Hot Home & Garden How-Tos

How To: Create makeshift laundry detergent from a bar of soap and boiling water

If you need to save your money for bills, then this laundry tip will help keep the costs of laundry to a minimum. It's a really simple and cheap tip if you happen to be out of laundry detergent during a load. Simply grab a bar of soap and cut a third of it off. Then place it in a pot of boiling water and let dissolve for about ten minutes. When it's done, transfer it to a large bowl and stir for about thirty seconds. Then it's ready! Makeshift laundry detergent!

How To: Remove a stuck drill chuck

If you have a stuck keyless drill chuck and need help on to repair it, check out this next video tutorial. In it you'll find out what tools you'll need for taking out the drill chuck. It can be a difficult job if you lack the right tools and are not careful. So check out the video tutorial above and good luck!

How To: Stop Bed Bugs from Entering Your Suitcase

To prevent bed bugs from entering your suitcase, you will need to pre-treat it, with diatomaceous earth. Bed bugs often hitchhike home with you when you stay overnight in hotels or on long trips. They will normally stow away in your suitcase. To prevent that from happening, dust your suitcase with a diatomaceous earth (DE) compound. For this, you will need a paintbrush, diatomaceous earth, and a large plastic bag. Sprinkle a little onto your suitcase, and use a dry paintbrush to spread the di...

How To: Use Phantom Insecticide to kill bed bugs

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn about Phantom Insecticide for bed bug control. You cannot buy this pesticide over the counter. You will need a license to purchase this. It is very effective in bed bug control. While evaluating a pest control company, check out whether they use this pesticide. It can take seven to fourteen days to kill a bug after it is exposed to this pesticide. So, if you are bitten by a bed bug after applying the pesticide, don't think that it is not wor...

How To: Kill bed bugs with a PackTite unit

A Pack Tite Unit is used to treat items that may be infested with bed bugs. It can be used to treat suitcases and other items that can't be easily washed in hot water. Be careful not to allow any items to touch the heating unit. Place your item in the center of the rack. Place the metal safety rack on top of your item. There are also side racks available. Zip it closed. Make sure it is zipped as far as it will go. This will kill bed bugs and eggs, because it will heat items up to 140 degrees....

How to Kill bed bugs: Climbup™ Insect Interceptor

The Climbup Insect Interceptor is a new monitor for the use of detecting bed bugs. This is a new monitor. It's a passive monitor. You can place the monitors underneath one of the legs of a sofa or bed or other suspicious piece of furniture. This will not rid your home of bed bugs. This is a way of letting you know where the infestation is or isn't. It is a monitor, but it does not control them. Once the bugs fall into the trap, they can't get out. You will need to properly dispose of them, af...

How To: Kill bed bugs using a vacuum

You can use a vacuum to help with bed bug management and control. Some bed bugs are tolerant and resistant to pesticides. So, spraying alone may not be a solution for you. In this case, a vacuum is a good tool. A vacuum alone will not solve all of the infestation problems. Vacuums aren't able to pull up all of the eggs on furniture.

How To: Start a great fire in a wood stove

In this video, we learn how to start a great fire in a wood stove. First, you will need premium kindling, gloves, and a small axe. Next, you will chop the wood into small pieces using the axe, making small splits. After you have a large pile of kindling together, store the pieces that you won't use in a waterproof container. Now, carefully stack your wood into your wood stove. Place the first two pieces going across, then the other pieces going front to back. Continue this pattern, then apply...

How To: Protect yourself & your mattress from bed bugs

In this video, we learn how to protect yourself and your mattress from bed bugs. These bugs live in your bed and hide anywhere in your home and even hotels. To see if you have them, you will see blood stains on your mattress and look on your skin for any bites you may have. If you suspect you have them, you should call a professional to help take care of the problem. Check the edges and corners of your bed to see if you have been infested with bed bugs, and look at the label as well. Be caref...

How To: Make a wooden soda holder that seems to defy gravity

In this video, we learn how to make a wooden soda holder that defies gravity. First, cut a hole into a piece of wood that is large enough to fit the cap of a 2 liter bottle of soda. Now, with the bottle still full, place the bottle into the hole and raise the piece of wood up so it's sitting on the edge of a table. Now, the wood should stay there without you having to hold it. This will look like it's defying gravity, but it is just the soda and wood being positioned perfectly so it doesn't f...

How To: Get rid of bed bugs using a steam cleaner

In this video, we learn how to get rid of bed bugs using a steam cleaner. First, you will need to purchase a simple steam cleaner, which will produce steam that is hot enough to kill bed bugs. Now, take your steam cleaner and let it heat up for twenty minutes. Remove all your bedding items, including sheets and mattress covers. Grab your steam cleaner and steam all around the side of the bed until you have reached all of the spots. Go around the entire mattress as well as the box spring and t...

How To: Kill bugs in wall holes with Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth may be useful for killing bugs in walls. Light sockets and phone jacks provide a highway for bugs to travel from one infested room to another or one infested apartment or another. They also function as a hide-out for them during daytime hours, when they might be more visible.

How To: Kill bed bugs with glue boards & monitors

The CVC 3000 is a monitor. It is an active bed bug monitor that use attractants to lure bed bugs to it. It is another tool in bed bug management. It contains a carbon dioxide cylinder/cartridge. The capture slides will be trapped on a tray. The capture slides are one time use capture slides. They have to be replaced each time. The cartridge lasts 10 hours, and it has to be replaced every 10 hours. To use, you will need to place it near the area, where you suspect infestation. Just lie it flat...

How To: Exterminate & prevent bed bugs

A bedbug is a small brownish, blood-sucking insect. Usually, infestation brings emotional trauma. So, the problem is greater than the physical problem, since the bugs bite at night, while the victim sleeps. Often, the bites are mistaken for dermatological conditions, until the bugs are found. Typically, bedbugs are going to be within 10-15 feet of your bed. They will usually be along the rim. They will also be underneath the box spring. There will be in the nightstands. There will also be blo...

How To: Treat bed bugs & get rid of them

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to find bed bugs and how to get rid of them. When users are aware that their home is infested with bed bugs, it is critical for users to locate all of the bugs. There are many areas where bed bugs inhabit. Bed bugs can be found on the bed, headboard, electrical sockets and telephone jacks. Bed bugs may also be found in cracks. The best treatment to remove bed bugs is to use Delta Dust, bed bug spray or any other bed bug products. This video will benef...

How To: Use trained dogs to get rid of bed bugs

Trained dogs may be used to help eradicate bed bugs. A sign that your home is infested with bed bugs is the presence of bites. If bites appear in a straight line, on the skin, then that's a classic sign of bed bug bites. Trained dogs are able to pinpoint the bed bug infestation. They are 98% accurate, when other methods are only effective 30% of the time.

How To: Kill bed bugs with Bed Bug Dogs

In this video, we learn how to kill bed bugs with bed bug dogs. There are now upcoming kinds of K9 dogs that are specifically trained to smell the scent of bed bugs. This is a great tool to use to detect early on if your room has bed bugs in it. If you don't have bed bugs already, you can get them at any time just by touching something or someone that has them, then transferring them onto your bed. You can find these dogs through the website Bedbugdogs and see if there are any available in yo...

How To: Figure out the placement of your skylight

If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, then you need to figure out where to place it and how big it needs to be. There are many ways to do this, but with this tutorial, you'll find out how to figure out the placement of your skylight. This isn't very difficult and will help determine just where your skylight will be. So good luck and enjoy!

How To: Prevent leaks by putting shingles on properly

If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, there are something that need to be accounted for, including the shingles. With this next quick tip tutorial, you'll find out how you can prevent leaks by installing shingles properly on your roof. This is especially important when installing a skylight since you're putting a hole in your roof. So check out the video above and good luck!

How To: Build a New England style stone walkway

If you want to add a little something to your yard for a good price, why not a stone walkway? This is perfect for areas that are used to experiencing rain and don't have a proper walkway from one area to another. This is perfect for the side of a home that may be covered in grass and has no sidewalk at all.

How To: Install kitchen cabinets

If your kitchen needs to a face lift, the most common, and expensive, area to work on are the cabinets. Cabinets can give a certain feel to the room depending on what the style may be. Taking out cabinets from an existing kitchen may be easy, but installing them can be a bit more difficult.

How To: Buy a skylight flashing kit for your home

If you plan on installing a skylight to your home, then you'll need to know what to buy. This tutorial covers some pretty information about skylight flashing kits and how to buy them. Purchasing and using the wrong stuff can lead to a poorly constucted project that may lead to other issues as well. Avoid that by watching this tutorial. Good luck and enjoy!

How To: Install hardwood floors in your home easily

If you're interested in changing the look of your home, as well as add value to it as well, the floors are a great place to start. Carpet, tiles, laminate flooring can all be great options, but hardwood flooring is always a smart option. Hardwood floors deliver a certain look and feel that may not be attainable by other flooring options and can make any home look new.