Housekeeping

Today over 43 million people rent their homes in the USA. Renting is especially convenient for those who find themselves moving often. However, there’s a vast gray area when it comes to landlord-tenant relationships: Can your landlord tell you how clean to keep your home?

Ah, fireplaces. Since the chimney was invented, having a fireplace was one of the most important ways people got heat in their homes and cooked their foods. Even today, we use them to cozy up on colder days. Nowadays, most people have gas fireplaces instead of wood. Sometimes, that leads to issues that can make them frustrating–like going out when you want it to stay lit.

Houseplants have tons of benefits, from air purification and home remedies, to feng shui and visual appeal. You can choose from thousands of plants that thrive indoors, but each plant has its own specific benefits. If you’re trying to improve the feng shui in your home, a houseplant is a good place to start. But some plants are better than others at creating a balanced feng shui.

One of life’s simple pleasures is being able to take a hot bath at the end of a long day. A bath is perfect for relaxation, but it can be frustrating when a bathtub isn’t big enough to properly lounge. A Roman tub is a solution to the struggles of smaller, modern-day tubs, but what is a Roman tub?

Filtered water is not only healthier for you, pulling out dangerous contaminants from tap water, but it is a convenient and easy way always to have water at your fingertips. Brita is a popular brand that makes several water filtration devices to help bring you safe and delicious tap water. While having filtered water is a modern convenience, it does require a little upkeep to ensure that your Brita water filter is regularly changed to allow the filter to work to its intended ability.

Technology is great but sometimes it can be a problem. For example, if your washing machine has a lid lock sensor that locks automatically, that is awesome, right? But what if your washing machine thinks the lid is open when it is shut? The washing machine will not work until you convince your machine that it is shut.

If you have a lot of floor space in your home, then you might have a great way to burn calories without even knowing it. Mopping the floors can burn anywhere from 100 to 300 calories in an hour. Mopping is an activity you do standing up, and uses many of your muscle groups, from your lower body to your core, and especially your upper body.

People commonly use backfeeding in areas with sudden power outages due to problems at utility power grid plants or natural calamities, like hurricanes. However, although it might appear to be a good solution in some situations, is backfeeding a generator illegal?

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).

Electric kettles are wildly popular in countries where tea is embedded in the culture. You can find them in nearly every kitchen and hotel room in these parts of the world. In North America, however, this kitchen appliance is not nearly as commonplace. Some people think the only reason to buy an electric kettle is if you drink tea every day, but there are many reasons every kitchen should have one.

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?

Hard water has a habit of leaving behind stains on plenty of surfaces. For those unsure how to deal with it, hard water stains just become a part of life. Those pesky stains show up on top of taps, on mirrors, on silverware, and, often, annoyingly, on glass shower doors. How do you remove it when it’s on your glass shower doors?

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.

Gatorade has a long-standing tradition of being every athlete’s favorite sports drink. It comes in all sorts of fun colors (erm, flavors) that make them seemingly taste better. It’s a wonderful thing until you actually have it end up on your floor…or worse, your carpeting. So, how do you get those neon colors out of your carpet, anyway?

While carpets are typically easy to clean, wax stains on them can prove a little stubborn. However, there are ways to get that wax off. With the appropriate use of a few household items, you can get rid of every trace of wax on your carpet.

One of the main ways your home causes and contributes to dry and itchy skin involves arid air. Dry skin is usually caused by a lack of moisture in its outer layers. If your home has little to no humidity, then moisture will leave your skin, causing it to become dry.

Having a copper pipe break is never a fun situation, but unfortunately, it happens occasionally. Although knowing how to fix any pipe in your home is a great skill to have, learning how to re-solder a copper pipe is even better. If you decide you want to re-solder a copper pipe, the best option is to do so without removing it from the wall. The only concern with this method is that you will need to use heat and avoid damaging anything around the pipe. 

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.

Fabuloso is that delightful purple cleaning detergent that has been used in countless homes and businesses throughout the country. It’s basically a hallmark of people who love the floral-chemical smell of solvent. Sometimes, Fabuloso alone isn’t enough to get the bathroom clean. So, what happens then? Can you add bleach to improve results?

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. 

The allure of having houseplants is irresistible today, when so many people post pictures and videos of their gorgeous indoor gardens. However, what doesn’t always translate is how many hours and hard work it took to yield those results. You must learn a lot before growing houseplants.

If you have kids, pets, or a spouse, you’ve probably discovered Zep’s Foaming Wall Cleaner or Instant Carpet & Upholstery Spot Removal products. People swear by both of these products, and claim that they’ve removed stains they thought it was completely impossible to get rid of! So between the two, which is better?

Having a porch is one of the fastest ways to add value to a home, but only if it looks nice. The easiest way to give a porch a facelift is to add a fresh new coat of paint to it. Of course, that means that you will need to know how to paint your porch properly. If you have an aluminum screened porch, it quickly becomes an “easier said than done” matter.

Your furnace is an important part of your central heating system. It keeps your house warm in the winter, but what happens when your furnace starts to age? 

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.

Water quality is always a topic of great interest for homeowners who want to be certain that the water flowing into their homes is safe for consumption. Those who err on the side of caution will purchase products like Brita pitchers to ensure they’re drinking clean water. But to work their best, they need to be clean, leading to the question, are Brita pitchers dishwasher safe?

Having children in the home means that there are bound to be some accidents; in fact, accidents become a part of your daily life. Chalk and markers have been loved by children throughout the decades and are still highly used by children today! This means that you will find yourself trying to get ink or chalk out of your carpet at some time or another. You may already know the remedies for ink, so what about chalk?

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. 

On a cold winter night, it can be comfortable to cozy up by your gas fireplace, so much so that it may make falling asleep much easier. However, you may wonder, is it okay to leave it going during the night?

Just like most household appliances, using a microwave oven for several years often leads to wear and tear inside the cavity walls. Due to consistent usage, the inner walls start to rust, resulting in the interior paint peeling.

When boxer George Foreman decided to make a grill, many people laughed at him. I ought to know; I was one of them. However, I’ve become a huge fan of the grills and now regularly find myself using one when I’m at my friend’s place. Cooking it up is a cinch, but actually cleaning it? Well, it was baffling for me at first, but I got a hang of it…

Heating oil is used in boilers or furnaces, which often sit in people’s basements. If there is a spill, it should be cleaned immediately to prevent damage to your home. However, even after the spill is treated, the smell of oil may remain.

If you are having trouble opening your garage door or getting it to close properly, the problem could be linked to a faulty garage door cable. Cables are often installed incorrectly, a problem that leads to the garage door cables either being too short, too long, or out of balance. If your garage door issues are caused by cables in need of adjustment, here is how to fix the problem.

Appliances such as washers and dryers are a modern necessity, but that doesn’t mean that they’re always easy to use. Dryers are prone to operational errors or unexplainable behavior just like any other appliance. So, why is your dryer blowing cold air, and should you be worried about it?

Think about this. The phone rings, and your in-laws, friends, or (insert random relatives here) say they're coming over for a visit. Your whole body tenses, and your heart starts beating a mile a minute. You look around and realize your house is not ready for last-minute guests.

Homeowners are constantly searching for new ways to bring unique features into their homes. One option you may be considering is a tree branch railing. These are charming, rustic, and easier to install than you’d think.

High heating bills are among the most dreaded parts of winter. However, it is posible to turn the furnace off without sacrificing warmth and comfort. Staying warm at home during the winter without heating is much easier than you may think.

If you are a someone who works with wood or just loves a good DIY, you know that in order for wood to last, it needs to be specially treated. All types of wood must be finished with a special layer of coating for added protection from light, moisture and other elements.

Is there anything worse than going through the trouble of washing your towels, but they stink like a sweaty locker room? (Okay, there are probably lots worse things, but after you spend time doing laundry, nothing else comes to mind at that moment.) You should have fresh, clean linens, so why do your towels smell after washing?

Being a pet owner means that you will have to keep an eye out for threats to your furry friend. Sometimes, these threats are other animals or eating the wrong thing. Other times, it’s something simpler, like whipworms. If you want to keep your dog or cat worm-free, then you need to keep an eye out for whipworms that might be in your yard.

Adding a neutral wire can be a little daunting, especially if you’re dealing with a light switch that you’ve had for years. A neutral wire makes smart home creation easier and also better completes your electrical circuits. If you are adding a smart home switch box to your place, chances are that you might need to add a neutral wire to your current setup.

You know the holidays are fast approaching when you start seeing ham displayed in more stores. If you have the time, preparing homemade ham is well worth the effort. Ham is a terrific holiday treat, especially since any leftovers still remain tasty days later.

The first method you should try to remove stains from your cutting board involves your kitchen sponge, soap, hot water, and elbow grease. Use the same method you would use to wash your other dishes, only apply extra effort to the stained area.

About two years ago, there was a major snowstorm in my area. Our heater at the time didn’t work, and the insulation in our building sucked. This led to indoor temperatures as low as 25 degrees until we got it fixed. At one point, I began to worry about taking a bath. What could happen? Could a drain actually freeze and cause a backup?

Living in a poorly-finished house can be pretty difficult, especially when you start noticing that there are sanitary issues afoot. One of the bigger problems that can arise is a gap between a baseboard and a floor. Along with being a visually jarring issue, gaps like this can become a safe haven for critters like bedbugs and roaches. So, what can one do?

Gas fireplaces are a dream addition to homes for American homeowners because there is a certain charm to them. And to top it off, they are gas efficient, affordable, and look good in any setting.

Nothing jolts you awake in the morning like jumping into a cold shower. Along with the frustration of being doused with cold water, you realize that your water heater isn’t working. You may go to troubleshoot and find that the pilot light isn’t on. Then, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it to stay lit. What does t his mean? Why won’t the pilot light to your Honeywell water heater light?

Despite their status as one of the more popular brands for power tools, Bosch actually makes far more than that. As a matter of fact, they make a good deal of kitchen appliances as well. That includes dishwashers, which have become a favorite for homeowners.

Natural light might be a desired quality inside your home, but it’s the last thing you want to expose your unopened wine to. UV light can break down wine quickly, diminishing the flavors even spoil the wine prematurely when it’s stored anywhere bright. Wine kept in the dark retains the most flavors and lasts the longest.

If you want to protect a metal surface and enjoy a high-quality, long-lasting finish, powder coating may be an excellent alternative to painting. Any metal can be coated: steel, aluminum, scandium, manganese, and titanium are all suitable. This is why the powder coating is used in thousands of products, including wheels, but how much is it?

When you’re shopping around for a house, one of the deciding factors is often the neighbors. How close houses are, whether or not the yards are separated in any way, and other things play a role. If your house is close to your neighbor, when Autumn comes around you might wonder how to stop your neighbors’ leaves from blowing in your yard.

There’s no way around it: cat litter will always smell bad. However, you don’t have to let that smell permeate your home, especially when there are several easy ways to help get rid of the litter box smell in your house.

A ceiling fan can make for a great way to keep a room cool, particularly in the hot summer months. Moreover, it can also help to keep energy costs lower as it is cheaper to run a ceiling fan than it is an HVAC system. But sometimes you might hear the ceiling fan making a grinding noise.

If you are on the hunt for a new TV, you have probably noticed prices can change pretty significantly in the course of a month or two. Television prices seem to be in a constant state of flux. As you embark on your search, you will likely want to get the highest quality TV within your budget at the deepest discount available. But when it comes to getting the lowest price on a TV, what is the best month to buy?

If there’s anything I learned to hate, it’s meter readings. No, I don’t want to have to see how badly I’m clobbered with electricity use. I just don’t want to look at it.

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.

Undeniably, if you cook using pots and pans, you also have to clean your pots and pans. Though, if you cook often, you may start to notice that your daily washing routine isn’t enough to prevent grease and food residue from forming stubborn stains. With this in mind, and for the sake of convenience, you might find yourself wondering: “Is Farberware dishwasher safe?”

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional flatware and cooking utensils, bamboo is an excellent choice. Not only is it more affordable than silver flatware, it is also durable, lightweight, and incredibly eco-friendly. In fact, the environmentally-friendly nature of bamboo is the main reason why bamboo kitchen utensils have become so popular in recent years.

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

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.