Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 161)

The Best Gas Water Heaters Option
Reviews

The Best Gas Water Heaters for Today’s Home

Discover the features offered by many of the best gas water heaters.

A group of the Best Air-Fryer Toaster Ovens together on a kitchen counter and row of TV trays before testing.
Appliances & Cookware

The 7 Best Air-Fryer Toaster Ovens, Tested and Reviewed

We gave today's most popular air-fryer toaster ovens a trial run. Find out how well each model fared (pros and cons) in our test kitchen.

A group of the best vacuums for tile floors grouped together on a tile floor before testing.
Appliances & Cookware

Sweeping Success: The Best Vacuums for Tile Floors Tested

Suction power can rid tiles of dust bunnies, dirt, and pet hair. See some of the best vacuums to keep tile floors polished and clean.

Person turning on gas stove.
Appliances

How to Light a Pilot Light on Gas Appliances

Keep this guide handy in case you find yourself having to kickstart your old gas furnace, water heater, oven, or stove.

Woman wearing protective eyewear cleaning dirty ceiling fan with microfiber cloth.
Cleaning

7 Simple Steps That Make Cleaning Ceiling Fans a Breeze

Dust shouldn’t rain on your head when you want to cool down a room. Learn how easy it is to keep a fan’s blades, lights, and motor clean.

Best Non Stick Spray For Snow Blowers Review
Reviews

Stop Snow Blower Clogging Before It Begins With DuPont Nonstick Spray

Prevent snow blower interruptions and frustration with a nonstick spray that keeps the augers and chutes clear. Even wet and icy snow won’t slow you down.

Woman scrubbing the inside of a toilet with a pumice stone.
Toilets

How to Clean a Toilet the Right Way (Yes, There’s a Right Way)

Should you scrub the outside or the inside first, or clean top to bottom? Follow these steps to get a sparkling, sanitary bowl in about 10 minutes.

close view of Air purifier in the foreground with blurry view of man t his desk in the office
Interior

This Is Where to Place Air Purifiers in Your Home for Maximum Benefit

Know exactly what to do and what to avoid when setting up an air purifier so it can run as efficiently as possible. 

Hands holding a bunch of mint from a home garden.
Gardening

How to Grow Mint (and Keep It Under Control) In Your Home Garden

If you would like fresh mint for teas and garnishes, keep in mind that growing your own is easy and shouldn’t cost you a mint!

The Water Creation Madison 30-Inch Modern White Vanity in a grey bathroom with a small wooden stool next to it.
Bath Fixtures & Fittings

The Best Bathroom Vanities for Storage and Style

Add under-sink storage while expressing your style with a vanity that suits your bathroom decor, budget, and square footage.

The Best Air Mattresses Options
Mattresses & Bedding

The Best Air Mattresses for Guests, Camping, and Travel

Find a reliable, comfortable air mattress for hosting friends and family or taking along on outdoor adventures.

Handy Heater Review
Reviews

Warmth on Demand, a Tested Review of the Handy Heater

When Old Man Winter is upon us, lots of folks look for a little boost of warmth. Here’s what happened when I tested a popular small space heater.

Linesman work to restore power during an intense ice storm.
Home Safety

15 Things You Can Do to Prepare for a Winter Power Outage

It’s easy to take electricity for granted—until you lose it. Get tips on how to cook, keep warm, and stay safe when it's freezing and there's no power.

A set of the best fireplace tools on a wood floor next to a built-in fire place.
Tools & Materials

The Best Fireplace Tools to Keep Your Fireplace Clean—and Stylish

A quality set of matching tools puts the finishing touch to your fireplace. Have a look at a variety of options for both indoor and outdoor use.

Flowering-plants-bloom-in-multicolors-in-front-of-a-greenhouse-that-is-sillouhetted-against-the-morning-sun.
Lawn & Garden

Edimentals and 7 Other Garden Trends We’re Excited to Try in 2024

Try something new in the garden this year. Improve your curb appeal, grow some trendy plants, and make your garden the talk of the neighborhood.

Man wearing buffalo check shirt carrying firewood on snowy day.
Repair & Maintenance

The 30 Smartest Things You Can Do to Prepare for a Frigid Winter

Learn how to prevent winter catastrophes and keep your home—and its inhabitants—safe, warm, and healthy when temperatures dip.

A person wearing work gloves while spraying the best fire extinguisher.
Tools & Materials

The 9 Best Fire Extinguishers to Keep Your Home and Family Safe

Stay calm when a fire breaks out in your home. These fire extinguishers will help keep you and your family safe in an emergency.

Snow Removal Cost
Driveways & Walkways

How Much Does Snow Removal Cost?

Don’t want to clear snow yourself? Snow removal cost ranges from $40 to $450, with the national average at $200.

Young woman reaching under a sofa to get at some dust
Cleaning

Why Is My House So Dusty? 8 Common Culprits–and What to Do About Them

Learn what causes pesky particles to settle everywhere, and what measures you can take to defeat excessive dust in the house.

A woman inspects dirty laundry in her kitchen.
Cleaning

How to Get Mold Out of Clothes

Have you left wet laundry in a hamper long enough for mold to take hold? Don't toss your togs out just yet—instead, try the following treatment for getting mold out of clothing.