Rachel Elmkies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A lover of all things related to home design, architecture, and city planning, Ms. Elmkies, a graduate of Hunter College with a degree in Urban Studies, formerly served as the Associate Editor of BobVila.com and now continues her career as an associate with The Center for New York City Neighborhoods. Rachel Elmkies on LinkedIn

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JULY 30, 2015 | THURSDAY
Genius! Turn a Plastic Fork into a Tiny Screwdriver

Instructables user deluges, a self-described amateur tinkerer, has nothing against custom screws—just the added cost and hassle to remove them. Found on window guards, door locks, license...

JUNE 11, 2015 | THURSDAY
Genius! DIY a Custom, Collapsible Sunshade

Some days, hanging out under an awning is the closest we can get to enjoying the breeze underneath a shady beach umbrella. The relief is real: That soft wind you feel in the shade can be ...

MAY 14, 2015 | THURSDAY
Genius! Cool Off on the Cheap with a DIY Air Conditioner

We owe a lot to the humble air conditioner. Like most inventions, the idea came from a very real need: relief from extreme temperatures. The quest for cooler air has a venerable history. ...

APRIL 23, 2015 | THURSDAY
Genius! Hack This Old Appliance for the Perfect Fire Pit

This story starts out like many other tales of DIY savvy. While browsing the a trendy retailer store, Sarah of House and Fig fell in love with a particular product—a geometric steel fire ...

MARCH 18, 2015 | WEDNESDAY
The Right Way to Clean a Shower Curtain, According to Pros From Molly Maid and DeluxeMaid

Given all the humidity, shampoo, and conditioner your shower curtain and liner are exposed to day in and day out, it doesn’t take much for mildew, water stains, and soap scum to accumulat...

MARCH 9, 2015 | MONDAY
Quick Tip: Clean Windows with Coffee Filters

Everyone dreads at least one household chore. Many people's least favorite is cleaning the windows. Too important to ignore, window cleaning frustrates homeowners, because even though it ...

FEBRUARY 24, 2015 | TUESDAY
How To: Clean a Refrigerator

As the only home appliance to host a rotating population of mess-making foods, it's no wonder the refrigerator ranks as the quickest of all to get seriously grimy. Within only a week, spl...

JANUARY 6, 2015 | TUESDAY
How To: Clean Stove Burners

We've all been there: It's the end of a long day, and rather than wipe up the splatters on the range, you decide the mess can linger for a day. A week later, you still haven't cleaned the...

DECEMBER 9, 2014 | TUESDAY
How to Clean a Toilet the Right Way (Yes, There's a Right Way)

A dreaded household chore, cleaning the toilet is the definition of dirty work. Mostly it's a matter of hygiene, but cleaning the toilet properly can also make the fixture last longer, pa...

OCTOBER 27, 2014 | MONDAY
Genius! DIY Pumpkin Keg

This time of year, it seems like everyone's got a thing for pumpkins. But even if neither pumpkin pie nor pumpkin-spiced lattés are on the menu for your Halloween bash, you can still find...