how-to (Page 2)

Latest in how-to

Woman paints primer over a stained wood bench.

Painting & Finishing

Can You Paint Over Wood Stain?

By Andreana Lefton, Bob Vila

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season

Holidays & Celebrations

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season

By Kelsey Savage

What Causes a Broken Window Seal (and How to Fix It)

Solved! What to Do About a Broken Window Seal

By Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila

How to Change a Furnace Filter

Heating & Cooling

Change Filters Frequently to Optimize Furnace Efficiency

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila

Roof Leak Repair

4 Tips for Repairing a Leaky Roof

By Larry Bilotti, Bob Vila

How to Close a Summer Home

How to Close a Summer Home

By Bob Vila, Teresa Odle

9 Pro Tips for Building an Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor Kitchens

9 Pro Tips for Building an Outdoor Kitchen

By Glenda Taylor

11 Things to Know Before Visiting the Lumber Yard

11 Things to Know Before Visiting the Lumber Yard

By Marisa Villarreal

16 Pro Tips for Painting Interior Doors

Painting & Finishing

16 Pro Tips for Painting Interior Doors

By Andreana Lefton

Every Homeowner's Best Bathroom Floor Tile Options

Bathroom Design

The Best Options for Bathroom Floor Tile

By Joe Provey, Bob Vila

how to paint a ceiling

Painting & Finishing

How to Paint a Ceiling

Closeup of grout float pressing grout between tiles, with a container of grout in the background.

Skills & Techniques

How to Grout Tile on Floors and Walls

By Kit Stansley, Gretchen Heber

Woman stands in front of a table with a bucket, vinegar, dish soap and other supplies, cleaning a paint brush.

Cleaning & Organizing

How to Clean Paint Brushes the Right Way

By Bob Vila, Gretchen Heber

6 Best Tips for How to Clean Stainless Steel

Cleaning & Organizing

How To: Clean Stainless Steel

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila

Person wearing yellow rubber gloves cleans tile grout with a toothbrush and a white powdery scrub.

Cleaning & Organizing

8 Ways to Clean Stained Grout

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts

Easy DIY Projects

12 Things You Never Thought to Do With Packing Peanuts

By Jennifer Noonan

Never Combine Bleach and Vinegar—Here’s Why

Never Combine Bleach and Vinegar When Cleaning—Here’s Why

By Manasa Reddigari

9 Tips for Improving Bathroom Ventilation

The Dos and Don’ts of Bathroom Ventilation

By Michelle Ullman, Bob Vila

The Best Paint for Ceilings, Solved!

Painting & Finishing

Solved! The Best Paint for Ceilings

By Manasa Reddigari

A pile of autumn leaves that's burning, with smoke billowing out of the pile.

Burning Leaves in Your Yard: Why It’s a Bad Idea

By Manasa Reddigari, Updated by Tony Carrick

The Best Time to Plant a Tree, Solved

Solved! The Best Time to Plant a Tree

By Katelin Hill

Man with a trucker hat and tattooed arms is building a retaining wall out of paver stones in a yard with no grass.

The Dos and Don’ts of Building Retaining Walls

By Glenda Taylor

8 Top Tips for Building a Fire Pit

Dos and Don’ts of Building a Fire Pit

By Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila

how to get rid of ants in the kitchen ants crawling on counter

Kitchen & Dining

Solved! This is How to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen Once and for All

By Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, Deirdre Mundorf

Five of the Best Outdoor Rugs on a concrete patio surrounded by trees

Outdoor Furniture

The Best Outdoor Rugs for the Deck and Patio, Tested

By Katie Barton, Savannah Sher, Donna Boyle Schwartz

Person holding in their hand a variety of sandpapers in various grits and colors.

Skills & Techniques

How to Choose the Right Sandpaper Grit and Type for Your Project

By Theresa Clement, Kelly Weimert

Woman wipes a hardwood floor with a blue microfiber cloth.

The Best Way to Clean Hardwood Floors

By Theresa Clement, Bob Vila, Manasa Reddigari

7 Things You Never Knew Cause Brown Grass (and How to Fix Them)

Solved! What to Do About Brown Grass

By Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila

Best Decking Material

Deck, Patio & Porch

Solved! The Best Decking Material

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila

13 Hacks Every Car Owner Should Know

13 Hacks Every Car Owner Should Know

By Jennifer Noonan

Water droplets spray from a sprinkler head on a lawn.

When Is the Best Time to Water Grass?

By Kat Hodgins, Bob Vila, Amy Lynch

best way to remove wallpaper

Walls & Ceilings

Solved! What Is the Best Way to Remove Wallpaper?

By Kathleen Corlett

Can You Tile Over Tile

Solved! Yes, You Can Tile Over Tile

The 13 Painting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Painting & Finishing

The 13 Painting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

By Marie Proeller Hueston, Margaret Foley

How To: Get Rid of Every Carpet Stain

Cleaning & Organizing

How To: Get Rid of Every Carpet Stain

By Donna Boyle Schwartz

17 Clever Ways to Use Toothpaste Around the House

Cleaning & Organizing

17 Clever Ways to Use Toothpaste Around the House

By Cody Calamaio, Savannah Sher

fixing chipped stove enamel

Repair & Maintenance

Bob Vila Radio: Fixing Chipped Stove Enamel

By Roseann Foley Henry, Bob Vila

Choosing Replacement Windows

Buyer’s Guide: Replacement Windows

By Barbara Winfield, Bob Vila

Basement Flooring

Basement Flooring 101

By Joe Provey, Bob Vila

A family sitting around the fire and enjoying activities.

How to Build a Fire Pit in Your Backyard

By Michael Franco, Updated by Teresa Odle

How To Paint a Staircase

Painting & Finishing

Dream It, Do It: How to Paint a Staircase

By Debbie @ Painted Therapy

How To: Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint

How To: Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint

Skim Coat Plastering

Walls & Ceilings

All About Skim Coat Plastering

The Plumb Bob: What Is This Tool, and How Do You Use It?

Three Coat Plastering - Tools

Walls & Ceilings

How To: Rebuild a Wall with Three-Coat Plaster

Deck, Patio & Porch

Building a Basic Deck? Top Tips for DIYers

Worker's hands in gloves press the tile to the floor as part of tile installation. Level sits nearby.

Building & Installing

How to Install Tile Floors

By Timothy Dale

How To: Paint EVERYTHING

Painting & Finishing

How To: Paint EVERYTHING

By Marisa Villarreal

how to install baseboard

Walls & Ceilings

How to Install Baseboard Trim

By Tom Scalisi, Bob Vila, Joe Provey

mitered corner detail

Skills & Techniques

How To: Make a Mitered Corner

By Chris Gardner

how to use a miter box

How to Use a Miter Box

By Tom Scalisi, Bob Vila, Chris Gardner

cedar box planters on deck rails

Deck, Patio & Porch

How To: Make a Deck Rail Planter

By Jennifer Noonan

wooden board laying flat, using paintbrush and white paint.

Painting & Finishing

How to Paint Laminate

By Jenna Burger @ SAS Interiors

Tube of toothpaste squeezed onto toothbrush over a tarnished brass candlestick.

Cleaning & Organizing

How to Clean Brass

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Kelly Weimert

Close up of flat spray mop cleaning vinyl floors, pushed by person wearing jeans and black sneakers.

How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

Updated by Teresa Odle Donna Boyle Schwartz, By Bob Vila

Porter-Cable Random Orbit Sander

Painting & Finishing

How To: Remove Varnish and Other Wood Finishes

By Chris Gardner, Bob Vila

how to install bifold doors

How to Install Bifold Doors

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Bob Vila

John Deere Tractor with Front Snow Thrower

Turn Your Lawn Tractor into a Snow Plow or Blower

By Jennifer Noonan

painted and stained kitchen cabinets

How To: Restore Cabinet Finishes

By Merv Kaufman, Bob Vila

Frost on window.

How To: Prevent Frost on Windows

By Jennifer Noonan, Bob Vila

green painted kitchen floor

How To: Paint a Wood Floor

By Joe Provey, Bob Vila

2ndfloorliving-how-to-paint-trim-moldings

Paints & Finishes

How To: Paint Trim

By Joe Provey, Bob Vila

Colourful Zinnia flowers at the garden.Beautiful Floral Background

How To: Install Landscape Edging to Boost Your Curb Appeal

By Jennifer Noonan, Bob Vila

how to make a tire swing

How To: Make a Tire Swing

By Leslie Grimmett