Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 212)

Learn how to keep the pool clean with regular vacuuming.

These unassuming homes once played vital roles in the fight against slavery, serving as shelter for those escaping to freedom.

With a pinch of effort and almost no upkeep, you can have the lush, beautiful garden of your dreams. The secret is to choose plant varieties that enjoy a little hardship. We’ve compiled the essential list of hardy flora, with tips for care and maintenance.

Originally intended to corral cables and wires, zip ties are probably not the first product that comes to mind when you need to fix a broken zipper or pack for a trip. But these toothy plastic or nylon strips can do much more than contain cords. Read on to discover why you should add zip ties to your DIY arsenal to help you with storage, gardening, and other household tasks.

Can houseplants clean the air inside your home? Learn about the research behind this health benefit and see the low-maintenance plants that will give your home a boost.

Some things just work better together.

Castor oil may be known for its health and beauty benefits, but it also has a number of surprising uses in the home and garden.

You may have your allegiances to certain brands of cleaning products, but are they really getting the job done? If you have an especially tough cleaning problem to solve and the usual supplies just aren’t cutting it, maybe it's time for a slightly more unconventional approach, one that involves grabbing a few items from the pantry or trying a wacky, off-the-wall cleaning trick. Ready for a little adventure? Here are 20 crazy cleaning tips that actually work.

Leave it to college kids to devise the biggest space-saving trick for the bedroom: a lofted bed.

These enchanting estates, one in each of the 50 states, can be savored up close.

If you're wondering how big the houses in your state are compared with houses in the other 49, this quick look will let you size up your neighbors.

Regular mowing will help keep your grass green, lush, and healthy. The trick is figuring out what “regular” means for your lawn.

Whether you simply want to identify the flowers growing in your backyard or you have big plans to become a pro mushroom forager, downloading a few key apps will put a bounty of information at your fingertips.

Painting your walls will go so much easier with these pro tips and handy product helpers.

Behold the power of paint, which can make a huge impact on every room in the house—including the bathroom. Here are some inspirational bathroom improvements that required nothing more than paint and a little creativity.

You found the perfect Christmas tree, now you just need to make sure it survives until December 25. Luckily, with these helpful tips keeping your fir fresh isn't too hard to manage.

Though it may feel like every plant at the garden center has a “requires full sun” tag, there are plenty of gorgeous greens and blooms that thrive in shade. Here’s what to grow in patio planters and indoor pots that don’t get full sun.

Your pool landscape design is sure to make a splash with these ideas.

Add character to your home and show off your style with these unique picket fence ideas.

Browse the app store and you'll find dozens of useful apps for homeowners—but most of us don't have the phone storage for them all. So which ones are worth the download? Keep reading to learn our eight favorite phone apps for the home.