Home Maintenance

Cultured marble isn't actually marble, but a resin material that's made with marble dust as one of its ingredients. It's a cheaper, more versatile alternative to solid marble that you often see...

Because the water that fills your electric water heater contains minerals, when the water heats up, these minerals break down into sediment. When sediment builds up, it coats the lower heating...

House mice can be real pests, especially if there are several families in one home. It is important to eliminate this problem quickly and efficiently due to the damage that mice may cause to...

Cleaning and staining your deck is a lot of work but worth the effort. Wear old clothes, safety glasses and rubber gloves to keep from staining your hands. Choose a fair weather day for the task. ...

Fireplace screens provide that finishing touch many homeowners are looking for to cover that large hideous opening in an otherwise beautiful focal point in their room. Besides providing...

Septic system maintenance is often overlooked by the majority of home owners. With the septic tank and leach field both being underground, it is a case of being out of sight and out of mind until...

Pressure-treated wood is wood that has had special preservatives forced into it. This special process means both benefits and drawbacks. While pressure-treated wood is rot- and decay-resistant, it...

If you see a small, black bug in your mattress similar in size and shape to a pepper seed, you most likely have bedbugs. Although there are other types of bugs that could exist in the mattress,...

In cold weather, weatherstripping wooden doors can help you save money on your energy bill by keeping warm air inside and leaving the cold air outside. One type of weatherstripping is a wrapped...

Laminated countertops are basically sheets of plastic that cover a wood frame to give you a smooth, waterproof work surface. The advantages of laminated tops over other materials include...

Despite their appearance, solid-slab granite countertops are vulnerable to scratches and wear just like any other countertop surface. To maintain a smooth, glass-like shine on your granite...

Many people only go to great lengths to prepare for move-in. After that, they think that life begins thereafter. Big mistake. If you do not lay down these basic protective features within the...

I am a stay at home mom with a Two year old son who quite often makes my walls, which are painted a light color, NASTY :) These are a few easy ways that I have found to inexpensively remove stains...

Painting your laminate countertops is a great alternative if you rather not replace them. Follow the easy instructions that also include simple steps to care for your newly painter counters.

Cleaning an oven can be a nasty smelly job,especially using harsh spray on chemicals. A great alternative for your oven is to prevent it from getting dirty. Here are some ideas on how to make and...

It's that time of the year again. It's winter. If you are an optimist, you picture winter as a time to snuggle in front of the fire and sip hot cocoa. If you are a pessimist, you see winter as a...

If you are lucky enough to have a cedar closet you know the fresh aroma of cedar the moment you open the closet door. Unfortunately over the course of time cedar will lose its’ much sought after...

Flooding, excessive dampness and other water-related accidents happen. Cleaning up a flooded basement is both frustrating and costly. Any furnishings and flooring in the space must be removed....

Duct tape is recognized by many people in the United States as the multi-purpose tape that can fix many different kinds of damage. Most people in the repair business have several rolls of duct...

Green cleaning products are becoming more popular as a means to disinfect your home. They lack harsh chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled and they do not disturb the surfaces in your home....

Gas fireplaces are essential to keeping your house warm during the winter. If you use your fireplace frequently or occasionally, then you should know how to maintain it to keep it clean and...

With water becoming more and more precious, it seems that our water bills are now hitting the astronomical mark. Here are a few tips to help trim your water bill to a more reasonable - and...

Drainage systems have made life easy and comfortable. It makes the environment clean and healthy. It is common to every building and community. Only those who have had to suffer the trauma of...

If you live in an area that requires a septic tank and septic system rather than a city based sewer system, you know the expense of buying septic system treatments. The purpose of a septic system...

It can take hours of scrubbing to make your home's counters, floors and surfaces sparkling clean. Commercial cleaning products are sold to help you accomplish your daily cleaning tasks, but often...

Oriental rugs, especially antique rugs, can be priceless, irreplaceable objects in the home. Unfortunately, moths do not discriminate. They will eat any fabric or material that gets in their path,...

Wood and metal fences are not the only choices you have in enclosing your yard, farm or other outdoor space. Vinyl fencing is one alternative. It's durable, easy to take care of and fits into most...

So fall came, you threw the cover over the pool and didn't look at it again for months. Then, warm weather arrived. When you removed the cover, the pool looked like a green, swampy mess. Many pool...

Calcium deposits are caused from hard water landing and drying on your porcelain surfaces. Hard water is unfiltered water that contains a high amount of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and...

The issue of air duct cleaning remains an unsettled debate because while it may appear reasonable to clean air ducts, no one knows for sure what may result from such cleaning. Just about the only...

With a design traceable to the early 1900s, the term Allen wrench became a generic name for a hex key wrench made by the Allen Manufacturing Company during World War II. Much like a Kleenex or a...

Faulty construction, the age of the building or sinking concrete footings can cause a home's floor to sag over time. Using adjustable steel posts to level the floor is the best method to fix this...

Bats are beneficial because of the large amounts of insects they eat, but having bats take up residence in an attic is not a desirable situation for most homeowners. There's a small risk of...

Burnishing is a process of making an object shiny by using friction and pressure. Often items are burnished by rubbing and there are many types of burnishing tools that use spinning disks with...

The average American household spends as much as $500 per year on water and sewer bills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But everyone can take simple steps to reduce water...

The suds in a carpet shampoo and the friction created by applying it are the most effective methods for cleaning your carpet. You can easily make high-suds carpet shampoos at home to lift smells...

Once you see one, it seems the rest come out of nowhere: ants. They're annoying and unfortunately, one of the most common household pests. They invade kitchens, bathrooms and pet areas around the...

Municipalities attach meters to the outlet of a utility line running into your house so that you are only charged for the amount of the utility you use. Depending on the area, you may only pay...

Central heating usually doesn't get noticed until you start shivering. Effective troubleshooting of central heating systems should begin by getting to know your system and inspecting it for those...

You should check your hot tub's water balance measurements on a regular basis. The balance must be verified that it is within the correct parameters for your system, but at the same time, also...

Many people are trying to reduce the use of dangerous chemicals in their homes, seeking nontoxic alternatives that they can create themselves. The insecticides that have traditionally been used in...

Light-duty lubricants, such as WD-40, are only suitable for cleaning the tracks of an automatic garage door. Because an overhead garage door opener has a heavy workload, a sturdier lubricant than...

Cement driveways are susceptible to stains and discoloration due to oil, grease and simple wear and tear. These stains are not only unsightly but can also reduce the value of your home if you are...

Maintenance of an apartment is a constant chore. Whether repairs need to be made or housekeeping needs to be done, consistent maintenance is always less stressful and less expensive when you are...

For years, hardwood floor refinishing has been associated with unpleasant odors due to finish products such as stains, seals and varnishes. While these odors are a problem in the short-term, the...

Refinish the grout in tub tile every few years. The constant moisture and soap residue from bathing causes the grout to become discolored or moldy. Choose a mold-resistant grout and tile sealant...

Saltwater sterilization is a method for treating water in hot tubs. In recent times, the treatment has gained traction because it offers superior water quality, is economical and eco-friendly, and...

If you live in the south, you know how dirty vinyl siding can get. The dirt from roads, pollen from trees or that green yuck from too much rain or humidity can make your new home look like a run...

There are many types and designs of commercial restrooms available today. Prefabricated restrooms seem to be a popular choice, although there are many disadvantages to choosing this type of...

Cleaning windows is an easy task if you follow these simple steps. * Bucket * Liquid soap (dish or car) * Hose with sprayer * Razor blade scraper * Cloth or paper towels * Screwdriver