Housekeeping

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.

Countless homeowners have done everything that they can to transform their houses into smart homes. It’s easy to overlook certain simple devices that make it easier to go about your day as a homeowner, such as smart plugs. So, do smart plugs save energy?

Having a jetted tub can be an awesome addition to any home. The ability to soak and relax during a bath can completely change the way that you view your tub. But there is a chance that something could go wrong, and the jets will stop working.

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.

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

Salsa is the most popular condiment in America, beating out ketchup and mustard. Did you know that? Well, it’s true. And knowing that, it’s fairly easy to see why salsa stains have become commonplace in dining rooms. What many people don’t know is that there’s a chance that you can remove the stain before it actually sets. But…how?

Vinyl plank flooring is an excellent way to get the look of hardwood floors at an affordable price. They’re also durable, many types of vinyl floors are waterproof, and they’re easy to maintain. But if you don’t take care of them, they can get dull over time. Luckily, it’s easy to make vinyl plank floors shine like new.

If you live along the coast, or in a region prone to severe weather, then you are likely aware of the danger of hurricanes and tropical storms. They can completely demolish homes and entire communities in their path. In some cases, you might even be ordered to evacuate your home when a hurricane is expected to hit. In other circumstances, it is your responsibility to hope for the best but plan for the worst. As you begin preparing your home and gathering emergency essentials, you might wonder exactly what you should buy at the grocery store to properly prepare your pantry for a hurricane.

It is hard to imagine how cold water could prompt hot water to move through your water lines. Hot water heaters are a very simple appliance that does this very thing, giving your home access to hot water when you need it most.

While it can be relatively simple to strip paint from wood, ceramic, or metal, plastic requires a little more careful attention to ensure that the material stays undamaged. The more conventional stripping methods that involve harsh chemicals will not work, as they can easily melt or damage the plastic. Lucky for you, since plastic is non-porous and smooth, it’s actually exceptionally rare for paint to form a permanent bond to it.

Air return vents are one of the most important aspects of your home’s HVAC system. They allow air to both enter and leave the HVAC system and maintain proper air pressure within the house. Sometimes, though, they can be incredibly noisy which can be inconvenient and annoying. 

Deadbolts help secure our homes from any potential intruders. They’re strong and reliable, which is why it’s a good idea to have them installed on your front door. Unfortunately, deadbolts do have times when they fail to operate properly. Your deadbolt can get stuck in a locked position, preventing you from entering or exiting through that door.

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.

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?

Who doesn’t love bacon? Great on its own or added to any meal, bacon is one of the most versatile foods out there. But what happens when you have some bacon leftover that needs storing for later usage?

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.

Mopping floors isn’t exactly fun, but homeowners and businesses must maintain clean floors. When you are done mopping floors, you are left with a bucket of dirty, murky water that must be disposed of. What is the correct way to handle dirty mop water?

The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in a home. With this appliance, a homeowner is able to preserve a lot of food, and they can also take advantage of a lot of other features that modern refrigerators boast.

Outdoor living spaces are a fabulous way to expand your home and provide a restful retreat or extra entertaining area. Laying a rug on your grass or patio helps define zones and transform spaces into more of a room. Of course, it’s still outside, which means it’s prone to more dirt and grime, so how do you clean an outdoor rug?

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but which type of apple are they talking about? With more than 7,500 apple varieties on the planet, it’s no surprise that one apple can look and taste vastly different from another. Some apples are great for baking, while others are better suited for packing in a lunch and eting out of hand. The key is knowing the various types of apples you’re likely to find in the market and how to use them effectively.

Clothes, clothes, everywhere, and not a thing to wear? Maybe that’s because you have so many clothes, you get overwhelmed whenever it’s time to get dressed. If your closet is ready to burst, it’s time to learn how to declutter your closet and take back control of your wardrobe.

When you buy a home with a septic system, you should first know what that septic system entails. There are things you can and cannot do when you have a septic system. Just like there are things you can and cannot use in your sinks and toilets if you have a septic system. It is important that you know these things before deciding to buy a home with a septic system.

When your refrigerator is working the way that it should, the internal temperature will be cold enough to keep your food at a safe temperature. You may even notice warmth coming from the compressor and that is totally normal. But it is important to know just how warm your fridge’s compressor should be.

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.

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.

Zboxing remains a popular sport with many people actively engaged in boxing training and competition. Even training often involved sparring with an opponent. Frequent contact with sweat and other fluids can leave your boxing gloves dirty. Many boxers wonder if their boxing gloves can go in the washer for a quick and easy cleaning?

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.

One fruit that most people know not to put directly in the refrigerator is a banana, and its relative, the plantain. Bananas are usually picked from banana trees weeks before they are ripe. They often feature a bit of green, which is a telltale sign they need time outside the fridge to ripen.

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?

All new Toro mowers are auto choke which means typically, to start it, all you need to do is pull and hold the handlebar bail lever, then yank on the pull cord. Despite the fact that Toro builds great machines, but in the event, you pull your Toro Recycler 22 out of the garage and it won’t start, you are going to need to know how to fix it.

Whenever you move into a new place, one of the first things you should do is buy new locks. While it’s initially a safety tool, it also allows you to customize your home a little more by choosing any doorknob you want. One of the most commonly picked styles are handles with twist locks. 

No matter how hard you try, it always seems like something gets spilled or tracked on your carpet. As clean as you try to be, sometimes things just get tracked into the house on someone’s shoes or your dog’s feet. Motor oil is one of those stains that make you want to panic. But you don’t have to.

Selling a house is stressful in itself, but things can become more complicated when you’re living in the house you’re selling. Naturally, you must be extremely cautious to ensure you don’t do anything to make your home seem undesirable. You’re not alone if you’re wondering how to live in a house that’s for sale.

Thrift stores are one of the best places to shop for hidden treasures. There are amazing discounts throughout the year at thrift stores, but the start of a new year is usually the best time to score one-of-a-kind deals. Post-holiday decluttering, combined with last-minute tax write-offs, creates a surge in the appearance of exceptional items at secondhand stores around the country. These factors, and more, make January the perfect time to find unbelievable deals on many items at a thrift store.

Mud daubers are similar to wasps except that they build their nests in the mud. They vary in appearance, but most are around ½” to 1″ in length. Even though they are docile, their nest can cause damage to your home. It’s a good idea that you try your best to keep them away.

Once only found in specialty stores and high-end restaurants, oat milk has quickly become the go-to milk for many non-dairy consumers. Grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops alike carry this dairy-free option.

When you’re redoing your kitchen, you may be presented with some minor problems when it comes to figuring out the layout. Once in a while, you end up with a gap that’s just difficult to work with. For many of us with a “row-style” kitchen, this gap area is between the stove and the refrigerator. So, what can you put there to make things easier for people who are cooking in your kitchen?

Do you always wonder why your friend’s house smells so good? After all, they have pets, kids, dirty laundry, and other odor challenges, just like you. But you don’t crinkle your nose when you’re at your friend’s house. There are a few reasons why your friend’s house smells great, and you can use them to make your home smell better, too.

If your home has a guest room, then there is a good chance your houseguest will spend the majority of time in this room. Therefore, the bulk of your energy should be focused on making this a pet-hair and dander-free area.

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.

When something goes wrong with one of your appliances, it can be challenging to know whether you should fix it or purchase a new one. Especially with an item such as a dishwasher, there are always new models coming out. These new models that come out each year are often more energy-efficient and help you save money in the long run. Despite this, there is no single answer that can tell you whether or not you should fix or replace your dishwasher. 

When your microwave just doesn’t seem to heat up your food anymore, a simple fix might get it back in working order. Any microwave repair begins with discharging the capacitor. Even unplugged, a charged capacitor makes microwave repairs dangerous.

Basements can be highly versatile. Michigan basements make for a great storage space, laundry purposes, or have the potential totally refinished. Refinishing your basement provides the potential for an additional living or entertainment space. Well, most of them can fit that description, at least.

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?

Muriatic acid is one of those chemicals that sounds scary but can easily be a DIY fan’s best friend. This acid is regularly used to etch glass, prep masonry for paint, restore surface appearances in basements, and fight mildew. However, it’s a pretty strong chemical that can easily cause burns and damage if left as a spill. That’s why knowing how to neutralize it is so important.

A silicone sealant, also known as caulk, is used to provide a waterproof seal between bathtub or shower and the wall that it adjoins. Without that waterproof seal, moisture can get into the gaps and lead to mold growth if left unattended.

Self-cleaning litter boxes feature rakes that sweep dirty litter into a compartment. Many of these self-cleaning litter box rakes are held in place by at least one screw. They are typically reliable and work well if the screw is tight enough. 

Baking soda is an ingredient that can last for several years or just a few weeks. Its lifespan depends on its external environment, and how well it is stored. Its storage is a particularly major factor when it comes to its longevity, since it is usually packaged in a fairly flimsy cardboard container.

There are several things that you should look for when searching for a screen door to keep your cat out of your bedroom:

Gutters serve the important function of directing water away from your house, and they are a fixture of every house. Every builder-owner knows the importance of good gutters and the trouble that having them can save.

Torches have been used for centuries, and while their design might have changed, the truth is that they still remain a major part of our day to day lives. The most common type of torch used today is a propane torch, and they’re reliable…for the most part. Once in a while, your torch might end up getting a clog in it. When this happens, you’re going to have to find a solution.

The saying is seemingly as old as time: “buy land, because they aren’t making any more of it.” This is meant to illustrate just how valuable land is as an investment.  But it is important to understand the value of that property, especially in today’s climate.

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.

Power outages can throw a wrench in your plans and create a potentially dangerous environment at home. Generators can give any homeowner peace of mind when the power goes out to know that you can still run an important appliance. With that said, what will a 1,000-watt generator run?

GROHE is a German-based company that produces sanitary faucets. They have a plethora of products that range from bathroom faucets to kitchen faucets. The major thing that sets them apart from other faucets on the market is their cartridge-based system. If you own a GROHE faucet, it is imperative that you know how to take them apart to change the cartridge, when needed.

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.

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.

Imagine the following scenario:  you are known for conserving water, and for as long as you lived in town, your water bills were $30 or so. Recently, a new family moved in. They have a pool, sprinklers, and everything else watery under the sun. The next month, you notice that your water bill shot up to $900. You look at your neighbors, who don’t make eye contact with you anymore. Could it be them?

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!

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.