Housekeeping

Ferrets are cute little animals, but they produce a musky odor that some people find unpleasant. If you keep a ferret in your house as a pet, the entire space could have a strong odor, especially if you fail to keep its cage clean. Failure to wash the animal and its litter box and bedding could also contribute to the musky smell in your house.

Backflow preventers are necessary because they prevent contamination and pollutants from entering your home’s water supply. The last thing that you need is for waste and pesticides to flow backward and contaminate your water. However, it can be just as frustrating and confusing if your backflow preventer leaks, so what causes it?

Wi-Fi thermostats connect to your wireless internet so you can adjust them remotely. This super handy, smart device often requires a c wire to have the proper hook-up. The c wire connects power directly from your thermostat to the furnace. However, if you do not have a c wire, there is no need to worry.

No matter where your dryer is located, venting it is just as important as setting the dryer up itself. A dryer’s vent directs moisture and heat away from the dryer and out of the house. If you install a dryer without a vent, you run the risk of moisture building up, leading to mold, mildew, and water damage.

Bugs are a pesky invader anywhere in your home. If you find bugs in your kitchen, it can be especially horrible. This can spell trouble for all the food you’ve got in the pantry! 

Whether you’re doing the dishes, taking a shower, or simply washing your hands, having hot water in your home is essential. If there’s no hot water coming out of your faucet, you could be facing a major dilemma. 

Regardless of the size, type, brand, or age of your refrigerator, it won’t be completely silent and may even make some popping noises from time to time. This is simply due to the fact that there are a lot of mechanisms continually working within and around your refrigerator.

With their delectably sweet interior, papayas are great in an assortment of recipes including salads, smoothies, jams, and even milkshakes. This delicious fruit offers a number of health benefits when incorporated into your daily diet. Although papayas taste best when they are fresh, you can also store and savor them at a later time. Since they tend to be less common than other tropical fruits, you may be wondering how to store papaya. Well, we’re here to help!

Spray foam is a common, easy to install insulation to improve the efficiency of your home. The bad thing is that, unless you are covered head to toe, it is all too easy to get that spray foam on your skin. It can take hold quickly and can be very annoying to deal with even if it really doesn’t do any harm.

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.

If you have kids, you have probably had Kool-Aid spills in your carpet more than once. Or adults doing Jell-O shots. Were you able to get the stain all the way out or did you give up and toss an area rug on that spot? Some stains are just really difficult to get rid of. Especially red Kool-Aid. But it is possible if you do it correctly.

When you’re laying out a nice, new layer of porcelain tile, there are certain things you expect. For example, you expect your tiling to stay put. The problem is, using the wrong bonding agent can make it hard to keep your tiles in place. That’s why there’s an ongoing debate between using Versabond versus using Flexbond thinset mortars when you’re laying out tiling. So, what’s the difference between the two? Is one better than the other?

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.

Wallpaper from the late 70s might make you nostalgic for grandma’s house, but it can make your home feel seriously outdated. If you’re looking to update your home, it might be time to remove that old wallpaper. But what is the best way to remove the wallpaper? You don’t have to buy expensive equipment. You can use vinegar and fabric softener!

Most people don’t often think about their toilet tank until they must remove the lid. Naturally, finding mold in the toilet tank can be quite concerning. So, you may wonder, 'why is there mold in my toilet tank'?

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.

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?

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.

For many homeowners, choosing the grade of oil they use in their lawn mower can be tricky. A common oil grade that people use in their lawn mower is SAE30. However, many people wonder whether or not they can swap out the SAE30 in favor of 10W30.

If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, you probably already know that fresh food is more nutritious than canned varieties. When you purchase canned food, ingredients are usually added, and nutrients are lost during the preservation process. While it’s true that some canned foods aren’t very good for you, there are several healthy canned items you should stock up on every winter.

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.

When we think of a circuit breaker that keeps tripping, common wisdom would be that you’re dealing with a home that’s using up too much energy. So, if it’s happening to you, you might unplug some stuff. But, sometimes, the breaker just will keep tripping regardless of how much stuff you unplug. Clearly, it’s not energy consumption anymore. So, what gives?

Coconut oil has become one of the most popular “superfood” buzzwords of the last decade, and rightfully so. It can be used for almost anything from massage oil to a delicious additive to your food. Unsurprisingly, it’s also found itself on many unsuspecting carpets across the country in unprecedented quantities. So, how do you get this oil out of your carpet?

Once you buy or make bread you can expect it to maintain its peak freshness for at least two days if it is stored properly. Some breads easily stay fresh for upwards of a week when stored at room temperature. Breads made with fresh ingredients and no preservatives go stale faster than those you find in the grocery store that are loaded with preservatives.

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.”

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.

If you are leaving your house for the summer, there are quite a few things that you should do. The temperature inside the home is as important as the temperature outside. Making sure that it stays in the correct range will lower your risk of any problems.

If you own a couch or a comfy living room chair, then there’s a strong possibility you keep a collection of throw blankets nearby. These blankets are a fantastic way to make a living room feel more cozy, especially when you want to cuddle up with a good book or binge-watch a new TV series. But just like every other blanket you own, these communal blankets need to be cleaned. The question is, exactly how often should you wash a throw blanket? 

In many homes, the sink is the heart of the kitchen. It’s where people gather while cooking, washing the dishes, and washing their hands. It’s why many feel that the better their sinks look, the better their kitchens look.

Mushrooms are underappreciated ingredients that deserve to be included in more dishes. The earthy flavor they feature pairs well with so many other ingredients. Mushrooms work great in sauces, soups, and you can sauté them with garlic and butter to create a delicious appetizer.

Wondering why you should devote extra time to designing your home office? For one thing, you’ll get more done and be less stressed when you do it. Your work environment shapes how you feel and approach things, so if it’s chaotic, you’ll likely feel the same way.

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?

Bi-fold doors have long been a popular option, whether used for a closet, in a doorway, or even as a room divider. However, they are certainly not the only door option nowadays, especially when it comes to closets. If you’re looking for alternatives to bi-fold closet doors, you have lots to choose from.

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?

A well-functioning toilet flapper is necessary to the function of any toilet. There are only three main toilet flapper types available: tank ball, seat disk (or disc) and rubber.

One of the main reasons trash leaks is due to what’s inside the trash bag. Trash is meant for solids, not liquids. If you are dumping too many liquids in your trash, don’t be surprised if it leaks. All it takes is one tiny hole near the bottom of a trash bag to cause the contents to leak.

Cleaning a mattress involves jumping through all sorts of hoops. It’s not like you can just throw it in the washer. But what about the mattress cover? If it’s removable, it should be washable, right? Purple, one of the leading mattress companies in the United States, has something to say about that.

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.

Trying to unlock a locked bathroom can be stressful and even frightening. No matter if you’re locked in a room or outside of it, getting to where you want to be is key. Thankfully, bathroom doors usually have privacy locks, instead of security locks. 

Your dryer’s main job is to heat your clothes enough that they dry. When it stops doing this simple task, that’s a major problem. If your clothes are still damp after a cycle in the dryer, you probably have a faulty heating element. 

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.

When you add a pet to the family, shedding is often an inevitable part of the deal. But even though you adore your furry friend, that doesn’t mean you have to love their hair all over the place. If you’d rather spend more time loving your pet than cleaning up their fur, consider dogs or cats that don’t shed a lot.

Bath mats are among the list of easily neglected household items. They dwell below us, mostly out of sight, and definitely out of mind. If you ignore them long enough, all kinds of smelly bacteria, mold, and mildew taint your tub.

Many people don’t necessarily think about their closets until they need something from them. Because of that, closets are often dustier, dirtier, and moldier than other parts of the house. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to prevent mold from growing in a closet.

One of the joys of completing home improvement projects is finishing them. There is something satisfying about checking it off the to-do list, and enjoying the updates. Joy associated with the job is diminished when small flaws show up. Most projects end well. But one recurring problem is ceilings that look patchy after painting.

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.

Around 90 percent of homes within the United States are wired electrically using ROMEX, the trade name for non-metallic (NM), sheathed cable. This type of wiring system is simple to run and very convenient. However, it’s essential that you do not have any exposed ROMEX in your home and the wiring should be completely covered.

Freezing leftovers and any perishable food item you don’t plan on using immediately is a great way to preserve freshness. Food lasts longer in the freezer than it does in the refrigerator, and often tastes just as good once it is properly thawed. While food might last for upwards of months in the freezer, it doesn’t last forever. How long should you store food in the freezer before it goes bad?

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.

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?”

Many homeowners prefer propane over natural gas because it is safer and more convenient. With that said, it is still wise to be aware of your propane consumption when you use a stove. So, how much propane does a stove use?

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?

Bathroom ventilation is essential to prevent mold growth, mildew, and odors from lingering. However, it is easy said than done to vent a bathroom when you have no outside access. So, how can you vent a bathroom with no outside access?

volume = π × r2 × h

When I first moved into my current place, we had a door that had a major gap. This gap was so large, leaves would blow in from the outside, and any type of air conditioning would eventually get blown out of our apartment. I knew I had to fix the gap in order to save on my bills and also prevent wildlife from crawling in, I had to get it fixed. Thankfully, this was a relatively easy project to work with.

Popular grains like rice, corn, and wheat are farmed and modified constantly and have been for more than one hundred years. These species are constantly being altered for various reasons, including lasting longer in the pantry, and higher yields. 

Paint thinner, along with similar solvents, can be very dangerous when disposed of improperly. They can pollute groundwater or potentially cause fires when thrown in your household trash. Not to mention, that the EPA has proposed banning the major chemical found in most paint thinners: methylene chloride. Studies show that short term, it can poison your central nervous system and prolonged exposure can result in lung cancer, liver cancer, and even death.

Dish soap is one of the best household remedies for many problems, and that includes dirty hardwood floors. It’s the best way to clean hardwood floors without damaging them, especially if you use natural or mild dish soap. First, sweep or vacuum your hardwood floors to remove dust and debris before you mop them.

An infestation of any kind is a significant inconvenience, whether it’s cockroaches, fleas, or other pests. An especially dicey problem to deal with is a pesky case of bed bugs. Bed bugs feed on your blood, make you itch, and cause skin inflammation around their bites. 

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.