Housekeeping

I remember when I was a kid and something in our house needed to be repaired. My dad would go out to the garage and get his little black toolbox that was filled with every sort of tool imaginable to get the job done right.

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.

Pinesol has been around since the late 1920s and has made its way into every household in America at one time or another. People use it as an all-purpose cleaner to clean their showers, toilets, floors, and countertops. But, are you able to use this on your carpet? That’s the real question.

When it comes to your home’s heating situation, there are very few things as annoying (or potentially dangerous) as a gas furnace with a bad flame sensor. Your furnace’s flame sensor is the tool that is in charge of shutting off the gas when a flame isn’t detected while your furnace is supposed to be firing. Without a functioning sensor, you run the risk of having a gas leak that leads to an explosion.

A washer and dryer combo is an essential in any homes. Stacking a washer and dryer takes up less space than having them side by side, and it is quite common.

If you’ve spent a lot of time cultivating a beautiful garden, you don’t want pesky invaders taking over your space. Invasive species like the Virginia creeper steal resources from other plants in the area. This can easily lead to a dead garden.

When a bathtub is installed, there are gaps that are purposely left between the tub itself and the wall that is to be adjoined to. This is what is known as an expansion joint. The purpose of this is to allow for a little movement between the position of the tub and the wall it is adjoining.

Stamped concrete is one of the hottest trends when it comes to backyard patios, driveways, and walkways. It’s easy to see why. It’s clean, gives the appearance of tile, and yet also tends to be easy to color with dyes. With the rise of stamped concrete, people are starting to wonder how long it will last. This is doubly true due to stigma from bad concrete in the past. Thankfully, there is some good news on the horizon…

When living in dryer climates, a humidifier can really come in handy. Dry air is much different than living in humidity and can have noticeable impacts on your skin in particular. Dry skin, breathing problems, and cracked lips are just a few of the things that overly dry air can cause.

Refrigerators have a wide range of weights depending on capacity and conveniences. A refrigerator is one of the heaviest standard appliances in the home, and for many residents, it has gotten larger and larger. But before purchasing your fridge, it’s important to know how much a refrigerator weighs.

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.

Have you ever had mice activity in your home? If so, you know that their urine can leave an unpleasant odor behind. Mice can set up shop in just a few days, and they leave their droppings wherever they go. Not only can the smell be offensive, but their urine can also pose a health hazard to humans.

If you get a rush every time you enter HomeGoods, you might already know exactly when to snag the best deals and find unique items. But what if you can’t find what you’re looking for to complete your latest home design dreams? When does HomeGoods restock so you can get your hands on that prized bookend or cushy throw pillow set?

With the weather quickly taking a turn to the colder, the topic of heating quickly becomes a priority. If you’re like most people, having a furnace that’s going bad might be an issue you want to take care of sooner rather than later. One of the more common issues people deal with is a bad HVAC blower motor. But, how can a casual DIYer figure out if a furnace blower motor went bad?

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.

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. 

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. 

You have a big event approaching, guests are coming over to visit or you’re putting your house up for sale. There couldn’t be a more perfect time to give your carpets a much-needed cleaning. However, after shampooing, your carpet now has new stains and bald spots, leaving you feeling defeated.

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.

Most people have dish soap at home, including you. However, you may not realize how useful this soapy liquid is if you only use it to wash dishes. It's helpful to know that you can use dish soap for everything from pest control to cleaning floors.

Create a schedule for tidying up and review it with your family members. Post it where everyone can see it.

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.

Whether you live in a mobile home or you’re an RV enthusiast, you must take good care of your sewage and plumbing. Remember, it is not just a truck or a vehicle; it is your home after all.

If you are in the situation of hearing your furnace run for a few minutes then turn off repeatedly, then you might be wondering what, if anything, is wrong with your furnace and what steps can be taken to resolve the problem.

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.

Ideally, you should replace your sheets every 2-6 years or sooner as needed. Sheets with a low thread count must be replaced within 2-3 years in many cases. They wear out much faster and easily become thin and stained.

One of the great luxuries of the modern home is having a water dispenser in your refrigerator door. It’s wonderful to have filtered water and ice available at the ready, but it’s not-so-wonderful when your dispenser suddenly stops shutting off. A leaky dispenser can drive you crazy and cause a slippery mess in your kitchen!

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.

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.

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. 

There simply is no substitute for 100% pure maple syrup. Many companies and brilliant minds have tried to replicate the nuanced sweetness that originates from maple tree sap, but you just can’t recreate nature. This is why pure maple syrup is commonly found in so many refrigerators. But if you only eat pancakes once in a great while, like around the holidays, you might wonder if your old opened bottle of sweet sappy syrup is still edible. After all, how long can maple syrup last in a fridge before it spoils?

When moving into a new home, one of the first things most people do is change the locks. You want to feel secure in your new home and changing the locks helps with that. This is the time when a lot of people make a common mistake.

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.

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?

The heat exchanger in your furnace is a group of tubes and coils. These tubes and coils heat the air that then shoots out into your home or workplace. There are many reasons why your furnace heat exchanger can go bad, and if this happens you need to act quickly.

If you’re looking for your mobile home to count as real property, you may be required to have a permanent foundation. Having a permanent foundation will broaden your financing options and make selling your home a whole lot easier.

America’s top-selling cookware brand, Copper Chef is known for their Cerami-Tech nonstick coating that makes sautéing and pan-frying fast and simple. Believe it or not, nothing will stick to the surface of a Copper Chef pan, which eliminates the need for cooking with added fats and oils. Since nothing sticks, Copper Chef pans are incredibly easy to clean. Oftentimes, all you’ll need is one pass with a soapy sponge and cleanup is done in a matter of minutes.

Not many people have a kitchen sink rack, but those that do know that its both a lifesaver and a major pain. A great way to protect your sink from scratches and rust, if you can fit it in the dishwasher than its easy to clean. If not, you are going to be scrubbing and scrubbing and trying to get inventive to cut back on your cleaning time.

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.

Pet owners often view their dogs and cats as their furry children and would do anything to protect them. That’s why finding fleas, ticks, roundworms, and other pests on your pet can make your home a stressful environment. So, can you stay in a house with fleas?

Hail can cause a significant amount of damage to your home and your property. It may look relatively unharmful, but it can pack some power upon landing.

Dishwashers are considered to be one of the most useful kitchen amenities on the market, but only when they’re properly functioning. In order for a dishwasher to work, it needs to be able to use its soap dispenser. Unfortunately, these things tend to get stuck fairly frequently. What can you do when you have a dispenser that won’t work?

On-demand running water is a fantastic convenience that many of us could not imagine living without. Unfortunately, sometimes the system can have problems that cause the water to run at unexpected times. The sounds of running water in your walls and the threat of a leak can be very nerve-wracking. Here are some things you can do to identify and fix the issue.

Fireplaces are a great centerpiece, that adds ambiance, and warmth, to any room. Since the fireplace is a focal point, you should try to keep the fireplace glass, as clean as possible. We have an unusual method for cleaning it, which makes it easy!

If you have doors in your home that are louvered doors, you know that they can be a chore. Their style might make them look nice, but they can be a bit of an inconvenience when it comes to cleaning.

You should never move a fish tank with water in it. A fish tank with water, decorations, equipment, and substrate is quite heavy. The combined weight of everything can crack the glass and create a huge, dangerous mess. Moving a tank with fish in it can also cause physical trauma, and they may even die.

Aquaphor and other health aid ointments help heal the skin and reduce pain or irritation. Unfortunately, they can quickly leave oily stains on clothes and household linens, such as sheets and towels. Although oil-based stains are among the hardest to deal with, they can be eliminated. So, how exactly do you get Aquaphor out of your clothing?

If you are relocating and taking along your gas dryer, you may want to know if you can convert it to electric. To answer this question, it’s important to know the differences between these types of dryers.

It is okay for a washing machine to shake a little bit during the spin cycle. This happens when clothes move around and slap the sides of the drum. The combination of the impact of the clothes and the washing machine spinning makes it shake.

Kitchen cutlery comes in every material imaginable. From silicone and other man-made materials, to aluminum and other types of metal. But when it comes to aesthetics and chef preference, nothing beats a good solid wooden spoon for stirring a sauce. But unlike other materials, wood does not last forever. In fact, it deteriorates so much over time that it eventually needs to be tossed in the trash. So, when is it time to throw away your wooden spoon and purchase a new one?

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.

Pancakes are delicious with maple syrup on them but not so much for carpets. The sticky gooey mess in your rug is unsightly and you need to get rid of it as soon as possible before it soaks in all the way. Whether it is real maple syrup or corn syrup, we have some solutions for you.

One day, not too long ago, I was at my mom’s house when I heard a loud crash. I ran to my closet where the noise was coming from and quickly noticed that the shelves had collapsed. Since then, we got Closetmaid shelving. We installed it in hopes of making sure we don’t see shelving topple again, but was it a good idea? Moreover, how much can these shelves hold?

Today, we live in an era that is celebrated for being the age of lifehacks. Want to wash a wall? There are tricks for that. Want to wash a floor? Just go on Google and you’ll find a ton of information on how to do it quickly and effectively. These days, we’re even talking about power washing rugs. Is this actually okay, though?

A washing machine is one of the most essential appliances in your home. It ensures you always have clean clothes to wear and allows you to launder your sheets and towels regularly. While its primary function is cleaning your dirty clothes and bedding, you might be surprised by some other household items you can put in the washer.

Owning a Honda self-propelled lawnmower makes it easy to cut your grass quickly. However, over time, your mower will need routine maintenance and care. One of the most crucial elements to pay attention to is the drive belt. In some cases, this belt can come loose, which means that you’ll have to adjust the tension by tightening it.

Pex manifolds are a fairly new way of running plumbing in your home. Pex is an acronym for cross-linked polyethylene. Rather than using the typical old rigid piping system, the Pex tubing is a more forgiving and flexible material that has a variety of incentives for using it over copper pipes.

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.

Are you thinking about installing an underground propane tank? Propane is clean, efficient, and fairly inexpensive to use; underground propane tanks have many benefits, but they also come with risks. First, you need to know the pros and cons of underground propane tanks before you commit to buying.

Sometimes you just do not need all those sprinkler heads in a specific area. Or maybe they are too close together and are overwatering your lawn in one spot. It could be an area that you just do not have anything to water. So, in this case, it’d be a great idea to cap off the sprinkler head, but how do you do that/