchen mats provide a comfortable surface during long dishwashing sessions. They’re also good to have around in the presence of water to soak up spills and minimize slipping.

What looks like a skunk, smells like a skunk, and makes your house smell like a skunk? The answer seems pretty simple…or does it?

Pillow top mattresses are increasingly popular these days, and not just because of how cozy the name sounds. They are fairly affordable and can be found in virtually every mattress size available. Surprisingly, they are one of the oldest types of mattresses around. They’re making a comeback, and that means it pays off to know how to clean them.

Installing a home sauna is a big step, but many homeowners find it worth the time and money. However, it’s only worth the cost if you prioritize maintenance, or else you’ll experience problems, like mold. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to prevent mold in a sauna.

While there are many options to pave your driveway, concrete is a popular and wallet-friendly choice. The following are some of the many benefits to paving your driveway with concrete:

Cream cheese is a versatile topping or ingredient. Whether you want to spread it on a bagel or implement it into your latest dish, there are tons of uses for cream cheese. It may become a staple in your refrigerator.

Bananas are one of the best and most popular fruits to freeze. This yellow fruit is usually cheap and sold in bunches. Bananas are also a fruit that should not be put in the refrigerator, as this allows bananas to ripen naturally and quickly.

In the age of cellphones and the Internet, we’ve become unaccustomed to the idea of a knock at the door. From the other side, is it weird to just go up and knock on someone’s door anymore? Is it Illegal? Are you trespassing?

No home is complete without a refrigerator. While modern refrigerators are impressive, they are not infallible and are prone to many problems. We all want our refrigerators to be cold, but not cold enough to freeze the food. Many homeowners have asked themselves the question: why is my refrigerator freezing my food?

If you already have a sprinkler system in place, it is definitely time that you think about hooking up the sprinkler timer into the system itself. The timer has many benefits over the long run that will make it more than worth the time.

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.

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Ninja makes some of the most popular cooking products in the world, especially when it comes to their blenders. Their Ninja Coffee Bar line is quickly becoming a mainstay for people who want to get coffee at the drop of a hat. In fact, if you go to a typical office, you probably will see a Coffee Bar in your rec room. But, how do you clean it, and how often should you?

Man’s best friend loves to play outside and one of their favorite pass-times can spell disaster for your yard: Digging holes. These can be unsightly, dangerous, and bad for your soil.

Cleaning paint can be a headache. When acrylic paint dries, it dries hard, into an almost plastic-like form. This can make it hard to restore a brush that has dried or get paint out of something like clothing.

When it comes to building high-quality tools, few companies have as big a name as DeWalt. This is a company that built its entire name on being as all-American as apple pie, beer, and the 4th of July. Lately, much of the tool manufacturing world has been switching its factory locations from the US to other countries. Is DeWalt buckling to that pressure, though?

Parchment and wax paper are sold right next to each other on the grocery store shelf. The packaging is often so similar, you might mistaken one for the other. While both of these papers are used in food preparation and food storage, they have very different uses. 

You cannot legally leave your old furniture on the curb. It’s considered a hazard to put furniture on the street, and you can receive fines in some states and municipalities. There are exceptions to the rule if you call your trash collection service and request a large item pickup.