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Dyson vs Shark: The Ultimate Cordless Vacuum Showdown
Cordless vacuums have come a long way in the past few years. Battery capacity and runtime have increased, and major m...
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The Future of Laundry: A Review of Tru Earth's Eco-Friendly Strips
Most laundry practices involve using liquid detergents or pods, leading to the discharge of chemicals and microfibers...
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Keep Your Sedan Shiny With the Best Pressure Washers for Cars
While automobile owners can absolutely use a garden hose and sprayer attachment to keep their cars clean, a pressure ...
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The Roborock Q Revo Vacuum and Mop Saves Me Hours Every Week
Robot vacuums promise to make cleaning the floor easier, but after testing several, I’ve found that not all live up t...
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Get a Leg Up: A Review of the HBTower Folding Step Stool
Step stools are practical solutions for reaching overhead without having to stand on a rickety chair or other unsafe ...
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Hart Tools: Is Walmart’s New Tool Line a Game Changer?
Walmart has always sold a variety of household tools, but its launch of Hart Tools in 2019 officially put it in compe...
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The 25 Smartest and Smallest DIYs You Can Do for Your Home
Do you have some free time this week to dedicate to home maintenance tasks, but don’t have a lot of dough to put into...
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Plug In and Power Up: A Tested Review of the DeWalt Charging Station
In a world where cordless tool power is taking over, the DeWalt DCB104 charging station offers a substantial benefit ...
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Shark HydroVac Review: Is This Vac/Mop as Good as a Bissell CrossWave?
I value a clean house, but as a working parent with three active kids, cleaning our floors at the end of a long day c...
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The Truth About Scotchgard Fabric Protector: A Hands-On Review
Fabric protectors are designed to protect textiles of all types from spills, stains, and other potential damage. Thes...
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KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack Review: Sturdy, Spacious, and Durable
Many of us rely on a dish rack to dry all of our dishes or perhaps a select few that won’t fare well in the dishwashe...
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The Best Handheld Pool Vacuums for Sparkling-Clean Water
No matter how well they’re covered, pools and spas are bound to collect dirt and debris—and few tools are as useful a...
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5 Things to Know About Sealing Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher block countertops provide unique appeal and safe food prep space in the kitchen, but these wooden surfaces ar...
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Can The PowerSmith Ash Vacuum Tackle The Messiest Fireplaces?
It's tough to beat the radiant warmth and ambience of a real wood fire, but it can be tedious to clean up the inevita...
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Bissell SpinWave Review: The Best of the 15 Floor Scrubbers We Tested
My house is full of hard floors—hardwoods in the main living areas, luxury vinyl plank in the basement, and ceramic t...
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The Best Battery-Powered Riding Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
If you’re willing to spend a premium price for a battery-powered electric riding mower, you should expect quality in ...
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Tested: Is the Ego 765 Leaf Blower Really the World’s Most Powerful?
The Ego Power+ 765 cubic feet per minute (CFM) 56-volt (V) leaf blower has been out for a couple of years now, and I ...
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Is Husqvarna a Good Brand?
Shoppers on the hunt for lawn and garden equipment have no doubt encountered a variety of Husqvarna products and migh...
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This Fiskars Reel Mower Cuts Better Than the Competition
Push reel lawn mowers have been around for a long time and still retain a loyal following for many good reasons. Thes...
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The Greenworks 40V Pole Saw Cuts High Branches With No Ladder Required
If you’ve ever considered climbing a ladder to remove a branch with a chainsaw, then you might need a pole saw. Chain...
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It's Not Just for Pet Stains: A Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Review
The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro has garnered thousands of rave reviews from its users for the past few year...
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Drilling in Tight Spaces: A Makita Right-Angle Drill Review
If you’re not yet acquainted with the remarkable versatility of a right-angle drill—the top tool for drilling in tigh...
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The Best Cheap Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2023
Keeping a full-size pool free of debris and grime can be a lot of work, which is why robotic pool cleaners have grown...
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The Best Pool Stabilizers of 2023
Chlorine is an essential disinfectant to keep swimming pool water clean and clear, but to get the most out of this ch...
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The Best Pool Tile Cleaners of 2023
Pool maintenance can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be with a good pool tile cleaner. Even the cle...
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How to Recharge Your Car’s AC at Home
If your car AC isn’t cooling like its usual frosty self—or worse, if your car AC is blowing hot air—the chances are p...
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Solved! What Is a Pool Skimmer?
Q: I just purchased a new home with a pool. One of my neighbors mentioned that I will need to empty the skimmers ever...
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Can the Husqvarna Zero-Turn Mower Cut a Bumpy Lawn at Top Speed?
If you measure your lawn in acres rather than square feet, then a zero-turn riding mower might be right for you. Unli...
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For a Clean-Cut Lawn With Electric Convenience, Take a Look at This Ryobi Lawn Mower
Competition in the cordless products category gets tougher each year as consumers become more accustomed to untetheri...
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Does Craftsman’s New Electric Riding Lawn Mower Outperform My Gas Lawn Tractor?
Buying a new riding lawn mower has always come with a certain amount of homework. Before settling on a specific model...
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The Versatile Gorilla Ladder May Be The Only Ladder You Ever Need
Gorilla's multi-position ladder, the GLMPXA-22, combines stability, safety, and convenience into one impressive packa...
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Is DeWalt a Good Brand?
DeWalt is widely regarded as a top-tier brand in the tool industry due to its exceptional quality, durability, and pe...
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How to Clean a Sand, DE, or Cartridge Pool Filter
True to its name, a pool filter catches and removes dirt, oils, and other debris out of the pool water. However, thes...
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Save $260 on Our Favorite Cordless Pool Cleaner This Labor Day
Pool time means playtime, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still work to be done. To keep a sunny disposition and de...
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The Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors of 2023
Cordless vacuums for hardwood floors offer the convenience of cleaning up quick messes alongside the suction power to...
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The Wagner Paint Sprayer Provides the Best Bang for the Buck in Our Latest Test
When it comes to quickly painting large surfaces, such as walls, or getting a professional-looking finish on contoure...
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Hands-On Review: Unveiling the DeWalt PowerStack Advantage in High-Performance Batteries
Get ready to supercharge your power tools with DeWalt's latest offering: PowerStack batteries. As an avid constructio...
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How to Vacuum a Pool Like a Pro
A pool is a huge benefit when the weather is hot, but without proper care and maintenance, the water can become an un...
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Power Up Your Mowing Game: Greenworks Redefines the Battery Lawn Mower
The meteoric rise of battery-powered tools and lawn mowers signals a paradigm shift. A growing departure from traditi...
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The Best Air Compressors for Home Garages of 2023
Those who have never owned an air compressor for home garage use might not realize the flexible uses the tool can pro...
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This Hose End Sprayer Promises No Mixes or Messes So We Put it to the Test!
As an avid gardener, I'm always looking for tools that simplify my lawn-care routine without compromising effectivene...
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I Tested a Popular Above-Ground Robotic Pool Cleaner: Is It Worth the Price?
Since 1983, Maytronics has been a leader in the pool industry, focusing on robotic pool cleaners and other accessorie...
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How Much Does Lawn Mower Repair Cost?
Highlights Lawn mower repairs typically cost between $40 and $90, with the national average cost coming in at around...
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The Best Gardening Hats of 2023
Gardening is our way of connecting with nature, growing healthy produce, and cultivating beautiful landscapes. Howeve...
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The Best Lawn Fertilizers for Spring of 2023
All lawns require nutrients to grow and thrive, but often there isn’t enough occurring naturally in the soil. The bes...
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The Best Gardening Aprons of 2023
Whether you have a green thumb or are a beginning gardener just trying your hand at growing your own food or flowers,...
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How to Replace the Wax Ring on a Toilet
For something you can’t even see, a lot is riding on a toilet’s wax ring. These unsung heroes create a watertight gap...
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Is an Electric Pressure Washer Powerful? I Tested a Ryobi Pressure Washer to Find out!
Nothing beats a good pressure washer for blasting dirt and mud from sidewalks, driveways, and dirty cars. I've used s...
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We Tested the Makita XML03 Lawn Mower: Is This Battery Powered Mower Enough for Your Yard?
Maintaining a regular mowing schedule is vital to achieving lush and healthy turfgrass. However, a battery-powered la...
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The Best Pool Skimmers of 2023
Pool skimmers are one of those tools no pool owner can do without. Even if the pool is regularly serviced by a mainte...
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The Best Pool Patches of 2023
Most modern pool patches are easy to use, effective, and very low cost when compared with professional repair. They n...
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Is There Anything The Stihl Cordless Garden Shear Can’t Trim? I Tested It to Find Out.
Regardless of personal style, most of us appreciate the look of a well-tended landscape. A big part of that look is k...
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This Stihl Battery Trimmer Weighs Less and Works Harder Than Your String Trimmer
Battery-powered lawn and garden tools have come a long way over the past couple of decades. Engineers worked on the p...
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The Best Sanders for Hardwood Floors of 2023
It’s possible to use just about any sander for hardwood floors, but some can involve a long, laborious, and uncomfort...
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When to Call Your Landlord Immediately—And When to Solve the Problem Yourself
Welcome to The State of Rentals with Bob Vila, a series dedicated to showing both landlords and tenants the crucial s...
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Is the DeWalt Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower as Impressive as Its Power Tools? I Tested It to Find Out
When did DeWalt start making lawn mowers? As manufacturers pour resources into building the best battery-powered lawn...
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I Tested the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum: Is It Worth the Price?
The Dyson brand is known for its sleek and powerful devices, and the V12 is no exception. The V12 Detect Slim cordles...
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See What Happened when I Used Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Fertilizer on My Houseplants for a Month
The most important difference between strong, healthy houseplants and weak, sickly ones is the care they receive. All...
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The Best Cheap Lawn Mowers of 2023
We use the word “cheap” in different ways to convey different meanings. In many instances, cheap either equates to ro...
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Weeding Without Chemicals: Red Dragon Mini Weed Torch Tested & Reviewed
One of my favorite weed-control tools that lawn care articles often ignore is fire. Both mature weeds and weed seeds ...
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How to Clean Battery Terminals for At-Home Auto Maintenance
At some point or other, most car owners will need to learn how to clean battery terminals if they don’t already know ...
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8 Handy Substitutes for WD-40 Around the House
WD-40 has earned its reputation as a jack-of-all-trades. Its top-secret ingredients list blends lubricants, anti-corr...
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How to Replace a Toilet Fill Valve
Typically, toilet fill valves last about 5 years without any issues, depending on the quality of the valve, hard wate...
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How to Make Every Appliance in Your Home Last Longer and Run More Efficiently
Home appliances make our lives easier by washing our clothes, helping us cook meals, heating and cooling our homes, a...
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Choice Home Warranty: A Relatively Affordable Choice With Stellar Customer Service—And a Few Drawbacks to Consider
Repairing or replacing broken-down appliances and home systems can be very expensive, which is why many homeowners el...
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The Best Home Warranty Companies in Texas of 2023
Owning a home in Texas can present some significant challenges when it comes to maintenance and upkeep due to the sta...
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How to Remove Heat Stains From Wood: 7 Methods That Work
Heat stains are an enduring concern for both seasoned homeowners and those who have just made their first furniture p...
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How to Siphon Gas From Outdoor Power Equipment for Seasonal Storage
While siphoning gas is normally associated with nefarious activities, there are many aboveboard reasons to learn this...
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The Best Sandblasters of 2023
A good sandblaster can make many tough jobs—including restoring antique cars, returning concrete to like-new conditio...
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The Best Dethatching Blades
Lawn clippings, dead leaves, and other organic matter are important fuel for a yard, fertilizing it naturally and ens...
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The Best Step Stools to Give You a Boost, Tested
Step stools are handy for almost any task that involves reaching up high, from accessing the top cabinet in the kitch...
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10 Simple Solutions for the Most Stressful DIY Projects
From fixing leaky pipes to unclogging a toilet, some DIY repairs can make you sweat bullets when they go wrong. And, ...
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Plow Through Powder With the Best Snow Blowers for Gravel Driveways, Tested
While just about any good snow blower can remove snow from a paved driveway or sidewalk, not all are suitable for use...
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How to Open Painted-Shut Windows
When you move into an older home, it's not uncommon to find at least one window painted shut. Wood windows add plenty...
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The Best Rakes for Pine Needles
A standard rake will suffice for raking up autumn leaves, but collecting pine needles that have gathered on the groun...
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Solved! How Long Do Water Softeners Last?
Q: Our new home has a whole-house water softener installed. The previous owners only lived here for a few years and a...
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The Best Lubricants for Squeak-Free Door Hinges
While it’s great for setting the mood in a horror movie, the sound of a squeaking hinge can be downright irritating. ...
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How to Fix a Bathroom Sink Stopper
One of the most overlooked parts of a bathroom sink is the sink plug; this is because many people don’t understand th...
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10 Caulking Mistakes You're Making—and How To Fix Them
Whether you need to create a watertight seal between a bathtub and tile, seal a leak around a window, or give a finis...
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The Best Weed Killers for Flower Beds
Weeds spread rapidly across gardens, choking out desirable plants, sucking nutrients from the soil, and blocking the ...
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Bob Vila's 10 "Must Do" Projects for August
It's August, which probably means that—depending where you live and whether you have air conditioning—you're spending...
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The Best Weed Killers for Bermuda Grass of 2023
Some turfgrass types wilt at the first sign of temperatures higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, drought, or salty sea...
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7 Important Things to Know About Above-Ground Pool Maintenance
Whether you already have an above-ground pool in your backyard or are looking to set one up soon, it’s important to k...
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The Best Lawn Mower Snow Blower Combos
Most homeowners and DIYers like the idea of getting more than one use out of their tools. It can help them justify a ...
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The Best Garden Tractors
Large properties and big projects often call for machines that can handle heavy duties. Jobs like cutting acres of gr...
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The Best Moth Repellents
While moths aren’t a dangerous creepy-crawly to find in a home, they can be destructive, so it’s worth preventing or ...
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The Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners
Most folks enjoy a well-manicured lawn with its deep green and lush texture. However, keeping a lawn looking that goo...
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Bob Vila’s “Must Do” Projects for July
July’s longer days and warmer weather mean there's plenty of good reason to be outside, and no shortage of tasks to t...
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The Best John Deere Lawn Tractors of 2023
Pushing a lawn mower can be great exercise, but not everyone wants to spend every Saturday morning mowing a large yar...
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The Best Honda Lawn Mowers
Nothing says summer like the sound of lawn mowers powering up. The long-standing ritual of keeping lawns neatly trimm...
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50 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do
While certain home repairs require a professional, many maintenance tasks can be handled on your own. Learning these basic skills will help you become a more self...
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3 Ways Baking Soda Can Help Maintain Your Swimming Pool
Q: I just moved into a new home with a pool in the backyard. I have never had my own pool and am new to all the neces...
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Ugly Yard 911: 9 Ways to Make Over (or Hide) the Worst Parts of Your Property
Curb appeal matters when you’re selling your house, but it can also be a point of pride. The same is true of the cond...
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The Best Stand-On Mowers
While riding lawn mowers and walk-behind lawn mowers may make up the bulk of grass-cutting machines found in resident...
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How to Clean a Lawn Mower Carburetor for Annual Maintenance
A common problem encountered by many homeowners is finding that their lawn mower engine won’t start when they try to ...
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The Best Chainsaw Sharpeners of 2023
Sharpening a chainsaw once meant working on the chain’s individual teeth by hand. Today’s best chainsaw sharpeners ar...
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The Best Commercial Zero-Turn Mowers
For lawn-care professionals, commercial zero-turn mowers are essential pieces of heavy-duty equipment that can cut gr...
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The Best Zero-Turn Mowers for 5 Acres
If you’re caring for a large property, it pays to become familiar with zero-turn mowers. In the old days, a lawn trac...
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The Best Liquid Lawn Fertilizers
Every summer across the nation, homeowners vie for their neighborhood's lushest lawn, but it's no simple task. It req...
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DIY Disasters: 9 Homeowner "Fixes" That Can Mess Up Your House
DIY projects can keep home maintenance costs low, but it’s important to only tackle jobs you have the knowledge, expe...
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The Best Suction Pool Cleaners of 2023
Although it is possible to use a brush and manual vacuum to clean your pool, it's not a task many pool owners have th...
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The Best Glues for Rubber
When it comes to gluing rubber to rubber or a variety of diverse substrates, the project’s success depends on selecti...
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The Best Construction Knee Pads
Construction can be brutal on the body. Beyond the heavy lifting and repetitive motions involved, time spent kneeling...
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The Best Gardening Services
Having a beautiful outdoor space is not just for looks—studies have shown that plants can provide big health benefits...
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The Best Mulching Lawn Mowers of 2023
While you can bag those lawn clippings to create a clean-looking yard, a smarter option is to use a mulching lawn mow...
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The Best Weed Killers for Gravel of 2023
Pulling an errant dandelion here and there isn't a big deal, but when multiple weeds appear, they can quickly multipl...
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17 Surprising Ways to Use Steel Wool Around the House
Steel Wool, Still Going StrongA tool that’s now commonplace in the modern home, steel wool came about somewhat by acc...
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Solved! Can You Caulk Over Caulk?
Q: I am renovating most of my bathroom, but I’m not changing the shower tiles or bathtub. However, the caulk lines be...
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The Best Laundry Detergents for Septic Systems
In some homes, the water from the washing machine drains into a septic system that treats the wastewater. A septic-sa...
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Solved! Does USAA Offer a Home Warranty?
Q: We are a military family, and we are buying a new home. Our real estate agent has advised that a home warranty wou...
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The Best Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits of 2023
Dryer vent cleaning kits contain brushes, necks, or vacuum attachments that snake their way into the tight spaces of ...
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15 Things Never to Keep in Your Garage
The garage is a convenient place to keep a lot of your clutter, but some household items are best stowed somewhere else.
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Solved! Can You Buy a Home Warranty After Closing on a House?
Q: We were encouraged to buy a home warranty during the home buying process, but we didn’t really understand how it w...
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Solved! Here’s How Much to Budget for a Home Maintenance Fund
Q: I’m so excited to be buying my first home, but I’ve watched friends run up huge credit card bills paying for expen...
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The Best Sprinkler Valves
Despite the variety of options available, sprinkler valves serve one very simple purpose: They regulate water flow. S...
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Solved! Does a Home Warranty Cover HVAC Repair?
Q: We’re looking at a home with some older appliances, and the home inspector recommended we think about a home warra...
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Solved! How Long Do HVAC Systems Last?
Q: We thought we would have more time before our HVAC system needed to be replaced. On a recent annual service call, ...
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How to Be Your Own Auto Mechanic
DIY automotive maintenance and repair is easier than you might think—and it will save you a bundle, to boot. Often th...
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2022 Outlook: This is How Inflation Will Affect the Prices of Home Improvement and Maintenance Services
Inflation—a steady uptick in prices for goods and services, and the corresponding dip of our purchasing power—is high...
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13 Things Your House Sitter Needs to Know Before You Leave Town
Whether you’ll be traveling for work or taking a fun vacation, hiring a house sitter is a good idea. House sitters ca...
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The Best Fertilizers for Indoor Plants Tested in 2023
Plants get nearly all the sustenance they need from water and sunlight, but since houseplants live in containers, the...
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The Best Lawn Mowers Tested in 2024
A good lawn mower is crucial for maintaining a lush, well-manicured lawn. With so many options and brands to choose f...
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The Best Lizard Repellents
While furry rodent invaders can strike pretty much anywhere, people living in warmer climates face another kind of th...
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I Tested the Raptor Gutter Guard: Is it Worth the Cost?
There probably aren’t too many folks who would choose to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon cleaning gutters. The nas...
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The Best Gutter Sealants to Prevent Leaks and Damage, Tested
The main purpose of guttering is to channel rainwater away from the home and prevent it from damaging the foundation ...
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The Best Gas Lawn Mowers of 2023
Many homeowners hope to have a verdant, well-manicured lawn that makes them the envy of the neighborhood. While prope...
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6 Reasons Why Buying a Big House Could Be a Bad Idea
The pandemic caused most of us to spend more time at home than we ever have, and for some—especially those with young...
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How to Pick the Best Leaf Removal Service After Searching ‘Leaf Removal Near Me’
Homeowners envisioning the fall may picture swaths of crimson and gold against a blue sky, pumpkins, kids in Hallowee...
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12 Home Maintenance Services You Should Book ASAP, According to Experts
While the days are still long and the temps are soaring, preparing a home for the coming winter is the last thing on ...
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Do These 12 Things Before a Home Appraisal
Leaving the simplest around-the-house repairs undone can cost you big when the appraiser comes around. Here's how to show your home in the best light and score a ...
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What NOT to Do When Cleaning Your Home's Rain Gutters
A home’s gutter system is designed to protect the roof, siding, and foundation from water damage and the accumulation...
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I Tested an Affordable Melnor Sprinkler—Did it Water My Lawn Efficiently?
On a hot summer day, lawn sprinklers are a common sight, dispersing water for grass to stay healthy and for children ...
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I Tried a Cordless Tire Inflator―Did It Work?
Whether it’s inflating a flat tire, bumping up the pressure on a mountain bike, or inflating a pool float, having a p...
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What Is a Home Warranty, and What Does a Home Warranty Cover?
Q: I’m house-hunting for the first time, and I’ve noticed that some listings note that they include a home warranty. ...
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Clean Your Gutters a Cinch with The Gutter Cleaning Tool
When it comes to protecting your home’s foundation and keeping your basement dry, gutters play a vital role. Gutters ...
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The Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers of 2023
Crawl spaces are dark and dusty, and air quality isn’t always at its finest. If the humidity level climbs (which it o...
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The Best Central Vacuum System for a Whole-House Clean
Vacuuming an entire house is a completely different chore when compared to vacuuming an apartment. It can be a hassle...
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5 Signs It’s Time to Call in a Professional
You might think of yourself as pretty handy around the house. You can build your own shed foundation, you’ve mastered...
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The Best Lawn Tractor Batteries to Keep Your Equipment Running Like New
A well-maintained lawn tractor can function reliably for many years, but its battery—the part responsible for startin...
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The Best Marble Sealers for a Smooth Finish
There’s nothing like the look of a marble shower in a bathroom or a marble countertop in a kitchen—unless, of course,...
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The Best Cordless Blowers of 2023
When it comes to blowing leaves and other yard debris, you need lots of airflow. While gas-powered blowers excel in t...
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The Best Fertilizers for Centipede Grass of 2023
Slow growing and semi shade tolerant, centipede grass is known throughout the South as “the lazy man’s grass. ” Growi...
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The Best Soil Test Kits Tested in 2023
Plants need light, oxygen, water, and a growing medium that meets their nutritional needs. Commercial and natural fer...
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The Best Deck Resurfacers to Refinish Your Outdoor Space
There comes an unfortunate time in the life of a deck owner when it becomes apparent that a beloved backyard party sp...
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The Best Brushes for Polyurethane of 2023
The best polyurethane provides a durable, attractive finish that comes in several formulas, including oil-based, wate...
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The Best Concrete Crack Fillers for DIY Repairs, Tested
Though incredibly stable and durable, concrete is not indestructible, and that’s where concrete crack fillers can mak...
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The Best Salt-Free Water Softeners
Whether on well water or city water, many households struggle with hard water—which can cause scaling and clogged wat...
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The Best Push Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
Over the last couple of years, we've tested more than 30 lawn mowers and found these eight push lawn mowers to be the...
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The Best Above-Ground Pool Vacuums of 2023
Having a nice, cool pool to dive into on a hot day is a great benefit, but pool ownership comes with a list of mainte...
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The Best Electric Tankless Water Heaters to Save Space and Cut Costs
While traditional water heaters remain the best choice for some people, a tankless unit can save space and help reduc...
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The Best Well Water Filtration Systems for a Cleaner Supply
Choosing a better well water filtration system for clean drinking water doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s easier whe...
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The Best Floor Jack for Trucks of 2023
When it comes to truck or SUV maintenance, everything is bigger. Tires, brakes, suspension, and even oil filters are ...
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The Best Propane Tankless Water Heaters of 2023
Hot water is a basic requirement, but the range of tank-based and tankless systems now available can make choosing th...
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The Best Leaf Blowers Tested in 2023
Manually raking leaves is often a laborious chore. You can make it an easier and faster process by using a leaf blowe...
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How To: Use Muriatic Acid
Muriatic acid, a less-pure variant of hydrochloric acid, is available in high concentrations for use in a host of hom...
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Testing the 7 Best Vacuum Mop Combos for Spotless Floors
Cleaning floors is more than just sweeping or vacuuming. Experts recommend sweeping and mopping at least once a week ...
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The Best Stand-Up Weeders of 2023
Weeds and other invasive plants can wreak havoc on a yard or garden, but many people are understandably wary about tr...
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The Best Gas Pressure Washers of 2023
Gas pressure washer models can be much more effective than their electric counterparts on tough stains, cleaning larg...
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How To: Get Rid of Clover
Stubborn weeds are the bane of a beautiful lawn. Yet, although it’s pretty stubborn, clover (aka Trifolium repens) is...
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10 Home Maintenance Projects You Should Be Doing Every Month
Keep your home in top shape by tackling these tasks every month.
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How To: Make a Homemade Deck Cleaner That Works Like a Charm
An outdoor deck sees lots of traffic. Muddy shoes, spilled food, and wet dogs can leave it dirty, stained, and smelly...
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The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hills of 2023
Not everyone enjoys mowing the lawn. Riding lawn mowers reduce mow time, improve comfort, and offer an abundance of o...
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The Best Expanding Foams of 2023
Expanding foam is a flexible product with a wide range of applications, including waterproofing, fireproofing, and in...
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The Best Weed Torches Tested in 2023
Weed management is rarely at the top of anyone’s list of desirable to-dos. Bending over and pulling weeds is a lot of...
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The Best Electric Mowers Tested in 2023
Electric mowers are quickly becoming an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to their gas-powered counterparts. Not...
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The Best String Trimmers Tested in 2023
Mowing the lawn spruces up a yard, but it’s the finishing touches that take a lawn from fine to fantastic—and there a...
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How to Refinish Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floor refinishing and sanding is unforgiving work. Make a mistake, and it will show. However, a refinished f...
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The Best Water-Leak Detectors Tested in 2023
Water leaks are incredibly common, with over 2. 5 million homeowners experiencing one yearly. Not only do water leaks...
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The Best Shoe Glues of 2023
Shoes, like many common clothing items, can range widely in price, durability, and purpose, but when you find a pair ...
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The Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
Whether you’re switching from gas-powered to green or buying your first cordless electric mower, battery-powered lawn...
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The Best Grease Guns for Car Repairs
Grease guns are used in a variety of applications—from automotive garages to household tool maintenance—to quickly an...
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The Best Electric Snow Blowers to Keep Your Driveway and Paths Clear, Tested
Gas snow blowers are heavy, loud, and a challenge to maintain. Electric snow blowers offer a reprieve from the weight...
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The Best Rust Converters of 2023
Everything degrades over time; metal objects are usually the victims of rust. Fortunately, there are several ways to ...
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The Best Roof Cleaners
While most homeowners spend the majority of their time maintaining the ground-level features of their homes, the roof...
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15 Things Your Home Repair Emergency Fund Should Be Able to Cover
Perhaps the least fun part of home ownership is facing unexpected repairs and expenses. Make sure you have the funds set aside to cover these common home fixes.
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The Best Ash Vacuums Tested in 2023
A crackling fire adds coziness and ambience, but the resulting ash cleanup is unpleasant. Traditional hearth cleaning...
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The Best pH Meters for Home and Garden Use
Whether you’re an amateur gardener, a flower enthusiast, or you’ve got a yard full of fruits and veggies, a pH meter ...
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The Best Spin Mops Tested in 2023
Beyond traditional mops, spin mops are designed to take the “ick” factor out of wet mopping, eliminating the chore of...
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The Best Window Squeegees of 2023
Windows seem to attract water spots, smudges, and smears, making the view outside look like a hazy mess. Immaculate w...
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The Best Brass Cleaners for Wiping Away Tarnish
The look and durability of brass has made it popular for generations. It’s in everything from jewelry and ornaments t...
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The Best Asphalt Driveway Crack Fillers of 2023
A cracked driveway can be unsightly, plus it can lead to more extensive damage if left untreated. Cracks allow moistu...
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The Best Stainable Wood Fillers
Over time, every home’s furniture, walls, and baseboards get nicks and cracks. But, wood fillers help hide the appear...
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The Best Roof Vents for the Home or Shed
Mold and mildew growing and shingles peeling away from the roof: These issues are caused by a poorly ventilated attic...
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Sweeping Success: The Best Vacuums for Tile Floors Tested in 2024
Tile floors are low maintenance, durable, and customizable. However, they can easily show dust and dirt, so finding t...
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The Best Electric Knife Sharpeners for Easy Maintenance
Knife sharpeners are an efficiency multiplier, with the best electric knife sharpeners breathing new life into old kn...
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The Best Step Ladders Tested in 2023
From tucking away totes on top shelves in the closet to cutting in paint edges along the top of a wall, a step ladder...
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The Best Double-Sided Tapes of 2023
Move over, duct tape, there’s another tape that has nearly as many uses. Double-sided tape can be used to adhere any ...
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The Best Granite Sealers of 2023
Granite is an investment. It’s costly, and, in fact, it may be the most expensive feature in the kitchen or bathroom....
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The Best Garage Door Insulation Kits Tested in 2023
Nowadays, the idea of converting the garage into a second living space or personal sanctuary (i. e. , guest bedroom, ...
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The Best Concrete Sealers Tested in 2023
Indoors and out, concrete lasts longer and performs better with some protection—which is what today’s concrete sealer...
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The Best Silicone Sprays of 2023
Silicone spray is typically seen as a lubricant for noisy door hinges. But users can also use silicone spray on car h...
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The Best Kitchen Cleaners of 2023
In the never-ending quest to keep kitchens clean and tidy, there’s a huge selection of cleansers on the market, inclu...
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The Best Leather Cleaners of 2023
Leather is one of the most durable fabrics around, so it’s often found in both car interiors and home furnishings. Le...
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The Best Deer Repellents
Foraging deer can cause major damage to home gardens. These adorable woodland critters can ravage your yard by munchi...
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The Best Paver Sealers
The best paver sealers help lock stones in place, limit erosion inside joints, repel stains, and keep the pavers look...
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The Best Backpack Leaf Blowers Tested in 2023
With a backpack leaf blower, yard cleanup is a snap. Leaf blowers make quick work of removing fallen leaves, grass cl...
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The Best Leaf Mulchers Tested in 2023
Few sights are as lovely as the red and gold hues of falling leaves, but having to rake and bag them—often multiple t...
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The Best Pool Pumps of 2023
A pool pump circulates chemicals through pool water and filters out impurities and cloudiness. With a quality pool pu...
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20 Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands
If your house could talk, it would tell you that spending a little money now on small repairs could save you big bucks down the road. We’ve put together 20 of the...
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The Best Battery Backup Sump Pumps of 2023
Basements are subject to flooding because they’re below grade. If water trickles in, it has no place to go. Many base...
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The Best Shark Vacuums Tested in 2023
When shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, the range of products from just one brand like Shark can be staggering, so we...
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The Best Electric Pressure Washers Tested in 2023
An electric pressure washer is an excellent piece of equipment because it produces dramatic cleaning results. It can ...
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40 Tasks All Homeowners Should Finish Before the First Frost
From closing down the deck and garden to making sure your heating system is working, there’s plenty to be done in the autumn months. Which tasks will you take on ...
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The Best Tire Inflators for Vehicle Maintenance, Tested
Most drivers have looked down at their dashboard and noticed a warning light indicating a tire with low pressure. If ...
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The Best Riding Lawn Mowers of 2023
For yards larger than a half acre, a push lawn mower just doesn’t cut it. Walk-behind lawn mowers are simply too smal...
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The Best Rat Poisons of 2023
For homeowners, DIYers, and renters concerned about rat infestations or prevention, the best rat poison can take care...
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The Best Gutter Cleaners Tested in 2023
If you don’t have gutter guards to prevent clogs from fallen leaves, cleaning your gutters is a necessary (and messy)...
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The Best Sump Pumps for Crawl Spaces and Basements
A good sump pump is invaluable in times of flooding or to prevent mildew. Sump pumps reside in a pit below the baseme...
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12 Reasons Your Home Isn't Worth as Much as You Think
Think you know how much your house is worth? Before being disappointed with low offers, make sure your house is in tip-top shape. Scroll through to see what parts...
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The 6 Best Robot Lawn Mowers for Automated Maintenance, Tested
Improvements in rechargeable battery tech and intelligent software have dramatically changed the way we live. Smart t...
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10 Electric Leaf Blowers Work Great Without Gas
Leaf blowers make it a breeze to clean up fallen foliage and other small debris, eliminating the back-straining work ...
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The 10 Best Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers for Making Yard Work Easier
While the striking colors of turning leaves may look nice, after the leaves drop, they make a mess in your yard. Inst...
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The Best Knee Pads
Anyone who has ever knelt on a hard surface will likely know the sheer discomfort and the extreme awkwardness of mane...
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The Best Mattress Pads of 2023
Mattress pads are not a bedroom essential, but many people find these accessories very useful. Their primary purpose ...
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The Best Battery Trimmers Tested in 2023
Handy outdoor power tools make quick work of tackling overgrown weeds and grass, giving the yard a tidy look and trim...
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The Best Brush Cutters of 2023
Brush cutters easily grind through tall, overgrown fields; up steep hillsides; and into deep ditches where regular la...
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The Best Insect Repellents to Keep the Bugs Away
From swatting mosquitoes around the campfire to batting away blackflies on the lake, insects can really put a damper ...
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The Best Pool Vacuums of 2023
Pool ownership is a popular dream, but pools can be tough to maintain. Fortunately, aquatics aficionados can keep the...
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The Best Drill Bit Sharpeners for Tool Maintenance
Drill bits aren’t cheap, but they do seem to dull quickly. Whether you’re drilling through dense hardwood or hardened...
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Slash Your Electric Bill with 11 Savvy Hacks
How much do you pay for electricity each month? Whatever the answer, you probably wouldn't mind having a lower electric bill. The good news is, there are many sim...
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The Best Ironing Boards for Your Laundry Room
Whether you love to press clothes or not, an ironing board makes the chore much easier. Ironing directly onto a table...
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The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
We have mowed dozens of acres of grass with more than 30 lawn mowers, including self-propelled mowers, so we've seen ...
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The Best Termite Treatments of 2023
Termites are elusive pests that can quickly form colonies in a home before showing significant signs of infestation. ...
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The Best Bed Bug Sprays
Bed bugs (cimex lectularius) are tiny insects that feed on human blood, hiding in blankets, sheets, mattresses, and m...
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The Best Septic Tank Treatments of 2023
Septic tanks bring wastewater from the home into a tank, where active bacteria dissolves and consumes waste, effectiv...
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The Best Snake Repellents of 2023
Some people handle sudden and unexpected encounters with serpents surprisingly well, while others—not so much. Most h...
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The Best Water Softeners of 2023
Water softening systems prevent common problems with water, including chalky deposits of calcium carbonate, called li...
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The Best Fly Traps of 2023
Controlling flies may seem like an impossible battle. They reproduce quickly, and they’re extremely challenging to el...
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The Best Weed Eater Strings
The string in your weed trimmer head can have a big impact on weekly yard work. Using the wrong string causes constan...
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The Best Sprinkler Controllers for Lawn Care
When life gets busy, lawn maintenance is just one more thing on the laundry list of to-dos we often struggle to squee...
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15 Little Signs Your House Has a Big Problem
Small home annoyances are sometimes indicators of a bigger structural problem. Learn to recognize the signs of these maintenance issues that need to get addressed...
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The Best Electric Chainsaws Tested in 2023
The best electric chainsaws allow for quick and easy cutting. Just plug the saw in or snap in a battery and you're re...
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The Best Mulching Blades
Unlike standard mower blades, mulching lawn mower blades are designed to push grass clippings into the bagger with mo...
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Zero Turn vs. Lawn Tractor: The Right Mower for Large Yards
Lawns over half an acre give you plenty of space to play and lounge in the great outdoors. However, when it’s time to...
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13 DIY Projects You Can Do with Supplies You Already Have
Getting your house shipshape doesn’t always mean running to the home improvement center to load up on supplies. Many DIY maintenance tasks, home repairs, and othe...
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9 Pros Every Homeowner Needs to Keep on Speed Dial
Be prepared for the unexpected by keeping these important professionals in your contacts. You never know when you're going to need them!
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The Best Weed and Feed Products of 2023
Keeping a lawn looking great means weeding frequently and fertilizing at the right times of the year. If the lawn loo...
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The High Cost of a Small Leak—and How to Prevent It
“Don’t go looking for trouble” is an adage most homeowners can relate to, particularly when it comes to plumbing. Aft...
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The Dos and Don’ts of Sealing the Deck
A backyard deck can be the perfect platform for good times, but a wooden surface needs a proper sealant to protect it...
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The Best Grill Brushes of 2023
When the weather is great and cookout fans are calling, the last thing you may want to worry about is whether your gr...
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Top Tips for Keeping Countertops Like New
Maintaining your countertops may require more than a simple cleaning. Here are top tips for maintaining every material.
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The Best Leaf Rakes Tested in 2023
We’ve researched more than 30 leaf rakes to compile the following group for testing. As opposed to “hard” rakes used ...
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The Best Chainsaws Tested in 2023
Landscapers and lumberjacks, whether pros or DIYers, need reliable chainsaws for maintenance, cleanup, and cutting fi...
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The 10 Best Screwdriver Sets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Basic as they are, screwdrivers are not a one-size-fits-all tool, nor does one type of screwdriver fit all situations...
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The Best Lawn Edgers Tested in 2023
Whether your yard is large or small, minimally landscaped or filled with flower beds, one of the easiest ways to tame...
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How to Clean Windows
Even when the sun is shining, you may not get the maximum amount of natural light in your home if your windows are co...
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The Best Disinfectant Sprays of 2023
Harmful bacteria can multiply in the home at an alarming rate, which may place family members at a higher risk of ill...
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The Best Pole Saws Tested in 2023
In order to stay healthy and look their best, trees need occasional pruning to remove broken branches and to thin out...
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The Best Weed Killers of 2023
Whether they crop up on your lawn, in a flower bed, in gravel areas, or between cracks in paved pathways, weeds are t...
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The Best Compost Bins Tested in 2023
Compost is like a multivitamin for your soil. Made of thoroughly decayed organic material used as a fertilizer, it en...
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The Best Snow Shovels for Safely Moving Ice and Snow, Tested
Removing snow from the driveway the old-fashioned way might not be fun, but it’s a good-for-the-Earth way to clear dr...
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The Best Leaf Vacuums Tested in 2023
Though broadly related to leaf blowers, leaf vacuums operate in the opposite direction. While leaf blowers disperse l...
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What's the Difference? Gas vs. Electric Lawn Mowers
Several decades ago, you had two options when it came to mowing your lawn: a manual reel-type mower that took major m...
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The Best Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Throne Tested and Approved
Upholding basic sanitary practices to ensure the health of your home calls for regular toilet bowl cleaning. While th...
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11 Easy DIY Fixes for Annoying House Problems 
Don't procrastinate any longer. The annoying house problems you live with are easier to fix than you realize. After you cross these repairs off your to-do list yo...
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8 Questions Home Buyers Have About Septic Systems
The phrase “septic system” in a home listing is notorious for scaring away potential buyers. Some home buyers may see...
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15 Spring Home Maintenance Musts
To do a thorough job of spring home maintenance and cleaning, follow these easy and smart routines.
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13 Signs Your Home Is Losing Value
If you’re like many homeowners, your house is your single largest financial investment, so it’s only natural to protect that investment and hope it gains in value...
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15 Ways Winter Weather Damages Your Home
Fierce winds, low temps, and heavy snow spells trouble for your house. Learn how winter weather negatively impacts your home and what you can do to minimize the d...
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The Best Cordless Drills for DIYers
With many of today's tools running on powerful, long-lasting batteries, DIYers aren't limited by the length of a cord...
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The Best Power Hedge Trimmers of 2023
Hedges establish boundaries in landscaping, add privacy, and benefit curb appeal, but to look their best, they need s...
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13 Maintenance Mistakes That Will Cost You the Most Money
Many homeowners jump at the chance to do their own home maintenance and repairs—after all, who doesn’t want to save money? While plenty of projects are DIY-friend...
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The Best Reel Mowers Tested in 2023
Quiet in operation, simple to maintain, and largely affordable, reel lawn mowers can be smart options for yard mainte...
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10 Things That Are Ruining Your Home's Plumbing
Plumbing is one of those things that we don’t really think about—until, of course, it starts to fail. Although some plumbing mishaps are out of our control, other...
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The Best Grout Sealers
Applying a high-quality, long-lasting grout sealer is one of the best ways to protect tile installations from water, ...
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The Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners of 2023
Hardwood flooring gets acclaim for its natural beauty, but it requires varying degrees of attention to maintain its g...
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10 (Major) Costs Every Homeowner Needs to Be Prepared For
Owning a home is usually a good investment, but buying one can be a huge financial risk if you're not prepared for the costs that come with ownership—costs that r...
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11 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Winter
Winter is no time for hibernating from chores. In fact, there are plenty of important maintenance tasks that all homeowners need to take care of to keep their hou...
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The Best Mouse Traps to Keep Your House Rodent-Free
Even animal lovers should take active steps to get rid of mice because they can carry bacteria, which in turn can inf...
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Rock Salt vs. Sand to Prevent Slips
When I lived in a New York City apartment building, I never thought about shoveling snow. We had a wonderful superint...
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9 Furnace Troubleshooting Tips from the Pros
Now that winter's nearly here, it's time for a pop quiz: You wake up in the morning and there's ice on the dog's wate...
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How Much Snow Can a Roof Hold?
When weather stations predict frigid temperatures and record snowfall, concerns rise that roofs may not make it the f...
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Solved! What Is Trisodium Phosphate, and Is it Safe to Use?
Q: My wife and I recently bought a fixer-upper home, and are doing a lot of the repairs ourselves. Some of the projec...
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Mulching Leaves: Why Mowing Leaves is Better Than Raking Them
Every year, fall reintroduces us to a raft of pleasures like no other season—hot apple cider, pumpkin carving, and so...
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How to Remove Water Stains From Wood
Wood furniture is beautiful, but it’s not impervious to the wear and tear of everyday life. To retain their looks, ne...
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Change Filters Frequently to Optimize Furnace Efficiency
Dust bunnies are multiplying, dog hair is piling up, and allergies are worsening—oh my, it must be the furnace filter...
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5 Fireplace Maintenance Tasks to Complete Every Fall
As days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we retreat indoors to the warmth of our homes and hearths. If you ha...
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How to Close a Summer Home
End-of-summer chores at the shore aren’t much fun, but will prevent leaks, smells, and pests in the long run. Follow our checklist for what needs to be done befor...
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9 Tips for Keeping Your Garbage Disposal in Top Shape
Your under-sink workhorse doesn't need strict maintenance to continue out its duties—only sensible care. You probably...
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12 Dreaded Home Maintenance Tasks You Never Thought to Hire Out
Find the right pro for every household chore—big, small, majorly messy, or just plain pesky! This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Thu...
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Solved! What’s Up with the Musty Smell in My Basement?
Q: Lately, I notice a musty smell whenever I go into my basement. What’s causing the odor and most how do I get rid o...
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The Cheapest Ways to Make Your Home Look Brand-New Again
Hardly anyone’s home looks magazine-worthy all the time, but if you’ve noticed that your home is looking a little dingy or rough around the edges, it may be time ...
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15 Places Water Damage May Be Hiding in Your Home
Building materials and water don’t mix. Insulation, wood studs, plywood sheathing, and subflooring can all degrade, rot, or develop mold when they’re repeatedly s...
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How Safe is Your Home? 12 Spots to Doublecheck This Month
Your home should be your refuge from the world—the place where you can feel the most safe and secure. Unfortunately, almost half of all accidental injuries happen...
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15 Ways to Get a (Nearly!) Maintenance-Free Home Exterior
Your home’s exterior should be beautiful and inviting, not constantly in need of repairs. As well, your time spent outdoors should be relaxing, not full of weeken...
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25 Insanely Easy 60-Minute Home Improvements
On television, home improvement projects go from start to finish in 60 minutes or less. The good news is, you don’t need to spend a lot of time to spruce up your ...
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Here Are All The Ways You’re Accidentally Ruining Your Tile
Durable, easy to clean, and available in many colors and shapes, it's easy to see why tile is such a popular option for kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, and ...
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The 10 Biggest Mistakes You Could Make at Your Kitchen Sink
Show of hands: Which one of you has just poured bacon grease right out of the pan down into the sink? Or dumped a pot’s worth of used coffee grounds down the drai...
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10 Ways Your Home Is Telling You to Call a Plumber
Plumbing problems can run the gamut from very minor and fixable to major and costly, and at times it can be tough to tell the difference. Sometimes you may not ev...
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How To: Clean an Area Rug
For many of us, area rugs are a significant investment in decor. They warm up and add color to our rooms. They provid...
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How To: Clean Stainless Steel
Gleaming and shiny, stainless steel brings a bright and polished air to any kitchen. Keeping that brilliant sheen, ho...
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The Best Paint Strippers, Tested and Reviewed
Paint prep is a necessary but sometimes tedious step. On a piece of furniture with only a few isolated peeling patche...
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11 Ways to Winterize Your Home on a Budget
Keep the cold out, the heat in, and your energy bill down with these cost-effective tips for winterizing your home.
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7 Signs Your Home Needs a Water Softener
Most Americans think of water as basically “wet” and don’t consider its other attributes. But many residential water users have had to confront one of water's les...
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The Cheapest, Fastest Fixes for 10 Everyday Home Headaches
When it comes to basic home improvement projects, the key concerns for many homeowners are time and budget. Well, here are 10 simple repairs that keep both effort...
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14 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Fall
As the days grow shorter and your thoughts turn to tailgating and football games, it’s easy to forget that your home needs a little TLC before Old Man Winter come...
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14 Ways You’re Wasting Money on Your Car
Are you spending more money than necessary to maintain and run your car? We're compiled a list of 14 common auto maintenance practices that are real money-wasters...
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7 Common Water Problems—and Their Cures
Wondering why your water smells funny, tastes bad, or stains your plumbing fixtures, cookware, dishes and laundry? Read on!
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All You Need to Know About the Driveway Apron
Most folks don’t give their home’s driveway apron a second thought unless they’re installing a new driveway or repair...
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French Drains 101: How Well-Placed Trenches and Pipes Can Keep Your Property Dry
Things with “French” in the title are usually fancy, right? Poodles, perfume, pastries. But a French drain is nothing...
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Solved! How Long Does Gas Last?
Q: I have a gas lawn mower and a gas generator, and I worry that the gas in those tanks has been in there too long. D...
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The 5 Things to Know Before Buying a Battery Mower
The seemingly endless cycle of summer yard maintenance often motivates homeowners to think about buying a new lawn mo...
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These Electrical Safety Tips Could Save Your Life
Most of us take electricity for granted, fully expecting that the outlets, wiring, extension cords, and power strips in our homes will operate safely and reliably...
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9 Products You Will Love If You Hate Cleaning
Nothing spoils a lazy Saturday like a list full of chores. The only way to avoid a weekend cleaning spree is to space out the work and tidy up throughout the week...
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8 Ways to Mildew-Proof Your Bathroom
Plagued by excess moisture and lack of ventilation, bathrooms are especially susceptible to mildew. The fungus typically appears on walls, tile, or grout, and it ...
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Solved! What to Do About a Sulfur Smell in the House
Q: Recently, I’ve noticed a vague sulfur smell in my house. It comes and goes, and I’m not sure where it’s coming fro...
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Done With Winter? 12 Things You Can Do Now to Prep for Spring
Don’t wait until spring has actually sprung to get ready for the change of seasons. As milder weather approaches and you await the return to outdoor living, there...
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10 Ways You're Accidentally Ruining Your Countertops
Perhaps the most important work surface in the home, the kitchen countertop is built to withstand food preparation, regular cleaning, pesky stains, and more. But ...
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12 Tricks to Getting the Best Gas Mileage
Americans may think they know all there is to know about cars—after all, the automobile is deeply ingrained in our culture—but when it comes to conserving fuel, m...
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11 Things Your Contractor Won’t Tell You for Free
While some home improvement and maintenance projects require professional help, others are easy enough to do yourself. But most homeowners can’t get through a DIY...
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9 Signs Your Tap Water Might Be Contaminated
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “the United States enjoys one of the world's most reliable and safest supplies of drinking water.” Occasionally,...
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The Worst Money Mistakes Homeowners Ever Make
While homeownership undeniably comes with plenty of expenses, there’s no reason to spend more than you have to. If your home seems more like a money pit than an a...
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7 Ways You're Ruining Your Car
Preventive maintenance is key to keeping your car working well, but it's important to do it right. Here are 7 common car care mistakes you’re probably making and ...
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How to Clean a Dishwasher
At first, the idea of cleaning a dishwasher, an appliance that fills with suds and water on an almost daily basis, ma...
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How To: Remove Duct Tape Residue
A roll of duct tape can be found in almost every toolbox in the world, thanks to its versatility, accessibility, and ...
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7 Ways You May Be Ruining All Your Furniture
We all know the feeling. You spend time, money, and energy choosing just the right sofa. And then—what’s that spot?! Here are seven surprising ways you may be dam...
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Solved! What 12 Different Electrical Wire Colors Actually Mean
Q: I’m replacing the heating element in my electric water heater. The wires running to the element are black and whit...
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7 Important Reasons Never to Skip Your HVAC’s Yearly Checkup
Out of sight, out of mind: If your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system has recently been operating well...
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How To: Remove Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has been a popular floor choice since its invention in the late ’70s. With a typical lifespan of 15...
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All You Need to Know About Retaining Walls
Does your yard contain slopes, dips, and inclines? Then you likely have a retaining wall somewhere on your property. ...
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Solved! What Cracks in the Ceiling Really Mean
Q: I just noticed a crack in my ceiling, but I’m not sure how long it’s been there. Is it a normal symptom of an agin...
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How To: Kill Ivy
Characterized by its showy, star-shaped foliage, English ivy (Hedera helix) might seem a fine choice for landscaping ...
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10 Surprising Ways You Can Void a Warranty
From laminate flooring to your HVAC system, many big-ticket home items are backed by warranties. These guarantees offer peace of mind to consumers making a large ...
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Water Stains on the Ceiling? Here's How to Fix Them
Q: I recently noticed some water stains on the ceiling of my living room. I’m not sure where they came from, but the ...
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How to Clean an Air Conditioner Filter in 4 Easy Steps
Though often overlooked, air conditioner filters are responsible for a mighty important job: keeping dust, dirt, and ...
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How to Clean Brick, Indoors and Out
The naturally distressed patina of brick adds to its desirability indoors and out, but too much dirt accumulation can...
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Waterproofing Basement Walls: Saving MY Damp, Dingy Furnace Room
This article has been brought to you by DRYLOK. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. As homeowners, we a...
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9 Sneaky Ways to Get New Floors for Under $50
Some people hate their floors and long for a new look. Others love theirs but can't abide their minor imperfections: a scratch, dent, or loose tile. Whatever your...
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How to Dispose of Old Gasoline the Right Way
Gasoline powers our vehicles, lawn mowers, and boats, our work and our play. But when gasoline sits too long, whether...
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10 Products You've Been Using Wrong All Along
You’ve got your home care routine down—but a few of your go-tos might be doing more harm than good, losing you money and even damaging your possessions. Here are ...
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Get Your Fix: 20 Easy DIY Repairs for Every Part of Your Home
Clogs, squeaks, leaks, and other minor disasters strike even the most well-maintained homes. But you don’t necessarily need a professional handyman to cure what a...
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14 Secrets of People with Low Energy Bills
Keeping up with the Joneses can be a frustrating and fruitless pursuit…but what if those enviable neighbors are saving money, supporting a cleaner environment, an...
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10 Emergencies Every Homeowner Should Know How to Handle
It’s a law of nature and of home-owning: whatever can go wrong, eventually will. With a bit of preparedness and forethought, though, damage from household mishaps...
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3 Ways to Waterproof Wood
Some of the most gorgeous, long-lasting pieces of furniture, cabinetry, and trim work are crafted from wood, the worl...
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The Essential Guide to Winter Home Improvement
When the cold weather kicks in, many homeowners find themselves snowed under by a host of holiday to-dos. Whether you...
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How To: Remove Paint from Tile
It’s entirely possible to remove paint from tile, whether you’re simply hoping to banish some accidental splatters or...
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Why There’s Condensation on Windows in Your Home—and What to Do About It
Q: When it’s cold outside, there’s frequently condensation on windows inside my home. I wipe them down, but the moist...
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5 Pests That May Be Living in Your Gutters—And What You Can Do About It
Day after day, largely unnoticed, gutters perform a critically important role by channeling storm water and snowmelt a safe distance away from your home. At least...
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The Essential Guide to Fall Home Improvement
While you were on summer vacation, your home was hard at work battling the elements. After enduring intense heat or s...
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20 Best Ways to Spend $20 on Your Home
How much does it cost to create a happy home? If your answer is thousands or even hundreds, think again. Each of these 20 DIY projects can transform your humble h...
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How To: Maintain Stucco
Over the course of millennia, builders have used everything from animal horns to whiskey in the making of stucco—an a...
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Back to Cool: 10 Ways to Prep Your Home for Lower Temps
With Labor Day behind us, fall will be here sooner than we know—and with it will come chilly temperatures and harsh, blustery winds. Is your home ready for the ch...
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10 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
The do-it-yourself ethos is one we heartily applaud. Most services provided by home maintenance pros aren't cheap, so taking care of small fixes on your own can s...
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How To: Clean Quartz Countertops
Quartz. Quartzite. The names sound alike. But although both of these popular countertop materials are derived from th...
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Solved! What to Do About a Sewage Smell in the Bathroom
Q: I’ve noticed a rotten smell coming from my bathroom lately and can’t figure out the source. Do you have any idea w...
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12 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Knew
Why does it seem like the times you really need a plumber are late at night, early in the morning, or on weekends, when fees can cost twice as much as normal. Cha...
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How To: Repair Concrete Steps
For construction professionals and homeowners alike, concrete offers many appealing qualities, but there may be none ...
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The Essential Guide to Summer Home Improvement
Summertime is here! Yet while school is out for the kids, for their home-owning parents, the seasonal job of maintain...
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12 Inventions That Do All Your Chores
Humans have long harnessed the power of machines to help us work better, faster, and smarter. Many of these technologies work in the background of our home, heati...
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Basement Waterproofing: Here's How to Dry Out a Wet Basement—And How Much It Costs
Unless the plan is to install a swimming pool in the basement, you probably cringe at the idea of water trickling ben...
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The Essential Guide to Spring Home Improvement
Spring brings blooming flowers and budding trees, but it also brings a long list of home improvement chores that accu...
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How To: Remove Wallpaper
No homeowner wants to be confronted with ripped-up wall coverings as a day-in, day-out reminder of a job not yet fini...
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10 DIY Fixes That Do More Harm Than Good
Common knowledge, neighborly advice, old wives’ tales, and “the way my parents did it” all share one important characteristic: Sometimes they're just plain wrong....
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9 Fixes For When Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start
Lawn care can be tedious, but once the grass starts growing in the spring, mowing becomes a fact of life in most neig...
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How To: Get Rid of Mothball Smell
The pungent odor of mothballs is the very smell of storage. Made from either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, thes...
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How to Clean a Jacuzzi
No matter how beneficial massaging hydrotherapy is for your health, a jetted tub can be only as restorative and relax...
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3 Fixes for Cracked Concrete
Despite its reputation as one of the most rugged building materials ever conceived, even concrete has a sensitive sid...
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Sofa, So Good: 10 Creative Ways to Revive a Tired Old Couch
It’s not surprising that the couch is the focal point of most living rooms. It’s often one of the largest pieces of furniture, and family and friends alike make a...
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All You Need to Know About Roofing Materials
You probably don’t think much about the durability of your roof until you absolutely need to. But waiting until a lea...
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How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles and Carpet Beetle Larvae
Carpet beetles enter your home in myriad ways: hitching rides on cut flowers, clothing, or pets, or simply flying in ...
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How to Remove Scratches From Glass: DIY Hacks That Work
A tiny scratch can mar a beautiful glass tabletop or, if it’s in a glass panel on your front door, set the wrong tone...
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How to Get Rid of Gophers
Even if you’re not an avid cultivator of prized begonias or caretaker of an expensive golf course like Bill Murray’s ...
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How to Unclog a Garbage Disposal
When faced with the conundrum of how to unclog a garbage disposal, most people would say that the easiest solution is...
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Solved! How to Fix Flickering Lights in Your Home
Q: Help! We have multiple lights flickering in our house. As far as I know my house isn’t haunted, but I can’t help w...
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How to Caulk a Shower or Tub
There’s nothing quite like a steamy shower to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit after a good night’s sleep or a ...
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How To: Make Your Own Grout Cleaner
No matter how hard you work to keep your kitchen and bathroom clean, they'll always look dingy if they're plagued by ...
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How to Remove Soap Scum From Tubs and Showers
If you are your household's designated bathroom cleaner (or if you pay attention to your surroundings when you're in ...
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9 Worth-Every-Penny Upgrades for the Hardworking Parts of Your Home
Cost-conscious, savvy homeowners know that doing the grunt work of home improvement projects cuts spending. It also results in a more beautiful and functional hou...
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How to Seal Grout
Even if you keep your bathroom tiles clean, dirty grout lines can really detract from the look of your tiled floors a...
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Heat Tape: A Fast and Low-Cost Way to Prevent Frozen Pipes
This post has been brought to you by SupplyHouse. com. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Homeowners w...
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3 Easy Fixes for Carpet Dents
In preparation for an evening of fun, food, and merriment with family and friends, you’ve planned and cooked and clea...
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8 Ways to Increase Water Pressure in Your Home
Starting or ending a long day with a weak shower is pretty unsatisfying, if not downright frustrating. When other aro...
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How To: Make Your Own Drain Cleaner
When your sink or shower drain gets clogged, it's pretty easy to figure out the cause. The perp is usually a disgusti...
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How to Clean the Glass on Your Oven Door
You know the story: After cooking a big meal, especially after doing so several times a week during the holiday seaso...
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How To: Troubleshoot a Leaky Washing Machine
Did you know the average American family washes eight loads of laundry a week? That translates to more than 400 loads...
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8 Smart Solutions for an On-the-Fritz Fridge
Holiday entertaining is getting underway, and gracious hosts everywhere are busy cleaning, shopping, decorating, craf...
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How To: Remove Paint from Glass
You set out a drop cloth and meticulously lined the wall trim with painter’s tape, but you still ended up with a litt...
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Time's Up: 9 Things to Repair in Your Home Before It's Too Late
Time never seems to be on our side, and it can especially work against us in the case of certain home repairs. A suspicious water spot on the ceiling, a slight cr...
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16 Improvements Most Homeowners Get Wrong
Don't do what these homeowners did! Learn how to avoid costly mistakes and design disasters before you begin your next DIY renovation.
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How to Get Rid of Silverfish
Don't let the name fool you: Silverfish are nothing like the goldfish you nurtured as pets in your childhood bedroom....
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How to Clean a Mirror: 4 Tips for a Streak-Free Finish
Streaky mirrors are common problems for even the most conscientious housekeeper. Sometimes, no matter how carefully y...
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Genius! Clean Your Gutters without a Ladder
We all start autumn bright-eyed and optimistic, eager to pick apples, gaze at the stars, or watch the leaves change c...
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The Easy Way to Waterproof Masonry Surfaces
This article has been brought to you by UGL. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. For the last 50 years ...
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7 Signs Your House Needs New Siding
It's a cruel fact: Those factors that make home exterior siding so crucial are the same ones that undermine its performance over the long term. In other words, in...
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How to Unclog a Shower Drain
Hopping into a hot and steamy shower only to notice that the water is pooling around your feet makes for a rough way ...
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How To: Remove Moss from the Roof
A green, moss-covered roof may make you think you’ve wandered into a fairy tale, complete with a quaint little woodcu...
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How to Remove Rust From Tools
Over time, as iron, steel, and other ferrous metals are exposed to oxygen and moisture they can undergo oxidation, a ...
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Boost Your Curb Appeal with 4 Doable DIY Projects
When it comes to putting your house on the market, you spend much of your time considering how to stage your rooms to...
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8 Things New Homeowners Waste Money On
Even the most experienced homeowners can get sucked into spending a lot of money on maintenance costs or home improvements that just don’t deliver. For those who ...
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How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. As pretty as wood...
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6 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Summer
Dreams of the summer season tend to focus on long, lazy days spent reading the latest bestsellers, napping in the rope hammock, or watching white clouds drift acr...
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Bob Vila Radio: Why Is the Tap Water Brown?
Does the water coming out of your faucet look a bit like the Mississippi River after a rainstorm? There are at least ...
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So, You Want to... Level a Concrete Floor
There's no disagreement here: Concrete ranks among the most durable, longest-lasting of all building materials. That ...
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How To: Clean Wood Siding
Think your wood siding needs a fresh coat of paint? Maybe. Or it could be that your wood clapboard, lap, or shingle s...
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6 Ways You’re Accidentally Damaging Your Home
Everyone makes mistakes, even when it comes to the responsibilities of homeownership. No matter how conscientious you are, you may be leaving your home vulnerable...
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How To: Remove Paint from Metal
"Just paint it!" That's the motto for many DIYers when they're unhappy with the lamp, dresser, doors, hardware. . . y...
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5 Simple Steps to Renew Your Concrete Driveway
In an alternative universe—in a world with neither vehicles nor inclement weather—your concrete driveway might never lose its pristine, freshly poured look. But i...
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How To: Sharpen Scissors
Used for cutting paper, cardboard, fabric, string, price tags, plastic packaging—that list goes on—those scissors in ...
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6 Simple Steps to a Refreshed Deck
Winters put backyard decks to the test. If yours emerged from the ravages of the season worse for wear, take heart. Today, the floorboards may be weathered and th...
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How to Clean Outdoor Cushions 
Because they remain outdoors for a good portion of the year, patio cushions weather plenty of dirt and debris. Bird d...
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Bob Vila Radio: Raising Sunken Pavers
If a few of the pavers in your patio or driveway have begun to sag, don't fret—there’s an easy, DIY-friendly fix. Her...
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Bob Vila Radio: Replace a Worn-Out Window Screen
Replacing a screen on a wooden window frame? It's a straightforward job. To get it done right, and with a minimum of ...
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How To: Remove Caulk
Though caulk often lasts for years, it doesn't stick around forever. If yours has become discolored, has developed cr...
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Quick Tip: Renew Dull Wood Finishes with Mineral Spirits
As you go about your spring cleaning routine, take a few minutes to inspect the condition of your wood furniture and ...
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How To: Remove Paint from Brick
If you've ever tried to remove paint from brick, you know that it can be a painstaking process. Depending on the scop...
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How To: Patch Carpet
Carpeting inevitably undergoes wear and tear, whether from foot traffic or the accidents of everyday life. If those f...
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How to Remove Tile From Floors, Backsplashes, and Other Surfaces
A lot of DIY demolition and renovation can be fun. It provides stress relief, excitement, and fast results. One of th...
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9 Amazing Things You Can Do with Sugru
Do you Sugru? If you have not yet experimented with this endlessly versatile product, you may be missing out on one of the most useful and fun-to-use tools now av...
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How To: Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home
Fleas are irritating—not only for pets but also for people. If you have fleas in the house, you can usually expect so...
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How To: Remove Wallpaper Glue
Removing wallpaper is, in a word, laborious. The process takes a great deal of energy and time. And lo and behold, ev...
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7 House Sounds You Never Want to Ignore
Homes make strange noises on a regular basis, from groaning and creaking to popping and scratching. As a homeowner, you should be able to tell whether that noise ...
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Show Love to Your Leather Furniture with Homemade Conditioner
When the skin of our hands gets dry and starts to crack a bit, we quickly reach for moisturizing lotion. The same log...
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Worth It: 8 Renovations That Pay You Back
Conventional wisdom holds that upgrades and improvements will enhance a home’s value. But some improvements are better—and more cost-effective—investments than ot...
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How To: Season Cast Iron
Cast iron, properly cared for, can last a lifetime at least in the kitchen. Apart from cleaning your pan or skillet a...
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8 Quick Tips for Solving Winter Woes
Winter brings snowmen, sledding, and toasty evenings by the fire. It also brings a special set of maintenance issues that require a homeowner's attention. Proper ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Is There a Leak in Your Gas Fireplace?
Gas fireplaces have been showing up in more and more homes the past few years. They're clean, easy to use, and add a ...
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10 Quick Fixes for a More Refreshing Shower
Nothing kills the mood of a refreshing bath after a long day (or for that matter, an energizing shower to start one) faster than the sight of mold. Or a delay in ...
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How To: Prevent or Eliminate Closet Moths
Tineola bisselliella, the common clothes moth, wreaks havoc on wardrobes, destroying shirts and socks, pants and swea...
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How to Get Rid of Bats—and Keep Them Away for Good
Bats aren’t much different from any other creature. “They’re looking for three things: food, shelter, and water,” say...
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Noisy Radiator? Here's How to Shush It
There's a simple reason why builders relied on steam radiators for decades and decades—they work! But every technolog...
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How To: Make and Apply Your Own Homemade Furniture Polish
Wood furniture is no small investment. In covering the expense, we are comforted knowing that what we are buying can ...
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4 Crucial Furnace Cleaning and Maintenance Tasks to Complete Before Winter
Don’t wait until temperatures plummet: Now is the absolute best time to perform basic furnace cleaning and maintenanc...
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How To: Remove Poison Ivy from Your Yard
Homeowners know too well that not all greenery contributes to the beauty of a garden. Weeds, for instance, are a chie...
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How to Remove Vinyl Flooring
Let's be clear: It's no fun to remove vinyl flooring. Peeling up the material itself is no picnic, but the real trial...
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Shhh! 11 DIYs for a Soundproofed Home
No matter where you live, be it city, suburb, or country, noise is just about everywhere. Even the quietest of neighborhoods regularly experience some level of no...
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Transform and Protect Your Deck in a Single Coat
Your deck was no small investment: If you haven't been taking good care of it, now's the time to give your deck the c...
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How to Get Rid of Moles Effectively and Humanely
Although you may scratch your head over what animal is digging holes in your yard, there’s no mistaking when that ani...
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How to Plunge a Toilet
People go weeks, months, and even years without giving the toilet a second thought. The instant it clogs, however, th...
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How To: Defrost a Freezer
Have you got a freezer full of frost? That'll happen. Fortunately, defrosting a freezer isn't as big a deal as people...
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How To: Polish Silver
Gleaming silver exudes refined charm, yet over time that lustrous beauty gradually fades with the accumulation of tar...
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How To Prevent Rust on Your Outdoor Furniture and Railings
Enter the yard of many homes in America and somewhere among the trees, shrubs, and grass, you’re bound to find metal....
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How to Get Rid of Wasps: Say "Goodbye!" in 5 Easy Steps
Spring and summer are lovely times of the year, but they do usher in a host of seasonal hazards, perhaps none more fe...
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Regain Your Footing: Top Tips for Common Wood Floor Repairs
This article has been brought to you by Lumber Liquidators. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Few thi...
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How to Get Rid of Cockroaches
You’re not alone in wanting to get rid of roaches. These creepy-crawly insects are a major problem around the country...
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How to Clean Leather Furniture
With its sumptuous texture and supple feel, leather furniture provides an element of luxury to your room decor. Fortu...
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How to Clean Baseboards
Even if you spend hours washing the floor, dusting furniture, and vacuuming the nooks and crannies around your home, ...
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7 Tips to Keep Your Mower in Working Order
You know how to care for your lawn, but how about your mower? Mowers need some TLC after sitting in a cold shed or garage all winter long. Before grass-growing se...
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5 Home Repairs That Can Break the Bank—and How to Avoid Them
A home is like a relationship—it requires a little bit of money and attention to keep it going strong. Neglect some e...
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How To: Clean Wood Furniture
Homeowners have long relished the beauty, versatility, and toughness of wood furniture—and above all, they've appreci...
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11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors
By design, our floors will see some of the most wear and tear of any of the fixtures in our home. Even if you’re normally careful with your floors, life happens. ...
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What Would Bob Do? Cleaning Air Ducts
I am moving into a new home. The previous owners had a dog. I am wondering if cleaning the air ducts is worthwhile. A...
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When in Doubt, Revive Your Grout! Top Tips for Regrouting Tile
Tile has always been a popular choice for floors, walls, and other surfaces due to its durability and long life. In f...
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How To: Remove Rust
Learning how to remove rust from metal isn't rocket science, and in homeowners' ongoing fight to maintain outdoor too...
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How To: Remove and Replace Grout
Several years after you complete a bathroom or kitchen renovation, it inevitably starts to show some wear. One culpri...
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What Would Bob Do? Draining a Water Heater
I just drained my water heater for the first time since it was installed back in '89. . . 24 years ago! The water cam...
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How To: Clean Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile consistently ranks as a preferred flooring choice among homeowners, partly due to its beauty—the mater...
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How To: Paint Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding first became popular in the wake of World War II, when this metal, which had been so crucial to the w...
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How To: Clean Gutters with a Wet/Dry Vac
 A wet-dry vac is a great tool to have—and not just for cleaning up the workshop. They come in handy for those tediou...
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Bob Vila's Guide to Kitchen Appliance Care
Your kitchen contains more appliances than any other room in the house. When the units are in good condition, there's...
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How To: Protect and Beautify a Wood Deck
This post has been brought to you by Thompson's WaterSeal.  Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Choose ...
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How to Remove Carpet
Even with regular vacuuming, carpeting accumulates a great deal of dust, dirt, and debris. When you finally decide to...
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Low Water Pressure in the House? Here's What's Wrong and How to Fix It
Low water pressure in the house can be a real annoyance—the shower subsides to a trickle, the washing machine takes e...
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How to Close a Pool for the Winter
Of all homeowner responsibilities, few so clearly indicate the end of summer as closing a swimming pool. Properly don...
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What Would Bob Do? How to Paint Raw Wood, Cure Pet Odors, and Remove Grout Haze
Q: I'm painting a bunk bed from IKEA that's solid pine and unfinished. Do I still need to sand and prime if it is unf...
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How To: Repoint Brick Walls
Brick houses are hard to damage. Anyone familiar with The Three Little Pigs knows that. Inevitably, however, there co...
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Countertop Care 101
Perhaps never before have there been so many enticing countertop options to fit every budget, décor, and culinary nee...
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How To: Care for Your Grill
Summertime! The living is easy and—more often than not—the food is grilled. From burgers, dogs, and steaks to chicken...
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Saw Blade Sharpening
A good handsaw, when properly treated, is a tool that can be passed with pride from one generation to the next. Essen...
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Making Plane Adjustments
Using woodworking planes whose cutters are out of adjustment is like driving a car in the wrong gear: You may be able...
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Top Tips for Sharpening Chisels
I know you've heard it before, but it's true: sharp tools are safer tools. The chisel is a perfect case in point. A d...
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How To: Fight Off Termites
Preventing and treating termite infestations is a top priority for many homeowners. Termite control is not a do-it-yo...
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How To: Rodent-Proof Your Home
While Ratatouille might have been a runaway blockbuster film, no one wants rats in the house — or mice or squirrels o...
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Keep Garage Doors in Top Shape
The garage door is the single largest moving part in your home, and should be inspected and maintained every year. Wh...
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60-Minute DIY Projects
On television, home improvement projects go from start to finish in 60 minutes or less. You’ve probably thought while...
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Care and Cleaning Keep Wicker Wonderful
Wicker furniture and accessories are very popular choices for living spaces both outdoors and in.  Comfortable, sturd...
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How to Clean a Bathtub in 7 Simple Steps
There’s nothing like a long, leisurely soak in a hot bath to soothe away the stresses of the day—that is, unless the ...
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Termite Infestation: Top Tips for Prevention and Treatment
The advent of spring is generally welcome, but warmer temperatures also bring out unwanted pests, namely termites. Of...
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How To: Clean Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and clea...
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How To: Strip Wallpaper
How strong is your relationship with your spouse? Do you want to test it? Spend a weekend stripping wallpaper togethe...
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How to Clean Vinyl Flooring Without Damaging It
Vinyl tile and laminate flooring is attractive, durable, and long-lasting, even under a home's highest-traffic condit...
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How To: Remove Varnish and Other Wood Finishes
Varnish, lacquer, shellac and other clear coats are applied to protect wood furniture and flooring from scratches, sc...
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Is It Time to Replace Your Furnace?
Baby, its cold outside—and the last thing you want to do is return home to a frosty house. The smart time to examine ...
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How to Clean Concrete Floors and Driveways
The first thing to know about cleaning concrete? You don’t need to go easy on it. After all, it’s one of the most dur...
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How To: Clean Slate
I have a slate fireplace surround that makes my living room feel really warm and earthy, even if the fire is not lit....
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Rx for Hardwood Floors
Special problems need special solutions—and that's particularly true of wood flooring.  When accidents happen, first ...
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How To: Prevent Frost on Windows
I remember waking up as a kid on wintry mornings to find frost on my bedroom window obscuring the trees and yard. Tho...
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How To: Maintain a Snow Blower for Peak Performance
There is a definite chill in the air, and the first snow flurries are flying… that means it’s time to get the snow bl...
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Bob Vila Radio: Carpet Wrinkles
Wrinkles in wall-to-wall carpet don't just look bad, they can be a tripping hazard. They'll also wear out first, so t...
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Everything You Need to Know About Winterizing Pipes
As you ready your house for the colder months ahead, don’t forget about your water system. When water freezes, it exp...
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How To: Clean Painted Walls
Cleaning painted walls may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple, albeit somewhat time-consuming....
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How To: Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste
Recycling is more than sorting out plastic bottles and composting leftovers. Proper disposal of household objects is ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Bee & Wasp Control
Late summer’s when you see ‘em, but now’s not  actually the best time to mess with a bee or wasp nest. The queen esta...
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What You Might Not Know About HVAC Filters
Everyone agrees that you should change your HVAC filter on a regular basis, but not everyone agrees on the type of fi...
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What You Need to Know Before Buying a Sump Pump
I’ve been lucky with basements. Having purchased five houses in my life, not one has had serious basement moisture is...
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How to Clean and Care for Your Gardening Tools
A quality garden starts with quality care—and that doesn’t just mean keeping up with your weeding. Maintaining your g...
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Replacing Air Conditioner Pipe Insulation for Maximum Energy Efficiency
An imperative “rite of spring” in our house is checking our two central air conditioning systems to make sure they ar...
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How to Refinish a Wood Table
Let’s face it, the easiest way to transform an old piece of furniture is to paint it. But if the piece is well constr...
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How To: Seal a Driveway
Sealing your driveway may seem like a bothersome chore, but its benefits are significant. First, a regular coat of se...
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How To: Stain a Wood Deck
A wood deck is certainly a thing of beauty, but only if it is well maintained from year to year. If your deck is show...
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How To: Protect Your Home from Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants damage wood by hollowing it out for nesting. Unlike termites, wood damaged by carpenter ants does not ...
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DIY Kitchen Countertop Makeover: Resurface Your Laminate Countertops with Rust-Oleum Transformations
At one time or another most of us have considered remodeling the kitchen. It’s the one room in the house that sees th...
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Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
This year, many parts of the country have enjoyed such a mild winter that even in the Northeast, spring weather seems...
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Laminate Countertop Renewal
Our laminate countertop looked fine, but the protective coating was pretty much gone. Coffee, tea, wine, juice, sauce...
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Winter Preparation Checklist
Give your home a once-over and tend to winter preparation tasks and repairs before the year’s first frost. “Getting t...
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Everything You Need to Know About How to Sharpen a Spade Bit
Spade bits, it seems, are always encountering nails, at least in the kinds of rough drilling chores that renovation w...
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Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Fall is just around the corner: time to get your house in shape for the cooler months ahead. Although autumn can be o...
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Black Roof Stains? Check for Algae
It’s not mold. It’s probably not soot. The black spots discoloring your asphalt roof are more than likely the pervasi...
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Fixing Squeaky Floors
Bob talks with a floor expert about how to fix squeaky floors.
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Interior Sandblasting and Installing the Plywood Subfloor
Interior beams, walls, and ceilings have been sandblasted, exposing raw surfaces that will become an integral part of the interior design. Reggie Ray of Georgia-P...
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Interior Layout and Exterior Brickwork
Bob reviews some of the new steel framing that's gone up and has a look at the newly sandblasted beams. Bob also summarizes the brickwork that needs to be done on...
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Antique Brick Work at the Burtch-Udall House and Sumner Mansion
Bob and Professor Tom Visser (UVM) visit the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee, VT, and the nearby Sumner Mansion-- suitable locales for a running discussion on prope...
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Installing Rain Gutters
Bob and roofer Paul Morris demonstrate gutter installation techniques, including the on-site assembly of special features, such as corners and trim.
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Power-Washing the Exterior
Painter Kip Wanamaker power-washes the exterior of the Naples project house.
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Removing Old Paint
Brick worker Dan Webb explains how the brick façade is power-washed to remove several layers of ugly paint.
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Regulating the Refrigerator Temperature More clips
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