Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 162)

A person wearing a mitten and using the best ice scraper to clear a snowy and icy windshield.
Tools & Materials

The Best Ice Scrapers to Keep You on the Road This Winter

Clear vehicle windshields of light frost or thick ice during the cold winter months with any one of these top ice scrapers.

The best hot plate option with one burner cooking two eggs in a pan and the other holding a stock pot.
Appliances & Cookware

The 8 Best Hot Plates to Use at Home, Vetted

Whether for a small space, a well-equipped kitchen, or a weekend in the mountains, the right hot plate can accommodate one’s cooking needs in almost any setting.

The best chest freezer in a room with tiled walls and cement floors.
Appliances & Cookware

The 8 Best Chest Freezers for Extra Cold Storage, Vetted

Learn how to choose the right chest freezer that will keep your food reliably frozen.

Gauzy white outdoor curtains installed over a window to provide shade, style, and privacy.
Outdoor Furniture

The Best Outdoor Curtains for Shade, Style, and Privacy

Looking to refresh an outdoor space? Provide shade, privacy, and enviable style with the right outdoor curtains.

Two people using the best metal detectors for beginners on the beach of an ocean.
Reviews

Enjoy a New Hobby With a Metal Detector Designed for Beginners

Uncover buried treasure with one of the best beginner-friendly metal detectors on the market.

A collage of the Best Power Tool Set Options on white backgrounds.
Power Tools

The Best Power Tool Sets for Your Needs and Budget, Tested

Whether you want to upgrade your workshop inventory for heavy-duty work or improved ergonomics, these highly rated sets are ideal.

A-collection-of-household-products-in-clear-glass-jars-sits-with-a-sponge-and-a-lemon.
Repurposing

16 Surprising Uses for Household Items

Fix squeaky hinges, deter pests, prevent rust, and more with everyday household items that are good for more than you think.

A woman points at a color sample on a paint color brochure.
Design

Pick Your Favorite 2024 Color of the Year

Major paint brands have released their top color picks for the coming year. Find out what shades made the cut and pick the perfect one for your next project.

A-tabby-cat-is-curled-up-asleep-on-a-red-ottoman-in-front-of-a-wood-burning-stove.
Fireplaces & Chimneys

11 Dos and Don’ts for Cleaning a Wood Stove

Wood stoves are wonderful—they smell fantastic, make any space super-cozy, and even fire our pizzas. However, it’s essential to maintain a wood stove properly, for both performance and safety.

The Best Hand Trucks Options
Reviews

The Best Hand Trucks to Make Moving Heavy or Awkward Loads Easier

A hand truck is an indispensable assistant for dealing with awkward or heavy loads, but which one is right for your needs?

A rhubarb plant growing in a home garden.
Gardening

How to Grow Rhubarb

Growing rhubarb is as easy as pie in northern zones, but it’s no cakewalk in southern regions.

A small, cozy kitchen full of cute appliances with sage cabinets and slate-blue window trim.
Kitchen & Dining

Cooking in a Shoebox-Sized Kitchen? 9 Paint Colors to Open Up the Room

Some paint colors for kitchens do more than just elevate their aesthetic—they can make them feel more spacious, too! Use these expert tips to open up your cramped kitchen.

A DIYer grouting white tiles of a kitchen backsplash with dark gray grout.
Bathrooms

What Color Grout to Use With White Tile: 6 Hues Designers Recommend

The grout hue you pair with white tile can be a bold statement or offer subtle elegance—it’s a fine detail that can enhance your interior design. Find out which color suits your design scheme.

The Best Gas Garage Heater Options
HVAC

The Best Gas Garage Heaters to Keep You Warm in Chilly Months

Don’t let cold temperatures keep you from your hobbies or projects. These top gas garage heaters are sure to keep your workspace warm.

Tuckpointing Cost
Exterior

How Much Does Tuckpointing Cost?

Tuckpointing, which is removing old mortar between bricks and replacing it with new, can restore the structural integrity of brickwork. Repairing and replacing mortar joints costs between $500 and $2,500, with tuckpointing cost averaging $1,500.

Softly Illuminated Open Plan Living Room at Nighttime
Paints & Finishes

The 13 Best Paint Colors for Low-Light Rooms

Looking to update a finished basement, or windowless bathroom? Our expert recommends paint hues that can brighten dark, shady spaces in your home.

A cat walking past a cat repellent
Reviews

The Best Cat Repellents to Deter Your Feline Frenemies

Keep cats away from specific areas in a safe and humane manner with one of the best cat repellents on the market.

The Best Can Openers for Seniors Options
Reviews

The Best Can Openers for Seniors, Vetted and Reviewed

When muscle weakness, pain, and stiffness from arthritis become a factor in everyday activities, the best can openers for seniors provide assistance in the kitchen.

White home with porch and Christmas decorations with snow-covered driveway.
Driveways & Walkways

Sick of Shoveling? The Pros and Cons of Heated Driveways

Toss the snow blowers, throwers, and shovels: Installing a radiant heating system under your driveway can keep ice and snow at bay for many winters to come. Is it a good solution for your home?

Older woman wiping counter.
Cleaning & Organizing

How to Deep Clean Your House Room by Room

With the right tools, a plan of action, and some good old fashioned elbow grease, tackling deep house cleaning may be easier than you thought.