Housekeeping

If you are itching to carve a pumpkin, you must remember that pumpkins shrivel up and rot fairly quickly. As soon as you slice into a pumpkin, you also cut into its lifespan. In general, a carved pumpkin lasts between five days and two weeks, with 10 days being the standard “average.”

We have all experienced it at least once.  You are enjoying a nice warm shower, and, without warning, the shower turns icy cold.   It is an unpleasant experience, at best.  Why does the shower go cold when someone turns on another tap in the house?

When water is backing up out of your basement floor drain, it could be the result of many different issues. However, it usually isn’t the fault of the floor drain itself. A common time for back-ups is during heavy rain, but why is your basement floor drain backing up when it rains?

Ceiling fans are an important part of our homes that often gets overlooked. They keep us cool in summer, warm in the winter, and circulate air when we need it most.

I have a confession to make: I love cooking up a greasy breakfast. It’s a vice of mine, big time. And when I cook with a lot of oil and bacon, the grease crackles and flies all over the cabinets. After my cooking sessions, my cabinets are a royal mess. The good news is, there are a couple of handy ways that you can clean greasy cabinets without losing your mind. Wanna know the secrets?

Swiffers make it easy to clean your house without needing to drag a bucket around with you. The Swiffer’s cleaning solution is quite effective and eliminates the need to make a mixture of your own. However, Swiffers aren’t ideal for all applications. There are several things you should never clean with a Swiffer.

Imagine the following scenario. You and your neighbor have been living next to each other for years, and you never really had any issues. Yet, one day, you notice a construction crew near your yard. They’re putting up a fence! You’re confused because you’re not really sure whether or not they are allowed to do this. Is this even legal?

In recent years, memory foam has become the pillow material of choice because of its long lifespan. Memory foam pillows can either be one solid piece or shredded pieces of foam.

One day you wake up and discover that when you flush your toilet, the kitchen sink starts gurgling. Or maybe the kitchen sink gurgles when the water goes down. Your kitchen sink gets more use than any other faucet in your house, so this is typically where you end up noticing the issue. But the problem may have started somewhere else.

It isn’t something that happens often, but there will come a need to disconnect your gas stove. Whether it is to perform a thorough cleaning, to replace a damaged connector, or swapping out the appliance entirely, it helps to know how to disconnect everything properly. Whatever the case, it can be easy to properly disconnect the gas line.

Gorilla Glue is one of the most useful substances known to man when it comes to fixing things, including things like loose furniture. Unfortunately, it also has a really sticky, gooey consistency that magically seems to get into every nook and cranny imaginable. Most people out there have wondered if there’s a way to remove excess Gorilla Glue from surfaces. Thankfully, there is.

Duffel bags are versatile and convenient, and they can be made of leather, fabric, or synthetic material. Duffle bags serve well as gym, travel, and sports bags, and they’re also used by non-commissioned personnel in the military.

Coffee lovers often have a particular fondness for their coffee makers. That is no less true for those who use Keurig as their coffee maker of choice. Like every good coffee connoisseur or anyone who just likes good coffee, that often means  taking care of those coffee machines. That also leads to questions about things such as water filters and other coffee maker considerations.

When it comes to drying laundry, polyester needs to be handled with care. Your drying machine can handle many tasks, but if you’re not careful, you could end up damaging your clothes. Polyester can be found in many types of clothing and is known to shrink.

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.

As the coldest months of the year are approaching, owning a heated mattress pad becomes a necessity. They are ideal for cuddling up after a long chilly day, as they deliver maximum warmth on days that are so cold that you just want to stay in bed. Not to mention, they can help you remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature overnight thus improving your quality of sleep.

Some people may think that getting laundry detergent in your carpet is a good thing. But it can be a real pain to get it out of the carpet. Especially if you spilled the liquid kind. The granulated detergent can come up with a vacuum, but that liquid spill is going to take a bit more work.

The idea of scouring the Internet to find the right brand of refrigerator for your home can feel daunting. Still, if you don’t do research, you risk purchasing a refrigerator that’s unreliable and prone to breaking. We have created a guide using research from resources such as Yale Appliance and hundreds of online reviews so that you can easily choose a refrigerator brand.

Your washing machine, when working optimally, makes keeping your clothes clean easier than ever before. But like any machine running on a variety of components, there is a chance that it could break down over time.

For many people, the thought of straightening up their house sends shivers down their spine. They try everything they can to put it off, from diverting to Netflix binges to watching TikTok cat videos. But then, things pile up, making the idea of tidying up even more unbearable.

If you have some old rice in your home, you may wonder if it has gone bad. There is no simple yes or no answer to this broad question, as different types of rice have different expiration dates. White rice is the most popular type of rice and can last many years if properly stored.

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.

Kittens are loving, adorable, and tiny, but they can make big messes. While they quickly adapt to litter boxes, you may have to clean a few messes before then. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to litter train a kitten.

Both The Salvation Army and Goodwill are popular choices for donations of clothing and other belongings. Thanks to their significant charitable contributions, these organizations have been well-known for decades. However, hardly anyone knows the differences between them, making it difficult to know which is the better option for donations.

A homeowner’s association (HOA) can be a great asset when living in a community full of diverse cultures. Although the HOA is not allowed to discriminate against anyone for any reason, they can help keep the neighborhood safe and comfortable. The HOA is an organization in a community that creates and enforces rules for the properties as well as the residents. The members of the HOA are those who live in the community.

There are many moving parts to any air conditioning unit, and when one goes bad, the whole system does too. One often overlooked but important part of an air conditioner is the capacitor, and it provides electrical energy. An AC capacitor is an integral part of your home’s air conditioning, but how much does it cost?

According to the Department of Energy, single family water heaters use around 17% of all household energy. This makes water heaters a huge factor in your household energy efficiency levels and corresponding energy bill ( Source).

Over the past several decades, more and more kitchen appliances are surfacing. At one point, the coolest new thing to hit the shelves was the salad spinner. Now, the latest kitchen gadgets and gizmos have a lot more features than a simple spinning device. 

If you’re a fan of Moscow mules, you definitely want to have a set of those majestic copper mugs in your drinkware collection. Not only do metal cups add a rustic flair to your bar, they are excellent thermal conductors. This means that they’ll keep your drinks chilled during the summer and warm in the fall.

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.

Believe it or not, many homeowners don’t realize they need to pump their septic tank regularly. Usually, the tank will back up throughout the house before anyone realizes what’s wrong. For those who live on land with a septic tank, the day will come where you need to pump it. How much will it cost you to do this?

Generally, you should start shoveling your walkways and driveway after there is more than an inch or two of snow on the ground. Shoveling an inch of snow is much easier (and faster) than shoveling five to 10 inches. 

So, you’ve decided to remodel your kitchen and are thinking about purchasing slate appliances. Slate is a relatively new color option and a unique alternative to stainless steel.

This article isn’t to stop you from your dreams of creating an organized refrigerator. By all means, sort and categorize your food to your heart’s content, so meal prep or grabbing a snack isn’t a hassle. But know that fridgescaping goes beyond simple organizing and could actually be counterproductive.

Switching from baseboard heat to a forced-air system is a big decision. Many people choose to stay with their baseboard heaters not only because of the cost of changing systems, but the perks it provides. Before you decide to convert heating systems, make sure you research which is best for your family.

 Many homeowners have asked themselves at one point or another: “Can I build a wall myself?” People consider it for many reasons – whether they are renovating a new home, preparing to sell, or trying to create more space for their growing family.

There has been a myriad of cooking hacks that just make our lives easier. Whether it’s a fun way to spice up a dish or make cooking less stressful, I’m here for it. People have been using aluminum foil for years to make tasks in the kitchen a breeze. 

Known for their nonstick nature, high-performance Calphalon cookware can be a lifesaver in the kitchen. However, after the meal has been completed, they need to be properly cared for in order to ensure they are long-lasting and stay in their best condition. This is especially the case if you’ve burnt your food and your Calphalon pots and pans may require some restoring.

Sleep Number is one of the biggest names in beds because of how well they promote healthy sleep. Their mattresses are comfortable, affordable, and can hold up for years as long as you use a proper base. Countless homeowners have asked themselves; “can I put a Sleep Number bed on my box spring?”

Natural remedies have become popular in the last decade, and with good reason! They cut down on the damage to the environment, and they help with our overall wellness. When it comes to laundry, dryer sheets are wasteful and can be irritating to our skin. So, naturally, people shift towards using essential oils instead. However, the question is, can you use essential oils in the dryer?

Steps can be tricky to build. However, if made correctly, a set of wooden stairs can be safe and sturdy. There are endless uses for a group of freestanding steps. Whether leading up to a deck or needing a little extra reach in your shed, a low set of stairs can take you to high places.

If there’s one pet peeve most DIY enthusiasts can’t stand, it’s having to clean up piles of dust from every corner of their room after a project. It’s a pain, and it’s something that engineers have been working tirelessly to curb. At one point, they found a solution. They call it ZipWall, and it’s a zip-up dust barrier that prevents dust from escaping from a work zone. It’s also pricey, so what alternatives do you have?

Having animals in the attic is not only frightening to deal with, but it is an invasion of your home’s privacy. Sure, it may only be a furry critter, but animals stuck in your attic create noise disturbances as well as a sanitary risk. Most homeowners’ first instinct when they hear an animal in the attic is to reach for the phone and call a service to get it removed.

If you ask most families, there’s nothing quite like having a home-made frozen pizza straight out of the oven. Of course, prepping said pizza can vary from household to household. Most frozen pizzas will come with some cardboard that’s left at the bottom of the pie to help retain the pizza’s shape during transport. The problem is, most people can’t figure out what to do with said cardboard. Is it oven-safe?

A tap and die set can be a beneficial tool to those who work in a repair business, garage, or for simply your average DIY homeowner. Whether you have a broken screw or bolt that needs to be removed, or you’re hanging a painting, repairing a lawnmower, or performing a do-it-yourself project in your home, your tap and die set will help you to create or repair threads when needed.

During the day, many people have difficulty working, knowing that people are watching them. Privacy window film is a great solution for just this problem.

Leaks are a homeowner’s worst fear. They can cause massive damage to both your home and the property inside of it. Because of this, it’s crucial to find and fix the leaks in your home as quickly as possible.

Noise pollution can make life incredibly difficult. If unwanted noises are reducing your quality of life, you may want to consider soundproofing. Whether it’s a noisy neighbor, busy main thoroughfare, or simply obtrusive sounds traveling between rooms, you can soundproof a room to help decrease the amount of sound disturbance.

Being a new mom is arguably one of the important jobs in the world. Without mothers, life simply does not exist!  It’s safe to say being a new mom is also one of the most demanding jobs in the world. Yet, nearly 87% of women become mothers. Thanks to the many women that came before, modern mothers just seem to know how to maximize each free second. What’s sleep? More importantly, can this go in the dishwasher?

Apart from the food, a good blanket is the most important item to bring to a summer picnic. You can use all sorts of blankets on a picnic, but some are better than others. The first consideration you need to make is the blanket size. In most circumstances, bigger is better. Remember, you need room not only for you and your guests, but also for your spread of food, and maybe other belongings. You should also choose a blanket that is durable and thick. Thin blankets can allow grass to sneak through and tend to be less comfortable.

There is no better time to clean your vacation time than when you close it for the season. This is your chance to declutter, vacuum, mop, dust, and clean your counters. That way, you won’t have to worry about coming back to a dirty home on your next vacation. 

Textured shower pans provide extra friction to help you not slip and fall in your wet shower. Unfortunately, they also create nooks and crannies in which soap scum can build up. The texture makes it harder to clean than smooth shower surfaces, so here are some creative solutions.

Desitin is one of those creams that are amazing for a wide variety of problems, especially in children and babies. However, due to its ointment-based state, it easily leaks onto clothing. You may have noticed that simply throwing the clothing in the washer doesn’t help. So, how do you remove Desitin that’s stuck on your clothing or someone else’s clothing?

Cast iron skillets are wonderful for many different types of cooking. Whether you are making cornbread, a steak, or even a simple breakfast. They add flavor and create an effect, unlike any other cooking item.

If you have lost the code to your master lock, you will probably be on the verge of tossing that lock from a window or bringing out the bolt cutters. Rather than do that, we have a guide that will help you open a master lock key box without a code. Check out our short guide below:

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.

When I was growing up, I didn’t know much about mobile homes aside from the fact that they were supposedly bad with tornados. But then again, not many homes are good with tornado wind speeds. While mobile homes are not exactly lauded for their wind hardiness, there has to be some point that they are built to withstand wind, right? What’s the limit?

Leather couches are beautiful additions to living rooms and give a classic touch to the aesthetic. If proper maintenance isn’t carried out routinely, leather can wear and tear quite quickly. This material is often prone to large holes and cracks when it’s not regularly conditioned. 

Generally speaking, you should perform a complete defrost of your freezer at least once per year. This will ensure that any ice buildup along the walls and near important hardware melts away. It ensures your freezer isn’t filled with ice, and it will help ensure it isn’t working harder (or using more electricity) than necessary.

When purchasing a home, one of the most important things to have inspected is the electrical system. The electrical system is a fairly delicate part of the house. Because of this, you want to know what kind of wiring you’re dealing with, especially if you buy a house with aluminum wiring.