Housekeeping

Some states ban sauna suits, while others say they’re okay. You can use them to shed unwanted water weight and fit into your favorite clothes. But can you put sauna suits in the dryer after you wash them? Here’s what you need to know.

No matter where you live, your house needs to have solid insulation in order to keep you (and your family) comfortable. A lack of insulation will make cold intolerable, increase your air conditioning bills, and even cause humidity to potentially harm your furniture and items.

If you’ve just moved into a new home in a rural or suburban area, chances are you have a septic system. But don’t worry! A septic system shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, though you might be wondering how long it will last. 

Brand-new fiberglass tubs are built with a protective material that is smooth and glossy in nature. This is known as the “gel coat” and is meant to offer resistance to scratches and other surface damage. But over time, it can wear down, leaving the surface rough and allowing soap scum and dirt to build up.

Reusable water bottles have become more common as more people are steering clear of disposable plastic bottles. The reusable water bottles stand out as the more eco-friendly option. In the long run, you can also save more money by turning to reusable containers such as the Hydro Flask.

Metal sheds or sheds with metal roofs can be a giant magnet for condensation. When the metal is cold, and the temperature outside isn’t, the warm air rises and creates moisture on the roof and walls of a shed. This can cause damage to the structure itself, along with anything that’s inside. 

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?

It is quite rewarding to look at your fish tank, especially when the fish are healthy. The only downside of having a fish tank is that it requires lots of maintenance. Changing the water isn't fun, but it's necessary. So, how often should you change the water in a fish tank?

Mice, though cute in appearance, are a nightmare to deal with as a homeowner. Their droppings are toxic and wind up getting everywhere. They can also do major damage by chewing through things and can even live in the innards of your car.

Moving blankets protect your furniture from scratches, dents, and any other damage during the moving process. Whether you recently rented a moving blanket or invested in one, it’s useful to know how to care for it.

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.

A portable dishwasher is a great way to clean dishes in a space that won’t accommodate a built-in dishwasher. It can be rolled out when you need it and stored away when you don’t. 

If you have ever been stuck on one side of your garage door, then you may know the pain of having a garage door with a broken spring. Whether your springs are simply getting weak, or you have one that has snapped, it can be a scary situation. However, there are still ways that you can open up your garage door.

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.

How many times have you caught yourself getting ready to set that hot pan on your laminate countertop? And you probably have cringed every time you see one of your kids do exactly that. Even though you tell them not to. While laminate is a nice and inexpensive countertop material, it is not known for being the strongest one.

Strengthened safety glass is a critical safety material for use in homes, commercial buildings, cars, and more. Tempered glass is about three to four times stronger than traditional “annealed” glass. The panel’s strength is increased by undergoing extreme thermal or chemical processes.

No matter how hard we try, wood kitchen cabinets can take a major beating over time. Nicks, dings, spills, and drips can build up over time to really wear down the once bright and shining cabinets. When that happens, it can make the entire kitchen feel worn and outdated.

Intex pools can be great during the summer months. After all, who doesn’t enjoy spending time with the family in the backyard, enjoying the sun, and having fun? If you are thinking of purchasing an Intex pool or have already gotten one, there is one question: what to put under your Intex pool.

When working with spray foam, chances are you’re going to get some of it on your skin. At the same time, a little excess spray foam can easily wash off with soap. However, when your hands are caked with spray foam, you’re going to have issues trying to remove spray foam from skin.

Basil is a popular herb used in kitchens around the world, known for its intense flavor and sweet smell. Although originally found in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, this member of the mint family has given birth to several varieties that we use worldwide. Sweet basil, or Genovese basil, is more commonly used in our kitchens today. Basil is easy to grow in your home or garden, but beware of any basil leaves turning black.

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?

The need to install a water softener system is standard with homeowners who use well water or anyone who has an issue with metal buildup. The softening system is designed to remove the metal cations such as calcium and magnesium. Although, how much does a water softener cost to install?

While it’s normal to put effort towards keeping clothes clean, when you have a busy schedule, it can be quite challenging. It is highly likely that you’re going to spend a fair amount of time trying to remove various unidentifiable stains from your family’s clothing, such as highlighter ink. Tackling stains isn’t always easy, but how do you get highlighter out of clothes?

Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for many people, regardless of age. Between the candy, spooky decorations, and fun community vibe, Halloween is a time for people to come together. So, how much candy should you buy for Halloween?

If you live in a house, the odds are good you prefer it to be clean. So, you likely have a regular cleaning routine and maybe even do a mega spring cleaning every year. Perhaps you devote time each day to tidying and cleaning specific areas.

The products produced by Thermos are excellent for keeping food and beverages hot or cold all day long. But, how do you properly care for a Thermos tumbler, mug, or water bottle? Are Thermos products dishwasher safe?  

If you’re a frequent party host, parent to a big family, or simply store many cold beverages at home, you probably have an extra refrigerator in your garage. Often referred to as a “beer fridge,” garage fridges are a handy way to store the overflow from your kitchen fridge or bulk items that you’d like to have cold and ready to pop open. Some people even use garage refrigerators to freeze meat throughout the winter or store frozen meals for days when you don’t feel like cooking.

It’s hard to get comfortable at home when your house smells musty. This is even harder when you struggle to track down the cause of the problem. So, what should you do when you can’t get rid of the musty smell in your house?

Buying appliances is expensive When it comes to large appliances like refrigerators and stoves, you are typically going to be spending more than a thousand dollars. So, you want to make sure you are getting your money’s worth when you do have to get something like that.

Commonly used appliances like refrigerators can last several years before needing to be replaced. Eventually, the day will come where you’ll need to purchase a new fridge. Did you know you shouldn’t immediately put food in a new refrigerator? 

Hamilton Beach is one of the largest coffee maker manufacturers in the world, and that means that you probably own one. If you want to keep your coffee tasting fresh, you need to know how to clean it. Cleaning a Hamilton Beach coffee maker isn’t always easy, though. So, how do you make your coffee maker squeaky clean?

Few things are more frustrating than stepping on dog poop in your lawn – especially when you don’t have a dog. Not only is dog poop smelly and messy, but it can also carry disease and harm your grass.

I grew up around smokers and am used to living in a house full of smoke. When I got older, I ended up smoking too. As an avid hookah smoker, I know how bad it is for my health and my walls.

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.

Thanks to appliances like the rice cooker, we’re able to make what used to be a frustrating process into an easy one. There are so many different rice cookers on the market; it can be hard to choose which one to buy. While they all work relatively the same, some come with unique and special features. 

Wool is a natural material you should never put in the dryer. The heat and constant agitation inside a dryer can ruin wool products. A dryer can shrink, distort, and clump all wool items.

Dirty burner caps don’t just make your stove look bad, but they can throw off the vibe in your kitchen. It’s hard to keep burner caps clean when you cook several days a week. However, it’s best to clean them as much as possible before stains form and it becomes harder to remove them. Many homeowners struggle with how to clean gas stove burner caps.

You may see bugs come out of your drain because they either entered through a pipe or hid within the drain. Some bugs, such as flies, are drawn to sink and shower drains and even reproduce in them. This is mostly common with clogged drains, as they provide plenty of cover for mating and nesting.

Whether you just purchased a new car, moved to a new state, or got a fun new vanity plate you want to show off, you need some screws for a new license plate. Unfortunately, the screws on license plates are not a simple singular size across the board. In fact, most brands tend to use different screw types and sizes.

Shag rugs have a look and feel to them that is different from any other style of rug. They are thick, luxurious, and may never go out of style. We’ve put together this guide, on the best methods to clean a shag rug.

A dehumidifier can be a great addition to any home in climates that are particularly humid. Not only can it be quite uncomfortable to live in that kind of humidity, but the added moisture can be a major detriment for the health and cleanliness of your home.

Refrigerators are a big investment and a critical part of any home. Unsettling sounds can often puzzle homeowners and indicate a bigger problem with your refrigerator. So, why is your refrigerator making clicking noises?

Depending on where you live, the inside of your home may get excessively humid. An easy fix is to run a dehumidifier to suck the hot air out of any room. But what happens when it’s not working properly, and you’re stuck sweating inside?

You use your shower to get clean, so if any part of it’s gross, it feels icky instead of relaxing, and you say, “eww” more than “aah.”. If the shower floor starts to get scummy or grimy, it boosts the ick factor because you feel like you’re standing in filth. So what’s the best way to clean the shower floor so you’re not cringing while you’re washing up?

A subpanel is a panel that is a secondary circuit breaker. This panel feeds off the main panel. If you are looking to create subpanels in your home, it is crucial to know how many you can have on your service. That way, you don’t overload it and everything will work as it needs to.

There are a few things that parents love as much as helping their kids with arts and crafts. Of course, this can often lead to spills (rather than thrills) if you’re not careful. For most adults, there are few things that are as scary as seeing a large wad of rubber cement getting spilled on the carpet. Thankfully, there are ways to clean it up if you act fast.

There are more than 50 different types of persimmons in the world. The Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons are known as Asian or Japanese persimmons. In Japan, China, and Korea, they are known as kaki fruit, Japan’s national fruit. 

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.

Your ceiling fan has two jobs: to circulate air and light your room. When your ceiling fan stops doing one of these jobs, it can be a major frustration. A flickering ceiling fan light is not always something to worry about, though it can indicate larger electrical issues. 

Not too long ago, I had a bed bug infestation in my home. It was devastating, especially since I’m severely allergic to their bites. The first thing I had to do was find a way to kill them after they nested in my clothing and sheets. I knew some clothes wouldn’t hold up to a wash, so I was lost. Like many people in my situation, I wanted to know if a dryer could kill bed bugs as well as a hot wash.

Dust mites are microscopic insect-like pests that are related to ticks. They feed off dust, and mostly live off dead skin cells. Since their diet of choice is dead skin, they are most commonly found where you spend the most time, like your bed and couch. 

No matter what you use your basement for, an unpleasant septic smell makes you want to stay as far away as possible. Whether your basement is for storage, a workshop, or a bonus room, it becomes virtually useless if it smells like sewage.

The garbage disposal is a component of your kitchen that deserves a whole lot of praise; it helps keep the kitchen neat and tidy. On top of that, you’re also reducing the amount of waste that you have to take outside, which is a plus. The only real downside to garbage disposals is that they tend to have issues from time to time. When they do, they spew out all kinds of nastiness that can leave your kitchen smelling truly awful.

It happens to the best of us: Summer comes, and the Compressor in your air conditioner gives out. You know you need to replace it, but how do you go about it? What is the cost? Having a better understanding of the price breakdown will help you understand your spending range to get your AC back up and running.

Are you having trouble with your Heat & Glo fireplace turning on and off? This can be a bit of a mystery, however, we’ve got a few answers, that might solve your problems.

Pets are wonderful companions. The unconditional love and laughs they constantly provide are irreplaceable. Still, there is a downside to sharing your home with a pet that doesn’t know how to use the toilet.

A screened porch can make for a wonderful hangout spot in the summertime. It allows you to get those rays of sun without having to worry about constantly swatting bugs and critters that make their way into your area.

One of the best ways to upcycle your old books is to donate them to a charity of your choice. There are dozens of charities you can choose from, as many charitable organizations are looking to improve their libraries.

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?

You’ve finished installing your new set of tiles. and applied your grout. Now comes the question. How long should I wait before I can use the room with the newly grouted tile? How long does it take for grout to dry?