Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 139)

A person with a cleaning glove squeezing a magic eraser melamine sponge.
Cleaning & Organizing

Consider This Before Restocking Your Magic Erasers

Learn how you can help reduce microplastics pollution by exchanging melamine sponges for more eco-friendly cleaning options.

EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 powering a tool in a garage workshop

The 5 Handiest Items for a DIYer’s Home, Garage, and Beyond

From duct tape to a cutting-edge portable power station, these versatile tools are an essential part of any home improvement kit.

Cutting grass with orange lawnmower.
Landscaping

This Is the Appropriate Grass-Cutting Height for Your Lawn, According to Experts

How you set the height of your mower’s deck for cutting grass depends on the season and the type of lawn you have.

Outdoor home pool with green water that needs to be cleaned.
Pools & Water Features

How to Shock a Pool Properly: 8 Steps to Clean, Safe Swimming All Summer Long

Keep the germs and green muck out of your pool by learning when and how to add swimming pool shock.

A large white home with wooden window panes and a grey metal roof.
Roofing

Metal Roofs 101: How They’re Made, and Why They’re Worth Considering

Metal roofing is long-lasting, stands up to severe weather, and doesn't always look like metal. Here's how it's made, and why it might be a good choice for your home.

Backyard with lawn chairs and dry, dead grass.
Curb Appeal

The Best Drought-Resistant Grass for Dry Summers

Keep your lawn lush even in low rainfall periods with these hardy grasses.

A washing machine and dryer are underneath a counter in a mudroom with a sink.
Furniture & Design

How to Turn Nearly Any Space in Your Home Into a Laundry Room

Devoting an entire room to laundry can seem like a waste of space. Instead, make the most of what you have by transforming just about any corner of your home into a full-function laundry center, complete with multitasking opportunities.

Red spoon full of diatomaceous earth.
Cleaning & Organizing

13 Handy Household Uses for Diatomaceous Earth

Have you bought a big bag of diatomaceous earth for gardening, and you’re not sure what to do with the rest of it? This naturally occurring, affordable powder has a plethora of practical uses.

A heat pump unit installed on side of a yellow exterior wall.
Repair & Maintenance

Heat Pump Not Cooling? This Is Why—and What to Do About It

Find out how to fix the top 6 reasons why a heat pump isn’t blowing out cold air.

The Best Shallow Well Pump Option sits on grass
Plumbing Supplies

The Best Shallow Well Pumps for Your Well Water Needs

A quality well pump is a necessity to ensure homes that use well water never run dry.

A group of recently harvested parsnips on the soil in a home garden.
Gardening

How to Grow Parsnips in Your Home Garden

Sweet yet spicy, parsnips pack a crunchy vitamin and mineral punch. Easy to cook, this underrated root vegetable can put even experienced gardeners to the test.

A photo from a short distance away of a very large tree supporting the best tree swing option
Outdoor Furniture

The Best Tree Swings for Kids and Adults

Have a blast, exercise, and stay safe with the best tree swings for children and adults.

Two dog barking alarms on a white background next to a picture of a barking dog
Reviews

The Best Barking Dog Alarms for a Safer Home

Deter possible home intruders and backyard pests with the best barking dog alarms, which mimic the sound of a ferocious watchdog.

A whole-house air cleaner installed in a residential basement with a graphic overlay that says Bob Vila's 2024 MVPs.
Home Safety

Create a Healthier, Safer Home With These Smart Indoor Projects

Learn which projects can improve the overall health of your home and the health of those living in it.

A close up of a carpet cleaner in use on a grey carpet.
Cleaning Supplies

3 of the Best Carpet Cleaner Rental Services in America, Vetted

Do you have dirty and grimy carpets? The best carpet cleaner rental services are convenient options for removing dirt, stains, and allergens.

Pink climbing roses bloom in a cottage-style garden.
Lawn & Garden

The 12 Best Climbing Roses for Your Garden Trellis, Arbor, or Pergola

Bring abundance, privacy, and fragrance to the garden with one of these lovely climbers.

A close up of blades of grass.
Lawn Care

Lawn Care Is Harming the Environment—Here’s How We Can Do Better

Sunday customers' top concerns are shedding light on how common lawn maintenance practices are harmful to the environment. Is global warming really forcing us to choose between aesthetically pleasing lawns and climate-consciousness practices? Or is there a solution that will allow us to have grass without the guilt?

A person is holding a hanging grey curtain open in a window.
Laundry

This Is the Right Way to Wash Your Curtains, According to Experts

Keep your curtains looking fresh and new with this step-by-step guide.

Person uses paint roller to apply a coat of lacquer to a concrete floor.
Flooring

How to Dye Concrete Floors

Tint your drab concrete floor an eye-catching color with easy-to-apply dye.

A red mulberry tree growing in a home landscape where it is legal to plant them.
Landscaping

Think Twice Before Planting This Tree on Your Property—It Might Be Illegal

Some communities have banned mulberry trees for wreaking havoc, so know before you grow.