Michael Franco

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A creative director with Reader's Digest for ten years, also formerly serving as site editor for a division of About.com, Michael Franco has spent over a decade covering science, technology, hospitality and home improvement. His writing credits include Angie's List, Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports, and National Geographic. A graduate of Ithaca College and Manhattanville College, with a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing, Mr. Franco once owned and operated a bed and breakfast in Amish country. Today, he lives and works in Asheville, NC. Michael Franco on LinkedIn | Google +

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JANUARY 31, 2024 | WEDNESDAY
18 Genius WD-40 Uses You Haven't Tried Yet—But Should

WD-40 was produced in the 1950s by Rocket Chemical Company, which aimed to create a line of degreasers and rust-prevention solvents to use in the aerospace industry. The familiar blue-and...

JANUARY 10, 2024 | WEDNESDAY
Why You Should Sprinkle Salt Onto Your Cutting Board—and Into Your Coffee

Salt, scientifically known as sodium chloride (NaCl), is an integral part of every meal, from its use during cooking to directly seasoning food on the plate. But salt can do much more tha...

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 | FRIDAY
9 Garage Floor Options Worth Considering for Your Reno

The garage is where we stash everything from our cars and Christmas decorations to tools and sporting gear but, with a little effort, it can be a place to linger rather than a cluttered c...

JANUARY 9, 2023 | MONDAY
12 Storage Hacks for a More Organized Kitchen

It seems as though there’s never quite enough space to store all of a home's dry goods, pots and pans, and dishware. With the right DIY kitchen storage hacks, though, you can make a place...

MARCH 12, 2020 | THURSDAY
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 you'll wonder why you even ...

JANUARY 2, 2020 | THURSDAY
5 Things to Know Before Installing Storm Windows

If your windows let in anything other than a view, you may be thinking it's time for replacement windows. But not so fast! Consider attaching storm windows to your existing setup to stop ...

NOVEMBER 26, 2019 | TUESDAY
How to Start a Fire in a Fireplace

At first, it may seem like a foolproof undertaking: You put some wood in the fireplace, light a match, then sit back and watch it burn. Right? Well, yes and no. With seasoned firewood, a ...

NOVEMBER 21, 2019 | THURSDAY
3 Tips to Choosing Track Lighting

In the evolution of illumination—from torches to torchiers—track lighting is a relative newcomer. While originally used in galleries, museums, and commercial installations, track lighting...

OCTOBER 29, 2019 | TUESDAY
How To: Build a Temporary Wall

If you can't live with the layout of your space, a temporary wall may be just the solution you need. For decades, renters have relied on temporary walls to "make it work" under ...

AUGUST 21, 2019 | WEDNESDAY
15 Old House Features We Were Wrong to Abandon

We were probably right to leave behind many hallmarks of yesterday's home, but it's time to reconsider these 15 once-popular details, not for their novelty, but for their practicality.