Hot Home & Garden Posts
How To: Properly caulk like a pro
Caulking can seem like a tough job that requires a lot of patience and skill. In fact, it only requires a couple of tools: caulk, some tape, and a wet rag. In this tutorial from the DIY network, you'll find out how to caulk like a pro using those tools listed. It's an easy task that will have your kitchen or bath looking brand new. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Mow and edge your yard properly from Sears
You may or may not have known, but mowing your lawn can actually help keep it healthy and promotes root growth. It also makes your yard look great and helps it stand out from any other bad looking yards on your block.
How To: Maintain and store your tractor properly from Sears
Owning a tractor, is just as important as owning a car. It's an expensive item that needs constant maintenance in order to ensure that it works properly. There are several things that you need to watch out for when owning one.
How To: Properly fertilize and water your lawn
Just like all living organisms, lawns need the proper amount of food and water in order to survive. Not giving them enough can lead to a dead looking yard that is unpleasant to look at.
How To: Make sure you have a healthy lawn with aeration
When owning a lawn, you want to make sure that it's as healthy as it can be. You don't want to have the ugliest yard on the block do you. There are many methods to ensure that you're yard will stand out. One way of doing this is by aeration. This involves making holes in the lawn that will allow for growth and other benefits as well.
How To: Install reflective film on your storm door
Applying a restrictive film on your storm door is a smart and great energy saving method. During the long summer months, if any sunlight hits your storm door, it can not only damage the look of your door, but cause your home to become much hotter than you need it to be.
How To: Plant a tree outside your home to save energy
You may not realize it, but saving energy is as easy as planting a tree. Literally. Finding a great shade tree for a certain area outside your home, can help save energy in your home by offering some free shade during hot summer days.
How To: Save money and energy using a compact fluorescent bulb
If you haven't made the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, what are you waiting for? These bulbs produce the same amount of light as the old bulbs, but produce less heat and zap less energy away from your home. That can lead to you saving money and doing more for the environment.
How To: Properly use caulk around your home
Using caulk around your home is a great tool that can help save energy in your home and money. It's easy to spread, but for some, it can be pretty difficult to spread.
How To: Save energy by installing a solar water heater
Saving energy in your home is as easy as pie. There are many areas of the home that you can tackle. One area that can be helpful is the water heater. There are a couple of water heaters that you can use to not only save energy but money. One way is by using an active or passive solar water heating system.
How To: Save energy with your refrigerator
If you own an old refrigerator, chances are that you have an energy zapper in your home. With some of the more newer models, they zap less energy, but can still waste a good amount.
How To: Make a sand snake to help save energy
If you don't know what a sand snake is or what it does, it's basically something that is used to help you save energy and money. It's bigger than weatherstripping and can be just as effective.
How To: Insulate your exterior walls
Having proper insulation in your home is one of the best, and important, ways to save energy in your home. There are many ways to help make sure that you're home is energy efficient. There are ways to help add insulation to the exterior of your walls to help with owning a nice and updated home.
How To: Check to see if your home is energy efficient
If you're wondering if your home is energy efficient, there is an easy way to check. For some cities in the U.S., you can actually call people to come over to your house and test the efficiency of your home. It's a great way to tell if you're saving energy and what you need to work on.
How To: Plant a shade tree to help save energy
You may not realize it, but planting certain vegetation around your home can actually help you save energy. Plating trees is also a great way to help add some shade to your home that can bring a cool feel to an area during the hot summer days.
How To: Easily install reflective window film
If you have a set of windows in your home that are always facing the sun, then that can be a problem. Not only can it damage any furniture that may be in the way, but it can raise the tempature in your room causing you to use more energy to cool it down.
How To: Turn your brown grass green again without chemicals
Is your lawn looking a little grim lately? Well, no need to reach for toxic chemicals, check out this clip instead! In this tutorial, gardening specialist, Carl Grimm, shows you how to fix your lawn naturally and avoid all that yucky stuff that harms kids and pets. Follow along and go green (literally!) with your front yard for summer! Turn your brown grass green again without chemicals.
How To: Install weatherstripping on a door to save energy
There are many ways that you can save money and energy in your home. One of the most obvious takes place at the entrance of your home: doors. Weatherstripping a door is a smart and simple way to help ensure that the outside air stays out and the inside air stays in.
How To: Manage the humidity in your home
You may not realize it, but there are ways that you can manage the humidity that is inside of your home. Too much or too little can affect how comfortable you are inside and can even damage certain parts of your home as well.
How To: Use a fireplace insert to keep your home efficient
A fireplace is a great tool to use during the cold winter months. It can be used to help set a mood or just to keep you and others warm. But when the fire is out, it's important to close off the entrance to prevent any cold air from coming in and any warm air from leaving. The best, and cheapest, way to do this is by creating a fireplace insert.
How To: Use a humidifier during winter
It may not sound like an obvious solution, but using a humidifier during the cold winter months, can actually be more efficient and make your home more comfortable. Having low humidity levels inside your home cause several things to occur, but one being the use of your furnace. This can raise prices and cause you to waste more energy.
How To: Save money, but still be comfortable during winter
If you are looking to save money and energy, but hate you have to do it during winter, that can be a problem. For some, saving money and energy usually means giving up warm air and having to be cold. But there are ways that you can still do both.
How To: Use a heat pump to help you save money and energy
Using a heat pump in your home, is a great way to be energy efficient and keep your home nice and comfortable. What it does it takes heat from your home during the summer and transfers it outside, and then during the winter months, takes heat from the outdoor air and puts in your home.
How To: Use storm water drainers to save money and your home
Having a great storm water drainer attached to your home is not only important for preventing any damage to your home, but can be used to save on utility costs. Without a drainer, water can seep under your home and potentially damage your foundation. But it's an easy problem to fix and will make you glad you did.
How To: Keep your windows sealed to prevent loss of energy
If you live in an older home with windows that are aged, it's a smart idea to make sure they're sealed correctly. Doing so can not only result in a loss of energy in your home, but prevent cool or warm air from entering your home. It's a great and easy way to save on costs.
How To: Get a balanced air flow in your home
This is a common problem that all homeowners have faced at some point or time: lack of air flow. There can be rooms that get way more air than others and this can be a sign of a problem. If your air system isn't working properly you can lose out on a lot of money and energy.
How To: Install insulation for a water heater
There are many ways that you can lose energy and heat in your home, and one of the most common ways is by the water heater. It may not seem like it, but you can lose a lot of money and energy when using your water heater. So it's important to take the necessary steps when you want to save energy and money. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to install an insulation jacket for your electric or gas water heater. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy!
How To: Easily weather seal your garage door
If you have a garage door attached to your home, it's important to know that it's a space that needs proper insulation as well. Not doing so can lead to a room that is cold to walk into and can cause other rooms in your home to become cold as well. In this next tutorial, you'll find out what you need to do in order to easily weather seal your garage door. Enjoy!
How To: Insulate garage doors with foam board insulation for a warmer winter
When it comes to winter weather, the garage should not be neglected, especially if you have a room directly above it. Neglecting to properly insulate and seal your garage doors will create a constant rush of cold air inside, making the garage really cold, in turn making the floor upstairs really cold. This will drive up your gas or electric bill in no time during the winter months. But you can fight higher heating costs with some DIY ingenuity, and Dave Mars will show you how!
How To: Insulate pipes in your home for the winter months
If you live in an area where it gets really cold during winter, you may or may not know the importance of protecting your pipes. Not covering them with proper insulation can result in frozen pipes that are a pain to fix and can cost you a lot of money. So in this tutorial, you'll be finding out how to properly insulate your pipes for the winter months. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Install a window air conditioner in your home
If it's hot and you need some nice, cool air in your home maybe you should look into buying a window air conditioner. They're easy to set up and require very little time to install in your home. They weigh less than regular air conditioners and can be installed in other areas of your home. So check out this tutorial on how to install one in your home today. Enjoy!
How To: Use a long handed saw for branch cutting
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to use a long handled saw. This type of saw is used to cut off the branches of trees. There are 2 bolts that screw the blade onto the handle. The handle is about 2 meters long when folded down and about 5 meters when extended out. When the blade is not in use, place the cover over it to prevent any accidental injury or sharpness wearing. Never use the blade near electrical wires. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in lumber or ha...
How To: Prune roses and spot dead branches
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to prune roses. Users will need a pair of garden trimmers or cutters. Observe the rose stem and check to see if there are any thorns and if it has a black color. If it does, it needs to be cut. Then remove the mulch around the canes. When cutting, go as deep as you can to allow the new cane to fully develop. Cut the cane and make sure that you see clean, green tissue. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy gardening, and would like to learn h...
How To: Cut when pruning plants
In this tutorial, we learn where to cut on plants to prune. A plant that has a woody stem can be shortened between the leaves, making sure to cut it towards a node because this is where it will heal most rapidly. If you cut it too close tot he bud it will dry out and healing will not occur. Slope the cut away from the bud so you give the plant a greater chance to heal and you can avoid infection. Pruning often gives you control over how big the plant gets, and you can also control what the si...
How To: Grow the perfect tomato (for you)
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to grow tomatoes. Begin by some tomatoes at a supermarket. Then extract the seeds from the tomatoes and wrap them into a paper towel. Then place the seeds in between the pages of a phone book to quickly dry them. Now plant about 8-10 seeds into a small pot with soil. The seeds should be planted 25 inches deep into the soil. As the plants grow larger, change the pots to a larger size. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy gardening and would ...
How To: Care for and arrange peonies for spring
Peonies are a flower evocative of the freshness and exuberance of spring, with bouncy, silky leaves, buoyant hues, and a bright yellow center/stamen.
How To: Easily make your home energy efficient with plastic
If you're trying to save some cash, as well as help the environment, there are many things that you can do around your home that will help. One thing you can do is use plastic. There are many different uses for plastic and it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are most commonly used in caulks and sealants and can help prevent any cold or warm air from leaving the home, saving you money and energy. If you're interested in finding out what else you can do, check out this tutorial abov...
How To: Organize your house under a busy schedule with lists
Is your house so messy that you can't recall the last time you could see the carpet? Vacuum up the tornado's mess and store things where they belong for once by learning a few organization tips from this episode of "The Martha Stewart Show."
How To: Propagate plants from tip cuttings
In order to propagate plants from cuttings, you will need the following: plants that can grow from clippings, a container, potting soil, water, and a rooting hormone.
How To: Organize your closet with Kevin Sharkey
Organizing your closet can be tough work: What do you take out, what do you toss, and what do you keep and where? It's easy to just stuff all of life's little odds and ends in your closet, but you'll achieve a much more peaceful state of mind when things are in order.