Browsing Category
Cleaning & Laundry : Home & Garden
Natural Cleaners for Mold & Mildew
The problem of mold and mildew growth is an important topic that is causing a great deal of public interest and scientific study. An entire industry has been created around this issue, consisting of mold assessment, mitigation and remediation. These services can be costly, especially when mold growt
Home Survival Kits and Checklists
It's advisable to have a home survival kit ready in the event of a power failure or natural disaster. Refrigeration -- and clean, running water -- might not be available during such times. Local grocery stores, gas stations, banks and ATMs might be closed. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security re
How to Identify Lead Crystal
Identifying the differences between lead crystal and ordinary glass is not an exact process. Yet there are certain aspects to look for: Lead crystal is softer than ordinary glass, allowing for intricate patterns to be cut into the surface, and it's characteristic luster gives lead crystal a clearer
How to Remove Lacquer Odor From Rattan Furniture
Lacquer is a type of furniture varnish made from tree resin and other ingredients. This finish puts a shiny clear or colored coating on your furniture that enhances the appearance and protects the wood. Lacquer finish has a strong odor, often requiring you to perform the task outdoors or in a well-v
How to Remove Scuff Marks & Scratches From Stained Concrete
Concrete floors are a beautiful and low-maintenance flooring choice for your home. You can stain the concrete different shades and colors, giving you several options to match the decor of your home. Since concrete is a hard, resistant surface, concrete floors are also easy to maintain, but these flo
How Do I Remove Rug Anchor Pad Marks?
Anchor pads are made of rubber and are placed underneath area rugs, entrance rugs and carpet runners to prevent them from sliding. While these pads are good for safety, they are not so good for the floor, especially if the rug in in direct sunlight or gets wet frequently. In these case, the rubber a
Home Cleaning Remedy Tips
Your home is your castlecastle image by R. Steciuk from Fotolia.comYour house is more than your home, it's your castle, but when it's time to clean, it can seem more like a dungeon. You appreciate a clean house as much as the next person; however, your busy schedule and sheer exhaustion...
How to Clean Hand Prints Off of a Stainless Steel Dishwasher
Stainless steel is used for many items around the home, including cookware, sinks, stoves, refrigerators, toasters, coffee makers and dishwashers. Stainless steel resists stains but that does not mean it will not stain or develop smudges. Hands deposit natural oils on any surface--handprints and fin
How to Install a Soap Dish in Tile
A soap dish installed into a tile wall can make a nice addition to many bathroom designs. Tile soap dishes are often available in multiple sizes, colors and finishes that can complement the surrounding tile and the user's needs. Installing a tile soap dish takes place after the rest of the wall tile
How to Remove Black Mold From My Wood Window Trim
Black mold can appear on wood window trim if outside moisture finds its way onto the trim and you do not immediately dry the wood. If left untreated, the mold could cause permanent stains that ruin the appearance of the trim. A variety of cleaners can remove mold, but they can bleach or otherwise da
How to Remove Teak Oil from Fiberglass
Teak oil is often used to restore the appearance of teak, a durable wood commonly used on outdoor furniture. During cleaning, the oil can sometimes spill onto fiberglass surfaces, creating a greasy film that is not easily removed with most household cleaning products. To remove the teak oil and rest
How to Polish Absolute Black Granite
When granite is clean and polished it has a brilliant shine that can make your floors, counters or backsplashes look pristine and luxurious. Absolute black granite is a very dark and pure black color that can look very glossy when you polish it correctly. If the surface of your granite is cracked, c
Ash Flower Gall Mites
Ash flower gall mites are microscopic organisms that sneak into the flowers of their host even before those flowers begin to fully bloom. The plant reacts to their presence by building a unique structure that serves to both protect and serve as a food source for the ash flower gall mite. They may af
How to Remove Mortar Residue Off of Flagstone
Mortar residue can detract from the appearance of your completed flagstone surface. You can remove mortar that may have been dropped onto flagstone and missed as you were laying it or grouting it with hand tools and an acid wash. While muriatic acid is an effective option, there are acid washes desi
How to Keep Hamburgers Warm Without Drying Out
Whether you're frying up burgers on the stovetop or grilling them on your backyard barbeque, you'll want to keep the burgers moist without drying out. This is not a problem if you'll be serving the burgers right away, but if you want to cook the burgers ahead of time and serve them later, you can ke
How to Unclog Butane Lighters
Although ordinary lighters are reliable, many pipe smokers prefer to avoid the aftertaste left by liquid fuel by using clean-burning butane lighters. Unfortunately, unless triple-refined butane fuel and the correct filling procedures are used, even the most expensive butane lighters tend to become c
How to Remove Mildew Inside of a Tent
Damp canvas, nylon and other tent material will develop mildew if the tent isn't properly dried and cleaned before storage. This commonly happens when you take down your tent while it's still wet from dew or rain. Allowing the tent to dry first prevents mildew from developing, but that isn't always
How to Remove the Lawn Service Green Dye From Objects
Hydroseeding is the process of spraying the ground with a mixture of grass seed, mulched paper, fertilizer, water and dye to plant grass seeds. The green dye that is contained in the spray is designed to ensure that the entire surface of the ground has been covered with seed. Unfortunately, sometime
How Can I Ward Off Skunks?
Few odors are more offensive than the musk of a frightened skunk. Skunks emit a pungent oil from scent glands under their tail when frightened or injured, and this stinky perfume often lingers for weeks. In addition to their horrible odor, skunks carry diseases, such as rabies and distemper, that ca