Hot Home & Garden Posts
How To: Remove an acrylic scratch
To remove the scratch in acrylic you need to first use Silicon Carbide water proof paper of 600CW grade. Turn over the paper and rub the scratched area of acrylic in a circular motion. You will see the scratch disappears after few minutes. Thereafter use the Silicon Carbide water proof paper of 1200CW grade which is more fine. Again rub over the scratched area in circular motion. Then wipe off the area and you can see after some time of rubbing the scratch is completely disappeared. But it le...
How To: Make a bicycle rack out of repurposed closet racks
Danny Lipford and Joe demonstrate how to make a bicycle rack out of repurposed closet racks. Closet brackets can be used to store bicycles. Instead of hanging the bicycle on the ceiling for long term storage, fasten closet brackets to your garage wall to more practically easily access your bicycles on an everyday basis. First, drive drywall screws into the wall studs. Space the brackets about 16 inches apart. Hang the bike right on its crossbar from the brackets. This method only works with b...
How To: Stack cut lumber
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to stack cut lumber. This process if very simple to do. It will save the worker a lot of time, instead of measuring and cutting each piece individually. The stack cut will cut a number of lumber into the same length. This can be used to cut a single stack or an entire unit. Begin by squaring up one end of the stack. Mark your measurement on top. When you cut, it will leave a mark on the next board. Continue to cut through all the lumber. This video wi...
How To: Install a glass tile backspash
This video is to show how to install a glass tile backsplash. Because installing glass is a little different then installing ceramic, knowing what to do is important. Use painter's tape to protect your surroundings wherever you are installing your glass and use only a white thin set mortar recommended from the glass manufacturer to adhere your tiles. Since the glass is see through, unlike ceramic tiles, you need to make sure there is no discoloration and smooth out the ridges on the mortar fo...
How To: Paint your front door to give your house a new look
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to paint the front door of their house to give it a new look. Begin by removing any dirt, grime, mold and mildew off the door. Users are recommended to use TSP cleaner or any bleach solution. Then take off any hardware on the door (locks, door knob, windows). Users should use a paint roller to paint the door. Users are advised to begin coating the door with primer before painting the door. This video will benefit those viewers who would like to learn ...
How To: Iron a shirt quickly and easily
Ironing a shirt is simple and easy when you follow the suggestions outlined by Matt McGuire in this tutorial. You will need an iron, wrinkled shirt, and ironing board. Lay one end of the shirt on the board. Take the iron rubbing it from side to side, pressing out the wrinkles. It is a good idea to fill your iron with water prior to heating it up. This allows you to steam your clothes making it even easier to get a clean press. When done ironing this section, lay the other portion of the shirt...
How To: Build a waterfall using retaining wall block
The procedure was adopted to build a waterfall in Oregon Coast Garden Center, Wald-port. 1. A level pad was cut to arrange the first row of blocks
How To: Remove the plunger rod when unclogging a sink
In this video you will see how to remove the plunger rod when unclogging a sink. To unclog a sink drain, remove the bent portion the drain and clear it out. Normally something or the other gets stuck inside it causing the clog. Also check out both ends of the other pipes. The plunger to your sink is attached by a little rod. Slide the little catch off the rod; remember which hole it is on so that you put it back correctly later on. Then take pliers and loosen the plastic nut gently and pull t...
How To: Build a fire when the electricity goes out
This video shows the viewer how to start a fire without sing matches or electricity. This is done by first selecting a fairly large dry log. The aim is to ‘chip’ or peel smaller pieces of wood off from this log. These pieces will burn more easily and as such will make it easier to start the fire – a small hatchet is a useful tool to use when breaking down the larger log. Once you have the kindling place it on an alcohol wipe. Then use a flint or a fire steel to ignite the alcohol wipe. Once t...
How To: Repair a chip in a procelain sink
You can buy a porcelain patch kit to fix chips in your porcelain sink. You used to have to take two steps to repair it starting with a filler followed by a glaze to make it shiny. The video teaches how to use patch kits that you paint on like nail polish. To apply the patch you want to put on several thin coats and let each coat dry. When you apply the coats the key is to get the patch level with the rest of the sink. Then you can sand it with 220 grit sandpaper. After you have sanded the are...
How To: Make a punch bag
This video demonstrates how to make a punch bag. You will need a large duffle bag and a foam yoga mat. First, take your yoga mat and roll it up tightly. Place it upright inside your duffle bag and let expand, forming a lining inside. Next, fill your duffle bag with rags, clothes or any other soft material that you can use as a filler. Make sure that you fill your duffle bag up to the very top, when you've completed this make sure to pull the drawstring tightly and tie it off so nothing falls ...
How To: Fix a crack or gouge in your hardwood floor
Start by putting tape around the area that you want to patch. This will keep the wood filler from getting all over the rest of the floor. If there is anything down in the floor like dog hair or crumbs make sure you get that stuff out before you put the wood filler in the area. Then take some wood filler in a plastic tube and put a line of filler in the hole. Use a putty knife to force it down into the area you are filling and then scrap the excess off. Do this until the hole is completely fil...
How To: Faux paint a crackle finish on furniture
In this Home and Garden video tutorial learn how to faux paint a crackle finish on furniture. When working on this type of project, it is best to work on a horizontal surface. However, if you have to work on a vertical surface, this video explains partially how you can faux paint the crackle finish. If you apply the glue to the surface lightly and while painting with a roller, you got to simply glide it over the surface. If you roll it back and forth, it will start to crackle again. But, if t...
How To: Remove popcorn and respray knockdown texture
In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to remove popcorn and re-spray knockdown texture. First of all you will need to cover the floor and any hangings from the ceiling like chandeliers with plastic covering. Then you need to scrape off the areas on the ceiling and the walls and remove the popcorn completely. After it is fully removed, paint with spray paint. You will need to paint the whole room as the shade of the new paint will not match with that of the old paint. After t...
How To: Lay ceramic tile with drywall spackle
Tree Climbing Man demonstrates how to lay ceramic tile with drywall spackle. You don't need to rip up your existing floor and put down plywood or a sub floor to lay down a new floor. You can put ceramic tile right over existing linoleum with less work, less heartache and less problems. First, spackle the back of each tile and lay it down. You can also use a stapler and tape to fix problem areas. You don't need to go crazy with the adhesive. Spend your money on quality tile. You can use clay f...
How To: Use a jig saw
In this video presenter Dominic shows you how to use a Jig Saw correctly. Dominic suggests that if you are going to make a tight turn then you should use a skinnier blade in order to avoid banging up the wood or breaking the jig saw blade. He adds that you should be patient and try not to go too fast. With the jig saw you first have to drill a hole in the wood and then put the jig saw through as the blade is flexible and cannot be pushed through by itself. He suggests trimming off the first p...
How To: Build a retaining wall to flatten a sloped lawn
In this video you will learn how to build a retaining wall to flatten a sloped lawn. He says that if someone wants to garden but their yard is sloped and they know they can't do it, they should know that this is a lot of work. So be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and effort. You start by getting a building permit. If you're looking to build a low retaining wall you start by digging a trench a little wider then the stones and a few inches deep (the higher the wall the deeper the trench). F...
How To: Organize a closet with a shelves and compartments
You can organize your closet with simple drawers and shelves or racks that you purchase at a discount store such as Target. Outside of your closet you can have drawer space (use transparent drawers) by labeling your own drawers with large labels that you have written the contents of the drawer on and placed this at the front where it will be visible. The drawers can be divided into short sleeved sweater tops, long sleeved sweater tops, tanks, vests, short sleeved tees, long sleeved regular to...
How To: Iron a men's button up shirt
This Home and Garden video tutorial shows how to iron a men's button up shirt. This video will show you how to iron a cotton shirt. Switch on your iron and set it to the hottest setting or cotton setting. Place the shirt on an ironing board and start with the collar. Iron both sides of the collar. Now get on to the sleeves; first iron both sides of the calf and then the whole sleeve. Repeat the other sleeve. Then iron the front of the shirt; pull the fabric slightly to even out the creases, i...
How To: Unclog a slow moving drain without a plumber
To unclog a drain without the help of a plumber you will need 1/2 of a cup of baking soda and 1/2 of a cup of white vinegar. Pour the baking soda down the drain. Next, pour the vinegar down the drain. It will react with the baking soda and bubble up. Then, close the drain and wait fifteen minutes. Pour boiling hot water down the drain. Your drain should now be clear.
How To: Pay your contractor
Ilyce Glink with ExpertRealEstateTips tells us about how often home owners ask her "How much should I pay a contractor before he or she starts the job?". The one who will be answering this question is Line Epstein, Vice President of Baker Construction Group. "You should never pay your contractor in full before the entire job is completed" -he says. "Not that he's going to run off with your money, but you want to keep some incentive to get the job done right. You should give a deposit of 5 to ...
How To: Build a garden retaining wall
This video describes the easy process of building a garden retaining wall. First you will need to map out your area for your wall with strings and dig your trench for your stones. You will be filling the trench with gravel to hold your stones in place. Make sure to pack to gravel securely into the ground. You should have a leveling tool to ensure your base is very level. After you make sure that first level is secure and in place you will stack your next level of stone. Once the homeowner has...
How To: Understand how a basement sump pump works
This video is from AskMeDIY and covers how basement sump pumps work to keep your basement dry. The sump pump fits underneath the basement below the concrete slab. The sump pump in the video pumps 2,000 gallons per hour. The presenter turns the pump off to demonstrate how quickly the water would fill in with the pump off. He contends that the basement would be flooded in only three minutes if the pump would malfunction. The pump is plugged into a GFI protected outlet and the pump outlet flows ...
How To: Weather strip your house
The hosts, Robin Burke and David Musial, show how to install weather stripping to keep the heat in your home and the cold out. David demonstrates how to remove old, worn weather stripping. He shows the new weather stripping and makes a cut, demonstrating what to do if a new piece of stripping doesn't fit your door. Robin then shows us how to install weather stripping on windows, demonstrating how easy it is to attach the material. Using these techniques, you can further insulate your home fro...
How To: Install snap tile for your bathroom floor
This is a video which shows how to install snap tile on a bathroom floor. The snam tile has plastic tabs that interlock. First he measures the lengths. Then he takes the tiles outside to be able to use the saw to cut lengths. Next a mark is drawn. The square is used to make straight lines. Make sure to measure twice and cut once. Use the guard on the wet saw so that water doesn't splash. Use the saw gently so as not to damage the tile. After the floor has been snapped into place, the grout is...
How To: Make a simple jig to hang picture frames
Danny Lipford shows us how to create a simple jig to hang picture frames. He believes that all the complicated gadgets many people use-including lasers and special levels-are unnecessary for successfully hanging a picture frame. All you really need is a strip of wood and a single nail. He shows us a single lath with a roofing nail in it, which he prefers for its broad head. Simply slip the nail onto the wire on the picture's backside. Then set the picture wherever you would like it to be. Sim...
How To: Organize and renovate your closet
Frank, with Home Depot's Trend and Design Department, and Chatelaine demonstrate how to organize and renovate your closet. If you want to make your closet as functional as possible without a lot of wasted space, introduce a fun wallpaper as an accent and install a basic Rubbermaid closet organizer system. Use a centralized bar for support and put in rails two feet apart from each other to allow for flexibility in shelving. Additional accessory pieces include sliding baskets for shoes and an a...
How To: Repair a wash machine lid switch
This Home and Garden video tutorial shows how to repair a wash machine lid switch. This video is on a GE Prodigy machine. Looking inside the machine under the switch, she finds that two wires are broken. Take a screwdriver and press down the clip of the switch from underneath. One end will come out. Then, pull out the switch. After that it is very simple. Cut off a bit of the plastic coating from the ends of the wires, connect them to the switch and put some electrical tape around them. Now y...
How To: Cut floor joists to length quickly and accurately
Fine Homebuilding with Jim Anderson demonstrates how to cut floor joists to length. Inspect the rim line to know where to set the joists. Set the joists to the layout on the rim line using a two man team. Tap a nail into the joist to keep it from moving around. Instead of standing the joists up to square them, cut them on both ends. Line the chalk line up with the rim line and snap the line across the joists to mark them. This will simultaneously measure and square them. Finally, line the joi...
How To: Make a humane mouse trap from a paper towel tube
How to Make Anything demonstrates how to make a humane mouse trap from a paper towel tube. If you have a pesky mouse that you would like to catch alive, make a tube mouse trap in a few easy steps. First, put something delicious in the end of the tube. Then, balance the tube on the edge of the counter top. Below the tube, place a mouse catching receptacle like a trash can. The mouse will crawl into the tube to get the treat, tip the tube off the counter and be caught in the trash can. You can ...
How To: Paint furniture with a faux antique distressed look
In this video we are show how you can make old furniture look softer. It looks really easy but dirty so old clothes and cloves would be advisable. First of all take your glazing color and mix it with a white. Then take mix and mix it with a glazing medium 1 part color and 3 parts glazing medium. After it is mixed well take a brush wipe on a thin layer of the paint/glazing mix. Wiped directly after with a sponge. What will give your old furniture a softer look. But you don't have to stop there...
How To: Make a worm farm
To make a worm farm, you will need mud, water, a fruit or vegetable and a big container. First, fill a big container full of mud. Add water to it. Then, cut up your fruits or vegetables. Add your fruits or vegetables to the container full of mud and water. Next, put on some work gloves, grab a spade and collect worms from the outside dirt. You can also purchase them, if you'd prefer. Add the worms to the big container. After about two weeks the worms will start to reproduce. After about four ...
How To: Repair common problems with garbage disposals
Harry shows ways to fix common garbage disposal problems. First he shows if it hums use a crowbar to break free what is stuck. If you flip the switch and nothing happens it may be the red reset button on the bottom has popped out. He enplanes it may even be a bad wall switch or a bad breaker. He then shows you how to replace the disposal if that is what needs to be done. He shows you what to do if your new pipe is too short, how to properly wire your new one, and how to hook the drain for you...
How To: Design a small old fashion flower arrangement for home
The video comes from theflowergod.com and in it the instructor advised us how to make a 'Roundy mound' as he calls it, or a small old fashioned flower arrangement. Following are his instructions:
How To: Use wood stain
In this video we are shown the proper way to stain wood. For the demonstration in this video our host uses oak cabinets. Wearing rubber gloves, use a rag to apply the coat of stain. You will want to apply two coats of stain followed by a coat of polyurethane to protect your stain and the wood itself. A rag will ensure an even finish, as opposed to a brush that doesn't always get into the cracks and does not get the coverage that a rag does. With a brush you will have to worry about the bristl...
How To: Build storage shelves
Nine inch storage shelves are spaced and constructed in a practical way. It shows the right screws. This requires a drill some wood. The viewer is shown how to make a good back brace for the shelves. It shows how to make the shelving unit level. You learn the screw head must be flat. You are also shown how to put in a good support for underneath the shelves. It shows the center support being constructed. He shows how to set the shelves up so there is support from all sides and to make the she...
How To: Unclutter your CD & DVD collection
With the CDs and DVDs you want to do less purging and more organizing. A good way to unclutter your DVDs is to dedicate a bookshelf to your collection. Put the adult movies on top and alphabetize them so that they are up away from the kids reach. Put the movies for the family and kids down lower so that they can get to their movies and watch them. For the CDs a binder will hold a lot of them and allow you to get rid of all the hard plastic cases. You can put hundreds in just one binder. A gre...
How To: Unclog your garbage disposal
In this video from thingstoknow we learn how to unclog your garbage disposal and sink. If your sink is clogged and you have a garbage disposal, turn on the disposal first, then turn on the water, and hold the plug down. This will force the water into the line and you'll feel the water backing up against the plug. This force will clear the clog within the line. When it clears pull the drain plug and you have successfully cleared your clog. It is important to not turn on the disposal switch whi...
How To: Top or stop dahlias by the Dahlia Guy
In return, this allows the it to become more fuller and have more blossoms. This is done due to the fact that dahlias tend to grow in only one branch. One can top or stop dahlias by cutting the main stem just a couple of inches from the top. One can also use there fingers to snip off the top of the branch. Topping or stopping dahlias can be done upon planting them but also when you dead head later in the summer.
How To: Dry & perserve flowers
Preserve the beauty of your flowers by pressing them. One of the simplest ways in doing that is to press between pages of a book. It's wood, over cardboard, over absorbent paper. The flowers are placed between the paper and then held and pressed down by the cardboard and wood. It's then going to dry over time to preserve your flower. Now some flowers don't dry as well as others. What you can do is purchase some silica sand and burn the flower within it. It usually takes a couple weeks this wa...