Blog

Dry a Damp Basement

If your basement is damp and dark and musty, that is a perfect recipe for disaster and mold damage. So how can you dry out your basement, keep it dry, and thereby prevent new mold from forming in your home and basement? This article posted on bobvila.com called "Bob Vila Radio: Dealing with a Damp Basement"…
Read more

Deck the Halls with Dog-Friendly Decor

The Christmas season is celebrated with all kinds of festive decorations, but as you're decking the halls, are you thinking about your beloved canine companion? Some holiday decorations can be dangerous to your dog--do you know which ones? If you have a furry friend wandering through your decked-out halls, you'll want to check out this…
Read more

Use Your Window Treatments as Insulation

It's estimated that 10 to 30 percent of your home's heat escapes through the windows in the winter. You may know that there are certain things you can do to seal your windows better, but did you know that your window treatments can also be an effective way to prevent drafts and minimize heat loss?…
Read more

Window-Washing Like a Pro

Let's face it--most of us don't wash our windows as often as the recommended twice a year; it's just such a hassle! Is there any way to make it less of a chore? According to "How to Clean Windows Like a Pro", an article posted on thisoldhouse.com, there is a better way--the professional way. The problem…
Read more

How to Own a Snowblower

If you've ever tried to buy a snowblower before, you know it's not as simple as picking out, for example bananas at a grocery store; different snowblowers have different options and features, and it can be confusing trying to figure out what's best for your needs. You have to take into account what kind of surface…
Read more

Clever Ways to Create Storage Space

If your home is packed to the brim with stuff, you're not alone. Many Americans feel like they always have too much stuff and never have enough space. A good garage sale might help, or a trip to the Salvation Army donation center, but if those don't do the trick, or if you need to…
Read more

How To Replace Your Shower Diverter

Nothing lasts forever; many parts end up needing to be replaced. If you have a bathtub with a shower head, you might one day find that the shower diverter that diverts the water flow from the bathtub to the shower head, needs replacing. If you pull the knob and hardly any water comes out the…
Read more

Paint Color Pairing

It's difficult enough to decide on one paint color for a room, and picking two paint colors that go well together is even more so. So how can you pick colors that won't clash? bobvila.com posted a great guide called "If This, Then That: Your Guide to Pairing Paint Colors", which has some great advice about…
Read more

A Guide to Picking a Live Christmas Tree

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to set up and decorate a Christmas tree. Live Christmas trees--though certainly not without their challenges--are a great tradition. For a good experience with this tradition, though, it's important to know what you're doing as far as picking a tree, packing it up and getting it home, and preserving…
Read more

How To Hang Christmas Lights

The weekend after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to decorate your house with Christmas lights! It's important to be safe while doing this task, though, and the better-prepared you are, the simpler and less frustrating it will be. bobvila.com posted some great tips for hanging Christmas lights in an article called "8 Tips for Hanging Holiday…
Read more

How to Deep Clean Your Microwave

It's the day after Thanksgiving and all through the kitchen, the relatives find reheatable leftovers to munch on. But they might also be making a mess in the microwave while they're at it. Do you know how to reverse the damage? This article posted on thesnug.com "Deep Clean Your Microwave in 3 Easy Steps" might be…
Read more

What Can You Dispose of Down the Garbage Disposal?

After such a large holiday feast, there's lots of cleaning to do--leftovers to pack up and put away, trash to clean up, and plenty of dishes to do. Your garbage disposal (if you have one) will come in very handy today. But you can't just put anything down the garbage disposer. Overloading the garbage disposal,…
Read more

Hosting Starter Kit Essentials

Whether this holiday season is your first out on your own, or whether you've had your own place for a while, you can always improve your collection of hosting supplies. That's why hgtv.com posted their guide for new hosts called "9 Essentials You Need in Your Hostess Starter Kit". The article recommends that every beginning host(ess)…
Read more

Quick Cleanup for Holiday Hosting

Maybe most of the year your house is a mess, but you certainly don't want it to be that way when the relatives arrive for the holidays. But Thanksgiving is just a few days away, so how can you clean the mess up quickly and efficiently? Use this guide posted on bhg.com called "Holiday Cleaning Checklist:…
Read more

Quick Home Repair

You might be rushing around this week trying to work out every detail and get your house ready before the guests arrive--can you get everything done? Maybe not, so you might have to prioritize. But do you know how long each task will take and which projects you could get done in time? Maybe you'll…
Read more

Call Now Button