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50 Products for Quick Fixes Around the House
With these clever products on hand, DIYers can fix plumbing, carpentry, and a host of other household problems.
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7 Easy Ways to Rescue a Scorched Pot
Fear not: Cleaning blackened, burned cookware doesn’t have to mean an arm-wearying afternoon of rigorous scouring. It...
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What to Do If a Bird Flies into Your House
Cracking the windows is an effective way to air out your house when the weather is nice—but an open window can also b...
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How To: Kill a Tree Stump
Removing a tree from your yard can be a tricky and expensive process, but it’s especially frustrating when you still ...
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The Most Popular Paint Colors in America
See the shades that virtually everyone loves for their homes.
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9 Paint Color Trends You Might Regret
Few decorating tricks transform the feel of a room as easily, quickly, and inexpensively as a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps because painting is so easy—a bit incon...
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Video: How to Get Rid of Sticker Residue
So, you've removed a label or price tag from a jar, bottle, or other household surface, and now the only evidence of ...
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Video: Stop Making These Mistakes in the Laundry Room
 If you've ever shrunk your favorite sweater by drying it on the highest setting, or turned your white socks pink by ...
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Video: These 11 Items Should Never Go in the Trash
 Conscientious homeowners may already know that there's a right and a wrong way to dispose of unwanted items. For ins...
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Video: 11 Trusted Techniques for Flu-Proofing Your Home
The world is full of germs—we encounter them every day on our way to work, at school, or as we prepare dinner in the ...
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Video: Here's What NOT to Put in Your Microwave
The microwave oven may be the pinnacle of modern convenience. At the press of a button it can heat your lunch, refres...
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Video: 5 Ways You're Ruining Your Furniture
Whether your furniture is brand-new or a treasured heirloom, you need to treat it right to keep it in good condition ...
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Video: How to De-stink a Smelly Garbage Disposal
Your trusty garbage disposal makes kitchen cleanup a snap by grinding food scraps into tiny particles that can be was...
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Video: Turn Pipe and Fittings into a DIY Magazine Rack
Before you can build functional, stylish furniture for your home, you need a truckload of power tools and a craftsman...
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Video: 10 Household Products You Never Need to Buy
Homeownership brings a lot of hidden costs, especially when it comes to the daily cleaning and maintenance that's req...
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Video: 7 Genius Ways to Use Ice Cubes
You reach for it when you need to relax with a cold beverage or soothe a bruise, but ice has many unusual uses that g...
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Video: The Best Way to Clean a Mirror
Everyone thinks they know how to clean a mirror, but if that were the case every one of these reflective surfaces wou...
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Video: Purge Your Pantry of These Problem Items
As the holidays draw ever nearer, many homeowners are preparing to entertain dozens of friends and family members ove...
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Video: These Mistakes Make Your Home Attractive to Bugs
There's no doubt that homeowners go to great lengths to make a house into a home, and the results of their hard labor...
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Video: These Are the Filthiest Spots in Your Home
No matter how much you spray, wipe, and scrub, you can never banish every speck of grime from your house. Most of us ...
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Video: How to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter
 Winter is coming. That means ice, snow, and cold mornings that make you want to never get out of bed. Are you ready?...
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Video: These Things Don't Belong in Your Garage
Where do homeowners turn when they need to stash off-season gear, sports equipment, and the odd power tool? Why, the ...
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Video: How to Ward Off Pranksters This Halloween
Halloween night (and Mischief Night, celebrated on October 30th) can turn ordinary kids and teens into neighborhood g...
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Video: The Most Important Garden Tasks to Do This Fall
Whether you love fall, or dread it, there's no arguing that autumn is here and winter is right around the corner. Bef...
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Video: The Top 10 Home Projects for October
The month of October is full of autumnal joys like rust-colored leaves, Halloween preparations, and crisp, cool air. ...
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Video: 6 Secret Uses for a Crockpot
 King of the kitchen, the crockpot is a culinary hero that can cook at your command on those days you're simply too b...
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Video: Your Coffee Maker Is More Versatile Than You Think
The world is full of unitasker appliances—the rice cooker, the panini press, the juicer, the waffle iron. These clunk...
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Video: How to Remove Rust—Naturally
Rust can strike at any time—or at least whenever metal is exposed to damp conditions. Left untreated, those corrosive...
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Video: How to Paint Wood Furniture
The time comes when we could all use a little change—in our decor.  The fastest way to alter the look of a room is to...
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Video: How to Clean Leather Furniture
Considered both classic and refined, leather furniture has amassed a fan following thanks to its rich color and soft,...
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Video: How to Remove Water Stains from Wood
Nothing ruins beautiful antique wood furniture faster than water—and it only takes a few drops of condensation from a...
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Video: 3 Quick Fixes for a Smelly Trash Can
For the average homeowner, the kitchen is the source of some of the most delicious smells, like home-baked cookies or...
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Video: Weird Yet Wonderful Ways to Use Wine
Leftover wine—what's that? A true oenophile might not be able to imagine such a scenario, but it does happen. Once th...
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Video: 7 Secret Benefits of Clorox Bleach
Clorox can do more than whiten your whites. Did you know that the same bleach you use in the laundry can be put to us...
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Video: How to Get Rid of Spiders
Although spiders are a great help in the garden—catching flies and other creepy crawlers—most of us would prefer not ...
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Video: Here's How You're Ruining Your Wood Floors
When it comes to floors, carpet is no longer king. Today it's all about hardwood flooring—timeless, classic, and clea...
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Video: The Smartest Garden Hacks
Take one trip to your local home center and you'll find solutions for just about any gardening problem. The convenien...
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Video: How to Clean Patio Cushions
 Outdoor pillows, cushions, and poufs can't hide from the cleansing power of the garden hose! If you've yet to give y...
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Quick Tip: Remove a Tree Stump with Epsom Salt
Removing a tree from your yard is never pleasant. These leafy giants are part of our home and when one is mortally da...
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Video: Helpful Hints on Cleaning Windows
 Cleaning windows is a simple, straightforward task—for some people! For everyone else, it's streaky business. Wash a...
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Video: 9 Mistakes You Make When You Load the Dishwasher
It's the simplest thing in the world, right? Load the machine, fill the soap tray, press a button—and voila! Sparklin...
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Video: How to Plant a Tree
 There's perhaps no better way to show your appreciation for Mother Earth than to plant a tree.  As we all know, tree...
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Video: 7 Things Burglars Don't Want You to Know
 You probably consider your home to be a safe haven from all the danger and mayhem in this crazy world, and most of t...
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Video: How to Clean a Dishwasher
 It may sound strange, but a dishwasher needs an occasional rinse to get it fresh and clean. The hot water that flows...
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Video: The Trick to Cooling Your Home with Low-Cost Window Fans
 Whoever said "Summer time and the living's easy" must have never lived in a sweltering region with no air conditioni...
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Video: 3 Fixes for a Clogged Shower Drain
 So you're taking a shower when you feel the water start to pool around your ankles. When that happens, you know the ...
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Video: 10 Things You Didn't Know You Can Clean in the Washing Machine
 Convenience incarnate: That's one way to describe your washing machine. This hardworking appliance launders clothes,...
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Video: How to Remove a Stripped Screw
 Operating a screwdriver is so easy a child could do it—so why can't you remove that stubborn screw no matter how har...
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Video: These Bad Habits Could Burn Down Your House
 You know the basics of fire safety: Check the fire extinguisher, douse a grease fire with baking soda, never leave a...
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Video: How to Clean Grout
 Stained grout ages your home and makes your kitchen and bathroom tile look dirty, even when not. If your previous at...
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Video: 9 Home Cleaners to Borrow From the Pantry
Did you know that tartar sauce makes a brilliant copper cleaner? Or that a slice of the bread is your secret weapon w...
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Video: 8 Renovations That Pay You Back
Which projects are on your home improvement wish list? A modern kitchen? Maybe bathroom update or a basement remodel?...
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Video: 9 Mistakes That Make Your Home Dustier
 In some homes, it seems like a thin layer of dust has settled over your tables, shelves, and other surfaces almost a...
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Video: How to Clean Oven Racks
 You know the saying "out of sight, out of mind. " Well, when it comes to your oven's interior, it's "out of sight, a...
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Video: 7 Plants Never to Grow in Your Yard
Just because the plant is beautiful, doesn't mean it belongs in your yard. Many popular plants available at your loca...
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Video: What to Do If You've Been Skunked
 Find yourself in a stinky situation? If a skunk strikes close to home (or in your home!), take action against the un...
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Video: America's Most Photographed Homes
American architecture might not be as old as the kinds you'll find on other continents, but it certainly is stunning....
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Video: 7 Unusual Uses for Beer
Many people reach for a bottle of brew to refresh themselves on a hot day. Fewer will crack open a cold one to clean ...
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Video: How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell
 What's that smell? If you're sniffing around a damp bathroom, musty basement, or dewy screened porch, you may have c...
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The 25 Smartest and Smallest DIYs You Can Do for Your Home
These quick upgrades don't require expert-level skills (or a big bankroll) to complete, but they can make a big impact on your home's potential—and your quality o...
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Video: 8 Cleaning Mistakes Everyone Makes
Some homeowners are under the impression that the only wrong way to clean is to not clean at all. Not so. There are s...
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Video: How to Water Your Lawn
There are many factors that contribute to a green and lush lawn. Healthy turf grass starts with choosing the right se...
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Video: 5 Things You Can Do with Lemons
When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade—clean house, instead! This versatile fruit can freshen every corner o...
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Video: Don't Keep These 11 Things in Your Bedroom
How healthy and safe is your bedroom? The answer may surprise you. If you're keeping some of these seemingly innocuou...
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Video: How to Clean Vinyl Flooring
Beloved for their economy and durability, vinyl and laminate flooring are two of the most popular flooring types avai...
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Video: 5 Mowing Mistakes Everyone Makes
Who knew? You might be the only thing standing in the way of your best-ever lawn. If the grass looks greener on the o...
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15 Basement Ceiling Ideas to Inspire Your Space
When updating your basement, don't overlook a major opportunity to make a statement. To make the room unforgettable, all you have to do is look up.
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Video: How to Find a Wall Stud
There's a reason they make stud finders. These tiny tools come in handy when you need to find a wall stud, usually wh...
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Video: It's Time to Toss These Household Items
Admit it: Your garage, pantry, and closet are full of unused items. All of that junk is just one more organizational ...
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Video: Unusual Ways to Use Coca-Cola at Home
When is the last time you cracked open an ice-cold Coke? If you're like two-thirds of Americans, it's probably been a...
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Genius! This Bed Lifts and Lowers at the Push of a Button
Downsizing from a sprawling abode to a tiny home requires sacrifices of space and comfort—especially when it comes to...
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Genius! This Mirror Hides a Whole Gun Collection
Gun cabinets have long been the storage option of choice for responsible firearm owners looking to securely stash wea...
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Genius! Cozy Up Without a Space Heater
With the cold season in full swing, many heat-starved homeowners crank up the thermostat, sending their energy bill s...
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Genius! An Invention to End Smashed Groceries
If you’re regularly tagged with grocery duty, you know that the most perilous part of a trip to the supermarket is th...
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Genius! This Door DIY Doubles as an Indoor Gate
Homeowners with furry friends know that you only have to take your eye off the pets for a minute before they wander o...
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Genius! Put Your Favorite Drinks on Tap at Home
The lack of storage space in small kitchens constantly forces homeowners to make sacrifices. For Reddit user averagej...
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Genius! How to Disguise an Ugly Thermostat
Megan Pflug's gallery wall was a near masterpiece except for one niggling imperfection. A glaring white programmable ...
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Genius! The DIY Dog Feeder that Doubles as Storage
Pet parents know that there isn't ever a great place to store bulky bags of dry kibble. Closets are typically already...
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Genius! The Foldaway Fix for a Clunky TV
Dedicated DIY-ers like Allison Allen know that fixing one design problem often causes another. When Allen, the blogge...
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The 12 Paint Colors You're Going to See Everywhere in 2017
What's on the horizon for paint colors in the year ahead? Industry experts are predicting an embrace of warmer, more comforting hues that create a visual retreat ...
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Genius! Chop Down Heating Bills with This Fireplace Hack
As temperatures dip, nothing feels better than thick fleece socks and a seat next to the fire. But, between uses, an ...
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The 8 Best Paint Colors for a Restful Sleep
You might think that any color you love will work well in a bedroom, and that may well be true. If, however, you're someone who has trouble falling asleep (or wak...
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Genius! The Secret to This Modern Bed Is Hiding on Your Shelf
When it's time to settle into a new home or apartment, most people face a tough trade-off: Buying all of the furnitur...
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Genius! Double Your Grilling Space Without Spending a Dime
From searing a steak to piecing together the perfect kebabs, manning the grill is a juggling act. For BBQ-ers without...
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Genius! Scrub the Tub with... Your Drill?
When his wife started her new job as an attorney, Mark Evitt took on a different role, too: househusband.  Since he w...
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Genius! Build a Bee Hotel for a Healthier Garden
Decades ago, famed physicist Albert Einstein predicted that once the bees were gone, people would disappear, too. He ...
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How To: Remove Paint from Plastic
Nothing spoils the satisfaction of a paint job like drips and splatters on plastic surfaces, such as light switch cov...
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Genius! Kill Off Fruit Flies with 3 Kitchen Basics
When you get back from the grocery store with bags full of juicy strawberries, peaches, and cherries, your kids won’t...
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DIY Lite: Double Bathroom Storage with Easy-Build Box Shelves
The bathroom can be a nightmare to organize, with all of its towels, soap bottles, grooming supplies, and other toile...
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Genius! Raid Your Recycling Bin for Free Garden Tools
When A Farm of Your Home's blogger Melissa Barrett first moved to Australian city of Perth, her backyard was a tiny d...
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Genius! The Soundproofing Solution That Doubles as Wall Art
The struggles of sharing a home aren't limited to arranging furniture or dividing up a chore chart among the househol...
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Quick Tip: Control Weeds Using a Propane Torch
How you choose to eradicate weeds depends on your patience, physical abilities, and environmental ethics. You could g...
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Genius! The Backyard Movie Theater You Can Build in a Day
A night at the movies doesn’t come cheap. With the steep price of tickets, not to mention the popcorn and M&Ms, t...
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DIY Lite: A Modern Floor Lamp with a Most Unusual Shade
Any interior designer will recommend layering multiple light sources, from wall sconces to floor lamps, for both illu...
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Genius! The Easy Way to Add Privacy to a Chain-Link Fence
Chain-link fences have bordered American yards for more than a century, and with good reason—they're cheap, easy to i...
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Quick Tip: How to Remove a Broken Screw
A screwdriver, a screw, and a willing surface to drive it into are familiar features of many home projects. But over-...
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DIY Kids: Craft Your Own Tabletop Easel
Nothing makes a young, aspiring artist feel accomplished quite as much as having an easel to work on. But a tradition...
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Genius! The Easy Cure for Every Dark Hallway
When it comes to lighting, there are probably plenty of places in your home with room for improvement—basements, stai...
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10 Shortcuts to a Not-So-Scary Basement
If you have an unfinished basement, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time down there. The air is musty, the floors are damp, and it feels just a tiny bit...
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Quick Tip: The Easiest Way to Minimize Grout Stains
Often used as filler between tiles on the bathroom tub surround, kitchen backsplash, or foyer floor, grout can be a h...
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DIY Lite: Declutter Your Kitchen with a Coffee Mug Tree
In a groggy morning, you want that first cup of coffee to be as accessible as possible. That means mugs at the ready ...
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11 Problems You Can Solve with Paint
Every house has its problems, but you'd be amazed how many of them can be solved with a single afternoon and a common DIY staple: a can of paint. See how a few po...
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DIY Kids: Turn a Bookcase into a Dollhouse
Though they're growing up fast, my girls still love to play with a dollhouse—so much so that we needed to upgrade fro...
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Genius! The In-a-Pinch Vegetable Peeler
Single-use kitchen gadgets—garlic presses, juicers, and vegetable peelers—all do their jobs exceedingly well, but eve...
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DIY Lite: How to Build a Shadow Box Display
Most of us already have the makings of a collection sitting out on a shelf or dresser, right under our noses. Transfo...
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Genius! A Sunnier Alternative to Window Blinds
In old homes, it’s the details that draw us in. While the intricate trim and sculpted ceiling medallions certainly cr...
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DIY Lite: The Most Convenient Side Table Wood Can Build
Everyone has a favorite seat, a comfortable corner of the living room perfect for lounging, reading, working, snackin...
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All You Need to Know About Painting Appliances
Wishing for a way to refresh a kitchen or laundry room without sinking thousands of dollars into a renovation? If you...
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DIY Kids: A Handmade Table with Hidden Toy Storage
The holidays always bring a fresh influx of toys, games, and craft sets into the home. Come January, we struggle with...
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Genius! Turn a Toothbrush into a Power Sander
Power sanders are incredibly useful—and incredibly expensive. The smallest versions, called detail sanders, allow you...
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How to Build a Minimalist DIY Coat Rack for the Entryway
In with the chill, out with the coats—and hats, scarves, mittens . . . you name it. With so much winter gear and so l...
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Quick Tip: An Easy Refresh for Stinky Bath Towels
It's been a long day, but it's not you who needs a hot bath—it's your towels.  When wet towels dry in open air, they ...
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Genius! The $0 Sled You Can Build in 10 Minutes
For kids, nothing beats the thrill of the first snowy day of the season. While they get busy building a snowman, you ...
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Genius! DIY a Roof Rake with Hardware Store Supplies
When the snow started to pile up on handyman Bill Bachand's roof, he did what any responsible homeowner would do: run...
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Quick Tip: A Sweet In-a-Pinch Kindling Substitute
The fall season has been mild this year, but chilly temperatures are right around the corner, especially with the off...
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Quick Tip: Speed Up Snow Shoveling with Cooking Spray
Winter’s first snowfall is greeted with open arms for affording fun-filled activities like bobsledding, skiing, and b...
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DIY Lite: The One Christmas Tree That's Not a Pain to Store
Every December—occasionally as soon as the day after Thanksgiving—holiday-loving home decorators divide into two grou...
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Quick Tip: Detect Air Leaks for Only $1
When you've moved your plans indoors to escape the seasonal chill, a draft to send you back under the blankets is the...
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Quick Tip: How to Clean Glass Bottles (and Vases) with Rice
Your holiday spirits may be high when the champagne and the conversation is overflowing, but after the guests leave, ...
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Quick Tip: The Best Way to Prevent Freezer Burn
For many Thanksgiving hosts, the holiday's fun, family, and food mark the culmination of a month-long process: dilige...
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Genius! The Trash Can Turkey Smoker
Just like us, our ancestors loved a good cookout. As early as 500,000 years ago, the earliest humans whipped up dinne...
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14 Easy Ways to Fix a Squeaky Bed
Does your bed squeak every time you toss or turn? Learn how to bring peace back to your bedroom and improve the quality of your sleep.
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How to Build a LEGO Table with Your Kids This Weekend
My kids love LEGO so much that it borders on obsession. We have a lot of these plastic bricks and, until recently, no...
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Quick Tip: Remove Wrinkles Easily—Without an Iron
This crisp fall forecast calls for bundling up—that means some rummaging through your closet to unearth options for l...
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Genius! The DIY Cure for a Crowded Table
Unplanned guests can throw off even the most seasoned holiday host or hostess. Between checking on the turkey, wiping...
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DIY Lite: Craft a Homemade Cutting Board
Family and food go hand in hand this time of year, and the kitchen is generally bustling with all of the action. If y...
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Genius! Boost Your WiFi with a Soda Can
If you rely on Google to answer day-to-day questions or count on cat videos to pull you out of the post-lunch slump, ...
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Quick Tip: How to Snag Shipping Pallets for Your Next Project
The foundation of many furniture projects—like crafty wine racks, whimsical swing chairs, and elegant daybeds—relies ...
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Genius! Clean Your Gutters without a Ladder
We all start autumn bright-eyed and optimistic, eager to pick apples, gaze at the stars, or watch the leaves change c...
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Editors' Picks: The 9 Greatest Grays for Your Next Paint Job
Few colors in home design can be considered both fresh and traditional, but gray succeeds on both counts. It's been called the color of the season for more season...
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DIY Kids: Measure the Years with a Growth Chart
Many of the clichés of parenthood hold true, but this one does especially: Kids grow up so fast! Before you know it, ...
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DIY Lite: Modern Bookends on a Modest Budget
Wholly malleable yet still a sturdy project material, concrete mix has proven its worth outside of just lawn and gard...
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Quick Tip: Clean Ceiling Fans with a Pillowcase
Too far out of reach (and often out of sight during normal cleaning routines), ceiling fans collect plenty of dust wh...
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Quick Tip: Deodorize Old Books with a Pantry Hero
No matter whether you prefer heart-warming classics or heart-pounding thrillers, your personal library of paperbacks ...
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Genius! The Custom Closet Solution That Costs Nearly Nothing
If you actually wear everything you own, you might be part of a growing trend: people paring down their possessions i...
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DIY Lite: Brighten Your Workday with an Easy-to-Build Desk Organizer
Finding a home for every single possession—and remembering to return them to their specified spots—is always a challe...
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Where to Get Free Moving Boxes
Once the excitement of closing on a new house or locking down a great apartment wears off, reality sets in: Time to p...
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Genius! Bring Gutters Indoors for Simple Storage
As the first leaves begin to litter the lawn, we're reminded that it's once again time to dig out the ladder from the...
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DIY Cornhole: How to Build Your Own Regulation Set
Nothing says family fun like a little bit of friendly competition! When the weather’s nice, there are many choices fo...
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A Swedish Fire Torch Turns One Log Into a Complete Campfire
What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a good old-fashioned campfire, surrounded by friends and fam...
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Genius! The Easy (and Affordable) Recipe for a DIY Kitchen Countertop
This story starts at the curb, where people leave out the things that they no longer need. Between neighbors' recycli...
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Quick Tip: Clean Up After a Cookout... with an Onion
If cleaning your outdoor grill were just as easy as cleaning your household oven, it wouldn’t be so bad—but, alas, th...
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Genius! The Soda Bottle Sprinkler
For most parents, the week of Labor Day is jam-packed with barbecues, parades, or back-to-school shopping. But for ki...
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Quick Tip: Create Instant Heirloom Furniture with Vaseline
If you find yourself scouring the flea markets for that perfectly imperfect piece of painted furniture that's distres...
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Genius! This Hanger Hack Organizes More than Just Clothes
In most of the Western world, Sunday is the day of rest—and that means different things to different people. Do you s...
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Quick Tip: This Simple Trick Helps Plants Water Themselves
There are lots of household chores to take care of before going on a vacation: board the dog, clean the fridge, empty...
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11 Insanely Easy 60-Minute Paint DIYs
Paint offers DIYers of any skill level an opportunity to make over drab dwellings at the mere lift of a brush, roller, or sprayer. But homeowners often paint them...
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DIY Lite: Upgrade Simple String Lights on a Shoestring Budget
Thoughtful lighting is key to evoking a desired ambience in nearly any space. (They don't call it "mood lighting" for...
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Genius! The Clean, Green DIY Washing Machine
When a new washing machine can cost up to $1,000, there are plenty of reasons to consider a cheaper alternative befor...
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Quick Tip: Use Vinegar to Give Wood a Weathered Look
A weathered finish on a beloved table or chair chronicles the story of a bygone era. But while authentic antique piec...
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Genius! Remix Your Backsplash with Old CDs
Remember when your biggest problem was keeping your favorite CD from skipping? Times were simpler before iPhones, Net...
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Quick Tip: Use a Painting Tool for Easier Picture Hanging
It's no easy feat to master the art of hanging a picture on the wall.  Between marking the hole, hammering the nail, ...
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3 Quick and Clever Ways to Eliminate Dust
Dusting used to mean lazily moving about the house with an old T-shirt and furniture polish in hand, loathing the amo...
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Genius! Turn a Plastic Fork into a Tiny Screwdriver
Instructables user deluges, a self-described amateur tinkerer, has nothing against custom screws—just the added cost ...
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Quick Tip: Fix Wood Scratches with This Favorite Snack
An unsightly scratch in your new hardwood floors—or worse, the expensive mahogany table you splurged on in a recent d...
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DIY Kids: Make an Easy A-Frame Tent
Summer vacation is all about fun: swimming pools, later bedtimes, and epic blanket forts. With all the lively activit...
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Genius! Never Lose Your Keys Again with This Simple DIY
Tired of the frenzied search for your keys before leaving for work? You're not the only one. According to the Wall St...
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Quick Tip: Keeping Ants Out of Your Sandbox
Ants are one of those annoying pests that seem to pop up everywhere they're unwanted during the summer—picnics, kitch...
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Genius! Make a Mini Greenhouse with Dollar-Store Photo Frames
Sure, your indoor plants might be doing just fine on their own with your current watering schedule and carefully sele...
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Quick Tip: Plant Your Garden in... Diapers?
Yes, we’re just as shocked as you! But anyone who lives in an area that’s incredibly dry or has serious water restric...
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Genius! The Smartphone Speaker You Already Have in Your Kitchen
Everyone wants to be a DJ, but no one wants to buy the equipment—let alone figure out how to use it. This life hack w...
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DIY Lite: Turn Digital Photos into Wooden Coasters
Whether you're returning from a 12-day vacation on foreign soil or have just wrapped up a weekend by the pool with th...
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Genius! Turn Your Phone into a Movie Projector
Having a TV is great—except when you're not using it. Then the box just sits in your living room, idle and unappealin...
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Quick Tip: Neutralize Paint Fumes with an Onion
Few things in life are guaranteed. That short list includes death, taxes, and the fact that freshly painted rooms wil...
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Genius! A Space-Smart Drying Rack Hack
Americans may not agree on political issues, reality television, or eating their vegetables, but we do share one sent...
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Buy or DIY: 10 Room Dividers to Remake Your Space
Practical, flexible, and customizable, the room divider is one of the unsung heroes of the home design toolkit. An attractive version can add textural interest to...
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Quick Tip: Put Chalk in Your Toolbox to Prevent Rust
It's a great feeling to have all of your tried-and-true tools in one handy toolbox, but that feeling can quickly be e...
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Is Your Home Ready for Rain?
Can rain really damage your home? Well, that depends on the storm and on whether or not you're ready for it. One inch...
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DIY Lite: A Wooden Bench That Anyone Can Build
As summer approaches, the growing number of sunny hours each day means that we have more time to spend out in the yar...
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Genius! DIY a Custom, Collapsible Sunshade
Some days, hanging out under an awning is the closest we can get to enjoying the breeze underneath a shady beach umbr...
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This 1 Clever Product Turns Anything into a Table
Got an old wood plank, used door, or slab of countertop sitting around? Well, then you're halfway to a truly one-of-a...
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IKEA Wants You to Help Design Tomorrow's Kitchen
Too little storage, not enough chairs? For any sort of home furnishings conundrum, IKEA has the answers. But when it ...
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Genius! This DIY Bottle Opener Catches Caps, Too
Hosting a summer party for family and friends is hardly a small task. Manning the grill, scrambling to set up seating...
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Quick Tip: The Key to Preserving Paint Rollers
Painting a room can be quite the process: choosing your paint color, covering all of your furniture, prepping every s...
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DIY Kids: Make Your Own Critter Keeper
'Tis the season when all the creepy, crawly, and buzzy things are waking up and starting to stir. The same goes for m...
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Genius! Grow a Garden on a Curtain Rod
"My mom once said she could only keep so many things alive at once," writes Jill Kurtz, photographer, architect, and ...
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Genius! There's a Secret Hiding Behind This DIY Photo Frame
By the early 1990s, most middle-class homes had a VCR. Video rental stores sprouted up like dandelions, taking over s...
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INFOGRAPHIC: Your Everything Guide to Painting Prep
Few home improvement projects are as transformative as a fresh coat of paint. In fact, painting your own house—whethe...
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Genius! Turn Your Watermelon into a Drink Dispenser
There's more than one way to slice a watermelon, and more than one thing to do with it once you do! Sure, you can sna...
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Install Wood Paneling with Peel-and-Stick Ease
Want wood paneling without the hassle of nailing lumber to the walls? Meet Stikwood, the first peel-and-stick solid w...
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Hire the Home Help You Need—Instantly
Today, Americans buy everything from groceries to furniture over the Internet without thinking twice. But what's true...
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Genius! Prop Up a Pallet for Instant Shed Organization
Among shots of cats napping on windowsills and family vacations, there's a wealth of DIY ideas on Flickr. This one, s...
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Meet the Women Who Are Changing the Face of Fine Furniture
Stephanie Beamer, Crystal Ellis, and Hillary Petrie are the founders of Egg Collective, a furniture design firm that'...
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Get Instant Alerts Whenever Leaks Threaten Your Home
With the exception of fire, water poses the greatest threat to our homes, whether it's a slow-and-steady leak or a su...
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Genius! Instant DIY Hammock
We're always choosing between saving time and saving money. So when a DIY comes along that's both quick and inexpensi...
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Quick Tip: Removing Coffee Stains from Carpet
It's not what you feared. Spilling coffee on the carpet doesn't have to mean living with an eyesore until you replace...
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Is This One App Going to Change DIY Forever?
Even if you're a veteran do-it-yourselfer and hip to the many different avenues for project research available on the...
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Genius! Make a Candle with a Stick of Butter
Is it a MacGyver-style party trick or a practical skill for managing power-outtage emergencies? We're not positive, b...
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Behind the Scenes of 5 Celebs' "New" Old Homes
Stars, they’re just like us! When on the hunt for real estate, celebrities enjoy jaw-droppingly large budgets, sure, ...
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INFOGRAPHIC: Get a Head Start on a Healthy Lawn
After a cold and blustery winter, homeowners are geared up and ready to get back outside. First on many to-do lists i...
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How To: Mix Sand with Paint for Non-Slip Surfaces
Slippery when wet! Those words of caution may be most familiar in the context of hospital and airport floors, but the...
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This Company Makes Furniture with Salvaged Railroad Materials
As the owner of a railroad contracting and maintenance firm, John Hendrick oversaw a crew responsible for, among othe...
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Scout: A Next-Generation Home Security System
Joining the ranks of smart-home gadgets and gizmos is Scout, a completely wireless, internet-connected home security ...
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Genius! Boards and Brackets Create a Window Haven
Last year, Tiffany left her roomy rental house for a compact apartment closer to downtown. Though ideally located, th...
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Genius! VCR Turned Automatic Pet Feeder
Remember back when successfully programming the VCR felt like a minor triumph? Now imagine how James Larssen of Make ...
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Built-In USB Ports Redefine the Wall Socket
In 2015, people are as likely to charge a digital device as they are to plug in a table lamp or a hair dryer. But whi...
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This Company Makes Furniture from Salvaged Fire Hose
Every single month, tons of fire hose reaches the end of its useful life and must be disposed of. That's when Oakland...
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Quick Tip: Clean Windows with Coffee Filters
Everyone dreads at least one household chore. Many people's least favorite is cleaning the windows. Too important to ...
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House Envy: A Cantilevering Creekside Retreat
In California wine country, a house-hunting couple struck upon a cozy, cedar-shingled cabin. Encompassing 960 square ...
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Now You Need Only 1 Remote—Your Cell Phone
Though a half dozen remote controls clutter your coffee table at any given time, doesn't it always seem like the one ...
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Genius! DIY Portable Fire Pit
Karen loves fires—summer bonfires, barbecues, and winter evenings spent 'round the living room hearth. Even so, she'd...
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From the Hudson Valley, Furniture with a Sense of Place
Jonah Meyer and Tara De Lisio are partners in marriage—and partners in business. In their first venture together, the...
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House Envy: Outpost in the Idaho Desert
In the Idaho desert, the Outpost sits at the end of a half-mile-long driveway. Designed by architect Tom Kundig, the ...
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The World's First and Only $99 Light Bulb
Light bulbs didn't change for decades—arguably for a full century. But then, somewhat all of a sudden, a confluence o...
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New Kits Make DIY Profitable for Some, Foolproof for All
Like so many other do-it-yourself enthusiasts, Nicole Shariat Farb frequently browsed blogs and social media sites, a...
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Danish Modern Furniture Stars in a New Drama from BoConcept
We're stunned by the latest marketing campaign let loose by BoConcept. In the past, we've always appreciated BoConcep...
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A Forgotten Forest Lies at the Bottom of a Lake in Maine
In remote Millinocket, ME, there are as many as 1 million cords of wood resting at the bottom of Quakish Lake. Since ...
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Quick Tip: Scrub Your Tub with... Grapefruit?
[bobsays_inset] There are plenty of housekeeping jobs that people put off. And as opposed to a task like clearing the...
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Cabin of the Week: The Shack at Hinkle Farm
Perched on South Fork Mountain in West Virginia, deep within a 27-acre site you can only reach on foot or with an off...
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Is Your Tape Measure Obsolete? Maybe.
The measuring tape: It's a tool of unobjectionable simplicity, no more or less complicated than it needs to be—for so...
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Meet the World's First Luxury Tiny House
Over the past several years, the tiny house movement has only gained momentum, with increasing numbers of homeowners ...
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Quick Tip: Make Your Candles Last Longer
To coax a candle into burning more slowly so that you can enjoy it for a longer period of time, try out one or all of...
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Would You Buy a Mattress on the Internet?
It would be an exaggeration to state that mattress shopping provokes as much stress as, say, losing your job or getti...
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How To: Remove Paint from EVERYTHING
Nothing brightens up a room like a fresh coat of paint—but the unfortunate side effects of many painting projects are spills and splatters. Even the most careful ...
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Cabin of the Week: The Floating Farmhouse
In 2002, Tom Givone went out on a limb. The former advertising copywriter decided to purchase and resuscitate a 19th-...
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How To: Remove Wallpaper Glue
Removing wallpaper is, in a word, laborious. The process takes a great deal of energy and time. And lo and behold, ev...
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Quick Tip: Clean a Rug with Snow
[bobsays_inset]Before hauling your rug outside on a cold day after a snowstorm, first vacuum its front and back. Alte...
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7 House Sounds You Never Want to Ignore
Homes make strange noises on a regular basis, from groaning and creaking to popping and scratching. As a homeowner, you should be able to tell whether that noise ...
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Big Chill's Cutting-Edge, Retro-Styled Appliances
How did Big Chill end up manufacturing cutting-edge new kitchen appliances that look, in the best way possible, 60 ye...
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9 DIY Ways to Redo Your Wall—Without Paint
The walls of our homes have the power to speak volumes about our lives. Filled walls produce a lived-in look packed with personality, while blank walls suggest th...
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The 13 Painting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes
Paint is the easiest way to transform a room, yet it’s surprisingly easy to muck up your project with a few silly mistakes. The next time you pick up a paintbrush...
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DEWALT Inspection Camera Gives You X-Ray Vision—Almost
It's the next best thing to X-ray vision. With a mini camera fitted to the end of a flexible, three-foot-long cable, ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Troubleshooting Tips for Motion Sensor Lights
Motion sensor lights are a must for any home security system, but sometimes they get out of whack, turning on and off...
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10 Classic Ways to Brighten a Dark Room
Bringing light to a dark room will immediately make it more appealing. If making structural changes like adding windows, doors or skylights just isn’t in the card...
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Bob Vila Radio: How to Remove Paint Spots from Wood Floors
When's the best time to remove paint spots from wooden floors? Right after the paint hits the floor, of course! But w...
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The Best Paint Colors for Low-Light Rooms
Choosing the best paint color for a room is tricky enough, requiring at the very least putting paint swatches up on the walls for a few days to make certain you k...
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INFOGRAPHIC: The Terrifying Truth About Termites
What's keeping you up at night? Basement flooding? Bathroom mold? What about termites?It's possible that among the ma...
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How To: Paint a Deck (From Preparation to Restoration)
Q. First-time deck painter here. I have prepared my deck as well as possible, scraping away old paint and sanding the...
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Quick Tip: Engineered I-Beams
 To save time and money on your next building project, one option is to use engineered I-beams.  Made from engineered...
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How To: Make a Clapboard Sunburst
 Here's an ornamental way to use clapboard. Create a sunburst on a gable end. Draw out your design on a template. Cut...
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Quick Tip: Trim Protection Tape
 Protecting woodwork before you paint (or do other work) around it will save you time and money later. Trim protectio...
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Quick Tip: Cement Board
 If you're remodeling or adding a bathroom, use cement board as an underlayment. A bit of hardened mortar is sandwich...
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Bob Vila Radio: Fixing Chipped Stove Enamel
There’s something so crisp and clean about a kitchen with a traditional, white porcelain enamel stove. But sometimes ...
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How To: Strip Paint from Antique Woodwork
 If you have an old house, some paint stripping projects require extra care. Antique woodwork can include applied det...
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Quick Tip: Rubber Slate Roofing
 Rubber slate can be a good choice when re-roofing a Victorian. Made from the same material as car bumpers, rubber sl...
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Quick Tip: Stormproofing Your Roof
 Loss of the roofing causes the greatest amount of damage from hurricanes. Construction techniques have been develope...
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How To: Inlay Sheet Vinyl Flooring
 Here's how to inlay sheet vinyl flooring for a designer look.  Measure your design on the floor with chalk lines. Se...
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Quick Tip: Framing with Engineered Wood
 Framing a house using engineered wood has many advantages.  Glue-laminated beams are stronger than their conventiona...
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How To: Install an Exposed Aggregate Concrete Finish
 Here's a way to create a decorative textured finish for a cement surface. Once your cement is poured and flowed out,...
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Quick Tip: Structural Insulated Panels
 Building with structural insulated panels is becoming a popular way to save construction time and energy dollars. Co...
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How To: Make Decorative Cuts with Your Jigsaw
 Here's how to cut a decorative design out of the middle of a board. After choosing your design and carefully marking...
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Quick Tip: No-Coat Drywall Corners
 If you've ever done drywall work, you know the corners are the really tricky part.  These no-coat drywall corners ar...
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How To: Spackle Exterior Siding
 When you're repainting your house, here's how to restore that smooth, original finish. After you've removed all loos...
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Quick Tip: Shingling a Roof
 Here is a tip you can use to shingle your own roof. Make a starter course at the edge of the eave, laying the shingl...
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How To: Splatter-Paint Your Floor
 Here's an inexpensive and creative way to decorate a floor. Roll on a coat of deck enamel (the color of your choice)...
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Quick Tip: Safety Glasses
 Contemporary safety glasses are much improved. They offer comfort and clear vision as well as protection from flying...
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How To: Install a Sink Shut-Off Valve
 Here's how to install a hot or cold water shut-off valve under your sink.  Apply plumbing sealant to the shut-off th...
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Quick Tip: Joist Hangers
 When hanging floor joists, use joist hangers to make building a floor deck simpler.  Place hangers every 16 inches o...
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How To: Make a Paint Pail
 Most professionals paint from a pail rather than a can. Painting out of a can is messy, causing rim buildup and drip...
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Quick Tip: Protective Floor Covering
 Even the simplest home improvement projects can be messy. Be sure to protect your floors while you work. There's a w...
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How To: Bevel a Fence Post
 Here's how to dress up a fence post with a beveled cap. It's easy to do with a radial arm saw. Set the blade at a 45...
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Quick Tip: Priming Clapboards
 When applying clapboards as exterior siding to your home, it's a good idea to prime both sides of the clapboards bef...
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How To: Laminate Kitchen Countertops
 I've got some tips for you on how to laminate countertops in your kitchen. Roll on contact cement and allow it to se...
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Quick Tip: Exterior Painting Preparation
 An exterior paint job is only as good as the prep you do first.  Make sure to scrape and sand the surface to remove ...
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How To: Cut Vinyl Flooring
It's easier to cut vinyl flooring to the exact shape and size of your room when you make a template first. Staple she...
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Quick Tip: Cranes
 When doing an attic or a third-floor renovation, consider using a crane for the heavy materials. For about $500 a da...
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How To: Drill a Clean Hole
Here's how to drill a hole when you need to see both sides of your work. Drill on the front side of the board until t...
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Quick Tip: Door Hanging
 Here's some tips for easier door hanging. For this type of door, measure five inches from the top of the door to the...
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How To: Scribe Tile
 Here's how to scribe a floor tile to fit around an uneven edge. Set the closest full tile in place, then use another...
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Quick Tip: Circular Saw Safety
 Here's some important safety tips to remember when you're using a circular saw. Remove jewelry and loose clothing fi...
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How To: Paint Over Stain
 You can paint over existing interior wood finishes, if you take the proper steps first. Here's how. To paint over a ...
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Quick Tip: Drain Water Heat Recovery
 Here's a great device for keeping your home energy dollars from going down the drain. A drain water heat recovery de...
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How To: Install a Sill Plate
 Here's how to properly install a sill plate on top of a foundation wall. Sink anchor bolts into your foundation ever...
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Quick Tip: Metal Roofing Shingles
 Metal roofs have long been associated with agricultural and industrial use, but these days, new metal roofing system...
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How To: Prevent Peeling Exterior Paint
 Here's how to keep the exterior paint from peeling off your house, if you live in a damp climate. Using a breathable...
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Quick Tip: Bench Dogs
 A bench dog is a great tool for any woodworker's shop.  Bench dogs are often used in pairs, with one pair set into a...
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How To: Make a Wood Window Valance
 A decorative wood valance adds charm to your house. You can make one yourself. Here's how. Copy a pattern, or create...
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Quick Tip: Ornamental Plaster Reproductions
 The lost art of Victorian plaster detailing is making a comeback in a new form. Modern manufacturers are finding way...
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How To: Use a Slotted Screwdriver
 Make sure that when you're using a slotted screwdriver, you're not doing it the hard way. Here's how. Be sure you're...
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How to Install a Vinyl Window
Learning how to install a vinyl window is something most DIYers can do, and it can save them a lot of money. For star...
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Quick Tip: Taping Drywall Joints
 Here's a helpful tip for getting really smooth drywall seam. After you've laid the tape in a four-inch bed of joint ...
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How to Shim a Door
Shimming a door frame is a skill anyone planning to install a new door into a rough opening should know. When carpent...
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Quick Tip: Avoiding Paint Spills and Splatters
 Make neater work of your next touch-up project. Applying paint from a quart can will get messy, especially if you're...
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How To: Snap a Chalk Line
Using a chalk line is a quick way to give yourself a straight line as a building guide. Here's how. Find the endpoint...
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Quick Tip: Pliers
 Pliers are a relatively modern invention, and it's hard to imagine what people did without them. There are a dozen o...
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How To: Paint Home Exteriors with a Sprayer
 Next time you tackle a big exterior paint job, try using a power sprayer. Start at the bottom and work your way up, ...
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Quick Tip: Fire Extinguishers
 Whether you live in a palace or a studio apartment, you gotta have a fire extinguisher. While they come types A, B, ...
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Quick Tip: Jigsaws
  For a saw that can handle the curves, look for a good saber saw. Sometimes called a jigsaw, it has a small blade th...
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How to Tile a Bathroom Wall
When it comes to durable bathroom materials, few surpass the utility and great looks of tile. While tiles are frequen...
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Quick Tip: Installing Wood Shingle Siding
 Wood shingle siding installation is a breeze, but keeping courses straight is tough. If you want to shingle the side...
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How To: Install Roof Flashing
 Flashing is a good way of preventing water from entering a dwelling at the point where the roof meets the walls. To ...
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What Would Bob Do? Dealing with Bulging Drywall Seams
Q: Many of the drywall seams on my 40-year-old house are bulging. It doesn't appear as if the joint tape is pulling a...
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Quick Tip: Treating Termites and Preventing Rodents
 Termites and other pests can cause expensive damage. Here's what to look for.  The sawdust-like accumulations of fra...
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How To: Install Vinyl Siding
 Here are some things to remember when you install vinyl siding on your home.  First of all, you hang vinyl siding, s...
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Quick Tip: Tin Snips
 Don't wreck a good pair of scissors trying to cut metal. You need a good pair of tin snips. Tin snips look and work ...
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How To: Install a Tongue-and-Groove Ceiling
 Here's a way to install a tongue-and-groove ceiling without damaging the wood. Set a board in place. Then with a scr...
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Quick Tip: Hanging Kitchen Cabinets
 Here are some things to think about when you want to hang kitchen cabinets. Start by hanging your upper cabinets so ...
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How To: Lay a Subfloor
 Here's how to lay a no-squeak subfloor. Apply a generous bead of panel adhesive to the tops of your floor joists. La...
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Quick Tip: Installing Blown-In Cellulose Insulation
 If you need to insulate your attic, blowing in cellulose insulation is an easy job you can do yourself by renting a ...
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How To: Install a Pre-Hung Door
 Here's a tip on how to install a pre-hung door. First, lift the door into place, then be sure it's plumb. Always use...
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Quick Tip: Low-VOC Paints
 Low-VOC paints are a safe and efficient option for your next project. Paints with low VOCs, or volatile organic comp...
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How To: Make a Biscuit Joint
 Here's a way to join two pieces of wood without visible hardware or nails by using oval wooden biscuits.  With a bis...
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Quick Tip: Propane Torches
 A propane torch is portable, inexpensive, and just about indispensable for many household chores. A valve controls t...
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How To: Install a Toilet
 If you're updating the bathroom, you'll need to know how to install a toilet. Apply a new wax seal over the waste fl...
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Quick Tip: Painting Masonry
Here are some things to keep in mind when you're painting masonry. Like any other surface, masonry needs to be prepar...
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How To: Use a Phillips-Head Screwdriver
 When you're using a Phillips-head screwdriver, make sure that you're not doing it the hard way. Here's how. Be sure ...
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Quick Tip: Water Softeners
 If hard water is a problem in your house, you might want to look into getting a water softener. The scale in your wa...
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How To: Sponge Paint
 A decorative paint finish is a good way to customize an interior in only a short time. Use a latex glaze mixed to th...
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Quick Tip: Workshop Dollies
 Here's how to save your aching back next time you have to move something heavy in the workshop. A workshop dolly is ...
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How To: Hang Wallpaper
 Here's how to get a professional look when you hanging wallpaper.  After you line up your pattern, overlap the top a...
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Quick Tip: Ball-Peen Hammers
 For jobs that require a hammer with a little more heft than a claw hammer, try a ball-peen hammer, sometimes called ...
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How To: Use a Plumb Bob
 Professional builders use a plumb bob to make sure their walls are vertical. Here's how. Measure two inches away fro...
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Quick Tip: Hanging Double Doors
 The tricky part of hanging double doors is that they have to meet in the middle. After hanging each door, check to s...
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How To: Find Studs
 Whether you're hanging shelves or breaking through a wall, you've got to know where to find the wall studs. There ar...
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Quick Tip: Wood Glues
 There are three kinds of adhesives that work best on wood. Polyvinyl resin glue, or white glue, works for china, pap...
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How To: Remove Exterior Paint with a Pressure Washer
 Before you repaint your house, you have to remove all loose and peeling paint. A pressure washer makes the job go fa...
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Quick Tip: Zero-Clearance Fireplaces
 If you like fireplaces but your home doesn't have one, a zero-clearance fireplace could be for you.  It can be set o...
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How To: Make a Story Pole
 When marking off several measurements of the same size, it's best to make yourself a guide. We call this a story pol...
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Quick Tip: Embossed Wallpaper
 There's a revival of the 19th-century embossed wallcoverings Anaglypta and Lincrusta. Anaglypta is a heavy embossed ...
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How To: Stain Wood Shingle Siding
 Here is a helpful tip if you are thinking of staining some cedar shingles.  To protect new shingles, apply a penetra...
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Quick Tip: Using a Chisel
 A chisel is one of the most useful tools in the workshop, but it's important to know how to use it. For example, aft...
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How To: Repair Plaster Walls
 If you have an old house with holes in the plaster, here's a quick way to patch them.  Apply your base coat (or brow...
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Quick Tip: Using a Level
 Checking your work for level and plumb is crucial. Here's how to select and use the right tool for the job. I recomm...
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How To: Make Cabinet Doors
 Here's how to dress up an old kitchen with new cabinet doors. Use a fine-grade plywood, such as birch, for the new d...
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Quick Tip: Cultured Marble
 For an elegant look in your bathroom, try using cultured marble.  It's easy to work with, because it's made of real ...
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How To: Measure Concrete
 If you're pouring a concrete foundation, how do you figure out how much concrete you'll need? There's a pretty simpl...
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Quick Tips: Engineered Wood Siding
For exterior trim work and siding, pre-engineered lumber has several key features that make it a practical option. It...
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How To: Use Wood Plugs
 Give your carpentry work that professional look by concealing nails or screws with wooden plugs. Use a dowel bit to ...
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Quick Tip: Using Reclaimed Brick
 In a restoration project, reusing the original brick is a great idea. Water damage and neglect can destroy the morta...
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How To: Reclaim Wood Flooring
 When you're renovating, save and recycle old hardwood floorboards for patching and repairing. Using a pry bar at eac...
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Quick Tips: Fireplace Doors
 You can lose a lot of heat through your chimney, even with the damper closed. Installing fireplace doors is a great ...
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How To: Rag Paint
 Here's a way you can get a designer look for your painted walls. With a roller, apply an oil paint glaze over an alr...
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Quick Tips: Improving Indoor Air Quality
 The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that indoor air pollution is often much higher than outdoors. Here ar...
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How To: Detect Termite Damage
 Here's how you can tell if your house has termite damage. First, examine obvious areas of wood rot for termites. Som...
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Quick Tip: Using a Wallpaper Pasting Machine
 If you have to hang a lot of wallpaper, here's a time-saving way to apply paste. Try a manually operated wallpaper p...
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How To: Bend Drywall
 Here's a tip on how to throw a curve with drywall. The trick is to use two sheets of quarter-inch drywall instead of...
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Quick Tip: Installing Beadboard Wainscoting
 To achieve a Victorian look on an interior wall, try a beadboard wainscot.  You can buy beadboard at your local lumb...
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How To: Stencil a Wall
 You can hand-paint your own stenciled border. Use painter's tape to mark off straight edges; you'll find the tape pr...
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Quick Tip: Architectural Salvage Yards
 Salvage yards have always been a great place to find old house parts. These can be recycled as art objects or as rep...
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How To: Build a Winding Staircase
 If space is a consideration in your remodeling project, you might want to consider building a winding staircase.  Yo...
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Quick Tips: Staple Guns
 For a lot of jobs around the house, using a staple can be a lot faster and easier than banging tacks or nails. The m...
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How To: Make Homemade Clamps
 Here's an easy way to improvise when you're running out of clamps around the woodworking shop.  After spreading glue...
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Quick Tip: Custom Moldings
 Dress up the rooms in your house with a variety of custom moldings.  These moldings are available in many historic p...
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How To: Make a Mosaic Countertop
 Here's a unique way to use ceramic tile for a very unusual countertop. Just break up the tiles into random pieces, u...
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Quick Tip: Tool Belts
 Sometimes it's simple tricks that make home improvement easier and safer. Tool belts are always a good idea, especia...
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How To: Re-Glaze a Single-Pane Window
 Here's how to re-glaze those old, broken window panes. First, remove the old glazing compound with a propane torch a...
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Quick Tip: Rumford Fireplaces
 Fireplaces are a nice feature in any home. Count Rumford fireplaces, known for their heat efficiency, are tall and s...
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How To: Join Copper Pipe
 Here is the best way of joining copper pipe yourself. First, use fine sandpaper to clean the inside of the fittings ...
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Quick Tip: Butcher Block
 A butcher block table can help make your kitchen much more efficient. Built to take a beating, butcher block doubles...
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How To: Make a Stone Walkway
 Here are some tips on how to make a stone walkway.  After marking the walkway with string, the first step is to lay ...
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Quick Tip: Applying Primer
 To get the best color performance from your paint, use a tinted primer first. Usually available in three shades, gra...
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How To: Build a Cement Block Wall
 Here's how to lay out a cement block wall yourself. Mix two parts masonry cement with one part sand, and add just en...
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Quick Tip: Fixing Squeaky Floors
 Here's how to stop squeaks in an old house with original floors you'd rather not replace. Preservationists use an ac...
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How To: Install European Hinges
 To hang heavy cabinet doors and conceal the hardware, use mortise European-style hinges.  Use a 35-millimeter drill ...
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Quick Tip: Tubular Skylights
 Tubular skylights are a great way to bring sunlight into underlit rooms. The adjustable design of these skylights al...
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How To: Apply Stucco
 Here are the steps professionals follow to apply a stucco finish. After installing a 15-pound felt moisture barrier ...
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Quick Tip: Steel Wool
 For tough jobs like removing rust or preparing surfaces for paint or varnish, there's nothing like steel wool. It's ...
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How To: Pour a Concrete Walkway
 Keep these things in mind when pouring a DIY concrete walkway. Set a level frame with one-by-four lumber. Lay plasti...
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Quick Tip: Installing Crown Molding
 You can dress up a room by installing crown molding along the ceiling. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Always pl...
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How To: Make New Wood Look Old
 Here are some tips on how to distress wood, making new lumber look old. First, trim off machined edges with a hatche...
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Quick Tip: Prepping Wood for Paint
 Here are some steps to follow when preparing new wood for painting.  First, countersink any finish nails. Then fill ...
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How To: Snake Wire
 Anyone can snake wire in a wall between floors. Here's how.  From a hole in the floor below, push a wire snake with ...
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Quick Tip: Laying a Basement Subfloor
 Here's how to get a warm, dry basement floor over a concrete slab when converting your basement into living space. L...
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How To: Drill Through Tile
 Here's how to avoid cracking a tile surface when you need to drill a hole. Mark your point, then gently score the ti...
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Quick Tip: Repairing Floorboards
 Here's a way to save time and energy when repairing floorboards. Instead of drilling and chiseling damaged floorboar...
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How To: Paint Brick
 Painting bricks requires some special considerations. Wet down the surface first to ensure better paint adhesion. Us...
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Quick Tip: Installing Clapboard Siding
 When installing clapboard siding, it's important to overlap all joints. Here's a way to get started that will ensure...
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How To: Remove Crayon Stains
 If you have kids, you know that crayons can cause some serious damage to any paint job. Here's how to tackle tough c...
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Quick Tip: Glass Block Walls
 Glass block walls are a great design feature that let extra sunlight into any room in your home while still providin...
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How To: Remove Plaster
 Here's how to remove old plaster when starting a remodeling project.  Have professionals remove any old electrical c...
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Quick Tip: Mold Prevention
 Because today's new houses are built to allow less air infiltration than older homes, mold growth has become a conce...
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How To: Pull Nails
 This wooden-handled hammer may look strong enough to pull any nail but because the grain of the wood is actually wea...
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Quick Tip: Ground Fault Interrupters
 Here's a home improvement tip everyone should know. Ground fault interrupters, or GFIs, are electrical outlets desig...
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How To: Replace Storm Windows
 It's easy to replace old storm windows. Here's how. Loosen all screws and pull the old storm window away from the wi...
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Quick Tip: Felling a Small Tree
 Here's a helpful tip you can use when you need to cut down a small tree. Make sure you wear proper safety gear and m...
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How To: Install Recessed Lighting
 Recessed lighting fixtures have become very popular these days.  They have to be roughed in. Here's how to install o...
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Quick Tip: Sawdust Grout
 It can be easy to patch cracks in an old wood floor or grout a new wood block floor. Here's how. First, make a mixtu...
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How To: Install a Wood Block Floor
 For a very unusual floor finish, you might want to try wood blocks.  Lay out your floor the way you would any cerami...
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Quick Tip: Home Lightning Protection Systems
 Installing a lightning protection system is not a do-it-yourself project, but it's very important in protecting your...
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How To: Clean Gutters with a Wet/Dry Vac
 A wet-dry vac is a great tool to have—and not just for cleaning up the workshop. They come in handy for those tediou...
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Quick Tip: Metal Roofing
 When roofing your house, consider using a metal roof. Available in a variety of colors and styles, metal roofing is ...
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How To: Wallpaper a Corner
 If you've ever hung your own wallpaper, you'll know that no corner is ever perfect. Here's how to solve that problem...
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Quick Tip: Carpet Recycling
 Did you know that if it's made of nylon 6, your old carpet can be recycled? Over 200 million pounds of old carpet is...
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How To: Work with Chemical Paint Stripper
 Where stripping paint is concerned, there's just no easy way out.  Here are some tips. Cover the floor under your wo...
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Quick Tip: Drywall vs. Blueboard
 When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blueboard. Drywall panels are covered with pape...
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How To: Apply Hot Mop Tar
 Hot mop tar is a good way to waterproof projects like an indoor planter. Here's how it's applied. After it's heated ...
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Quick Tip: Woodgraining
 Woodgraining is an artist's technique for creating the look of fine woods like mahogany. After two coats of a base c...
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How To: Use a Caulking Gun
 Here's how to get professional results when using a caulking gun. Caulking guns aren't expensive, so don't skimp her...
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How To: Lay a Dry Stone Patio
 You can lay a stone patio yourself. Here's how. Prepare a base of sand or stone dust to provide good drainage in a l...
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Quick Tip: Wooden Fences
 Wooden fences are a terrific finishing touch. They give a home privacy and character. They surround and define your ...
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How To: Plant a Shrub
 Here's how to properly plant a new shrub around your house. Mix one part peat moss with two parts top soil for high ...
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How To: Refinish Rusty Patio Furniture
 Don't throw out that rusty garden furniture. Restoring it can be a great weekend project. Use a wire brush or sandpa...
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Quick Tip: House Hunting
 If you're house hunting, here are some things to keep in mind on your walk-through. Check for structural integrity. ...
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How To: Store Paint
 Take the guesswork out of storing paint leftovers. Before you replace the lid, mark the level of the paint remaining...
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Quick Tip: Home Fire Sprinkler Systems
 These days, more new homes are being built with sprinkler systems. Here's how they work.  Sprinkler pipes are hooked...
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How to Build Scaffolding (and When It's a Better Idea Than Using a Ladder)
Painting a home’s exterior, installing new siding, and putting up new gutters are just a few of the projects that req...
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Quick Tip: Using Metal Studs
 If your home improvement project calls for new walls, you might want to consider metal studs.  They fit together lik...
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How To: Lay Brick
 Here are a few tips on laying your own bricks. Prepare a mortar mix that is neither too firm and nor too runny. Spre...
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How to Install Shutters
While giving the exterior of your home a new paint job or fresh siding may not be in the budget, one affordable optio...
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How To: Replace Damaged Tile
 Here's a way to replace damaged ceramic tile.  Remove the grout with a grout saw. Crack the tile with a hammer and c...
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Quick Tip: Reclaimed Wood Floors
 Reclaimed wood floors give new life to old timbers. Made from lumber recycled from demolished buildings, heart pine,...
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How To: Install Gutter Flashing
 Here's a tip on how to increase the life of old wooden gutters. The first step is to lay a new rubber liner along th...
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How To: Restore Brass Hardware
 Here's how to restore the missing brass hardware from an antique door.  The "ghost" image of original brass hardware...
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How To: Replace an Electrical Outlet
 If you have an old house with dated electrical outlets, you know they weren't designed to meet the demands of today'...
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How To: Identify a Bearing Wall
 There are two kinds of walls: bearing walls and non-bearing walls.  You can do anything you like to a non-bearing wa...
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How To: Paint EVERYTHING
Make the most of your project, whether you're planning to paint wrought iron or wood flooring, concrete or curtains.
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Bob Vila Radio: Carpet Wrinkles
Wrinkles in wall-to-wall carpet don't just look bad, they can be a tripping hazard. They'll also wear out first, so t...
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House Envy: A Glimpse of the Spencertown Residence
Spencertown, NY, is a church and a post office and a general store. It's actually not even a town; it's a hamlet. New...
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Bob Vila Radio: Fixing a Slow Drain
Grace tweets, “The bathroom sink in my 1890s Victorian is draining really slowly. What’s the best way to get things f...
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Painting Tools and Materials
In addition to top-quality application equipment, you may need some of the painting tools and painting materials list...
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