Here’s our guide to improving, maintaining, and enjoying your house. With information on everything from home technology and reducing energy costs to outdoor living and working from home, these articles will help you care for your house and get the most out of living there.
All light bulbs eventually burn out. Today’s compact fluorescent and LED bulbs are far more economical in energy usage than old-school incandescents, but they contain toxic elements and must be disposed of properly to protect the environment. Here’s how to get rid of old light bulbs safely. Different bulbs, different elements Incandescent bulbs were a… Read more »
Discovering your home has been burglarized is a sick feeling. In addition to losing valuables, a home burglary leaves you feeling violated and vulnerable. Someone has ransacked your belongings and taken things that matter to you. Could the thief be cashing in on your things right now? Worse, will they come back? Take a deep… Read more »
If you live in an older home, you could be residing in a place rich with history. Research can yield a treasure trove of information about past owners and momentous events that happened on or near your property. Are you ready for some historical sleuthing? Public records of a home’s history One of the simplest… Read more »
Deer will scarf down your tasty, tender petunias and nosh on your geraniums, but not every landscape flower or shrub will whet their appetite. Protect your landscape by using deer-resistant plants the animals will turn up their noses at. Plants with unappealing textures Deer dislike plants with fuzzy textures. Plants such as lamb’s ear, lady’s… Read more »
You may get a thrill from watching a graceful deer nuzzle an adorable fawn near your house, but when the deer come onto your property to munch on your prize plants, the thrill is gone. And deer on your property will bring ticks that can make you and your family sick. Proper fencing is the… Read more »
Looking like something from a science fiction movie, what’s known as dog vomit slime mold may appear on your lawn or in your flowerbeds. It may give you the heebie-jeebies, but is it toxic? And should you keep children and pets away from it? Here’s what you need to know about dog vomit slime mold…. Read more »
Growing new plants using cuttings from other plants is a low-cost alternative to buying from a nursery. Here’s what you need to know to begin stocking your garden or pots with plants grown from cuttings. How new plants grow from cuttings Many plants will grow new roots from a properly cut section of an older… Read more »
Few things delight the eye, like watching colorful birds flitting around the yard. You can use cozy birdhouses to attract these beautiful creatures to stick around to become neighbors. Here’s how to make birds feel at home in your birdhouses. Know your neighbors Consult your state parks and wildlife department or research online for species… Read more »
When a light bulb burns out, you may grab a replacement without considering its wattage. But there’s a risk of fire if a light bulb’s wattage exceeds what the light fixture or lamp allows. So let’s shed some light on light bulb wattage requirements. There’s a maximum wattage warning? It might come as a mild… Read more »
When a friend or family member visits, you may gladly share your Wi-Fi password. After all, you know and trust these guest users. Unfortunately, that person’s device can unknowingly expose you to malware. The solution is to set up a guest account on your Wi-Fi. Here’s how it works. A gracious and prudent solution Your… Read more »
Windowsill gardening is a great option if you want freshly grown herbs, vegetables or flowers but live in an apartment or other situation with little outdoor garden space. Even if you have outdoor space, you may like the convenience of snipping fresh herbs at your kitchen window. Here’s how to convert a small, sunny space… Read more »
One simple action — closing your bedroom door before going to bed at night — could save your life. A practice known in the fire safety field as “close before you doze,” that simple act gives you precious minutes to escape in a catastrophic house fire. The facts about fire Today’s building materials and furnishings… Read more »
When baked-on food spills coat the inside of your oven, it’s time for a cleanup. You can avoid noxious oven cleaner sprays and mad scrubbing with a self-cleaning oven. But there are important things to know about using your oven’s self-cleaning feature. How self-cleaning ovens work There are two types of self-cleaning ovens: steam cleaning… Read more »
Municipal water is treated and delivered under strict health guidelines set at the state and federal levels. But if you own rural property with its own private well, the applicable regulations in many states are less stringent, federal laws governing public water systems do not apply, and owners are not required to treat or test… Read more »
December is a busy month — with holiday decorating, food prep and celebrations taking over the schedule. So go ahead and give yourself the gift of a lighter load of chores around the house. Here’s a suggested to-do list that will get you ready for family festivities and the potential for harsh winter weather but… Read more »
With Thanksgiving looming and the winter holidays right around the corner, it’s easy to succumb to panic. Don’t do it! Instead, use this pre-holiday time as motivation to accomplish what you can and forget about the rest. If you haven’t already, hammer down your holiday travel plans. Make the necessary calls to family and friends… Read more »
Robust plant life inside your home adds color and vibrancy. Plants break up straight lines in furniture and accessories and literally add life to your home décor. They also recycle air, removing carbon dioxide and adding back oxygen. There are many great choices to bring the outdoors in, but here are six of the best… Read more »
Just in time for Halloween, you suddenly see a bat flitting around inside your home. There’s no need to break out garlic and a wooden stake. Here’s how to remove a bat from your house and how to prevent them from visiting you in the future. Safely removing a bat from your house Bats can… Read more »
When you buy your first home, friends and family shower you with “housewarming” gifts that mostly center around decor and sentimentality. But practical items are must-haves when you’re moving into your first house. Here are the essential items you’ll need for day-to-day life in your new home. General use Cleaning supplies: broom, mop, bucket, dustpan,… Read more »
Grilling delicious meals on the weekend is therapeutic. You can feel the tensions of the workweek go up in barbeque smoke as you create a chargrilled masterpiece. But to ensure your grilling experience doesn’t flame out, you have to exercise some cooking caution before, during and after you grill. Burned steaks are bad; a burned… Read more »
