America may have 50 states now, but a little less than 250 years ago it consisted of just 13 colonies. Even today, there are some amazing homes built during the colonial period that still stand proudly. Despite war, neglect, and the passage of time, these homes serve as a reminder of the early settlers from countries throughout Europe who influenced the course of United States history.
You may think you keep a clean kitchen, but all of those nooks, crannies, and corners are perfect hiding places for bacteria and other nasty bugs. Even some seemingly innocuous items—dish towels, table linens, and doorknobs—may be harboring dangerous viruses that could make you and your family sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 6 Americans gets sick every year after consuming contaminated food or beverages. With more than 250 varieties, food-borne illnesses are a common and costly public health problem that can cause everything from mild stomach upset to potentially fatal disorders. Keep your family safe by developing good kitchen habits, including these 9 smart food prep, cleaning, and cooking practices, and be grateful that your kitchen isn't in line for a visit from the Board of Health.
Faucets, towel bars, shower heads, hinges—chrome shows up all over the house, especially in the bathroom. Try some of these cleaning methods to keep your chrome gleaming and blemish-free.
With a steady stream of feathered friends visiting your backyard, every breakfast can become a bird-watching bonanza—from the comfort of your own home! Here, an avian conservationist offers 5 smart ideas for encouraging birds to hang out at your place this season.
A little know-how goes a long way when it comes to painting. These simple tips will save you headaches and help you achieve professional results.
Rely on this info to keep your home safe from flames and your defenses up to date.
Extra-small abodes—which can be had for a song—are becoming a big deal all across America. A builder and his wife who have embraced the movement offer advice on downsizing your load and designing your miniature dream house.
Manufactured housing has always been an affordable alternative to site-built homes. Older models especially can be scooped up at a reasonable price, providing prospective buyers a relatively low-stress pathway to homeownership. Some lucky, resourceful owners of modestly priced manufactured homes opt for remodeling their new-to-them residences on their own. They rebuild and restyle their factory-assembled interiors from the chassis up, often chronicling their remodeling recipes—a blend of aesthetics, power tool prowess, ingenuity, and secondhand shopping savvy—on their blogs, while loyal readers eagerly await each new reveal. Crystal Adkins, editor at Mobile Home Living, covers lots of DIY mobile home remodeling projects on her site. She often concludes that had she not told her readers that these are manufactured homes, they never would have known. Is she right? Take a look at a few choice mobile home makeovers and judge for yourself.
Learn about a faster, easier, and more flexible solution for old, poorly performing windows.
While the thought of destroying a hardcover tome might make some book lovers squirm, there does come a time when an old, musty, or damaged book may have outlived its usefulness. While there's no sense in destroying truly rare and valuable books, for the run-of-the-mill old book, there are many ways to repurpose it. Here are just a handful of ideas.
Learn how to join copper pipe with a soldered sweat fitting.
Without disturbing the surrounding wall or floor installation, you can easily replace one or a few tiles that have chipped, cracked, or broken.
If you've ever worked with ceramic tile, you would find it easy to install a wood block floor, achieving a look seldom seen in homes today.
Saying “goodbye” to your old backsplash won’t be difficult if you install one of these temporary yet timeless wall treatments in your kitchen.
While some home improvement and maintenance projects require professional help, others are easy enough to do yourself. But most homeowners can’t get through a DIY job without some advice and guidance—which, unfortunately, a contractor won’t give you for free. Don't worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are 11 common home improvement questions, with answers that you typically would have to pay for.
From smartphone movie projectors to toothbrush power sanders, these 21 artful, ambitious, and affordable DIYs can only be called sheer genius! Read on to catch a glimpse of their crafty construction and unleash your own inner inventor!
Get the 411 on this sturdy, stately siding to decide if it’s right for your home-to-be or exterior remodel.
A gallon of gas? It won't get you too far. A gallon of milk? If you have a big family, it can be gone in a day. But a gallon of paint? It can go a long way, meaning leftover paint is a common occurrence. If you share our quest to make everything old new again, consider using the leftover paint to renew or revamp your home. Here are 19 cool projects you can do with 128 ounces or less.
Bobby pins are the unsung heroes of beauty tools. The tiny clips can hold braids, pin back bangs, and give extra lift to a ponytail, but did you know that they have many practical household uses as well? From keeping food fresh to solving wardrobe woes, here are 11 unusual ways to use a bobby pin around the house.
Preventive maintenance is key to keeping your car working well, but it's important to do it right. Here are 7 common car care mistakes you’re probably making and some tips on correcting them to help your vehicle last longer.