Hot Home & Garden How-Tos

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: Kill bed bugs by using boric acid

Boric Acid is often used to treat or eradicate bedbugs. However, it doesn't work particularly well. It has to be ingested to kill them, but they don't necessarily consume it. There would need to be a bait that they can ingest that contains boric acid. Unfortunately, people are the bait that they respond to. Cockroaches, on the other hand, ingest it, because they clean themselves. Therefore, it gets ingested in that way.

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.

How To: Install a locked sprocket plate on a chainsaw

If you own a chainsaw and need to perform some routine maintenance work, this video should help. In the tutorial, you'll be finding out how to install a locked sprocket plate on a chainsaw. When trying to replace certain parts, things can get a bit tricky and what may have been easy to take off, will be much more difficult to put back on. So check out the tutorial above, pay attention, be safe, and good luck!

How To: Perform gas-powered string trimmer (weed wacker) maintenance with Lowe's

A string trimmer is a handy tool, but you have to maintain it if you want it to work its best. Learn how to do maintenance on both a 2-cycle and 4-cycle gas-powered trimmer. Lowe's home improvement expert, Mike Kraft, gives helpful tips for string trimmer maintenance. Learn how to replace string, change the oil, clean the trimmer filter and more that will help keep your string trimmer working like new.

How To: Use a power edger for a well-manicured landscape with Lowe's

A gas-powered edger will give your lawn a finished professional look with a well-manicured appearance, without taking a lot of time or effort. An edger helps cut away weeds and grass that grows over sidewalks, patios, driveways and curbs. Plus it can get nice sharp looking edges for garden beds, pathways and roads to give your lawn a professional look. Lowe's home improvement expert, Mike Kraft, gives helpful tips on how to use a power edger.

How To: Use a string trimmer (weed wacker) for professional looking edges with Lowe's

There are many tools that homeowners can use to help with the curb appeal of their own and landscape. One of those tools is a weed wacker or string trimmer. This device enables the user to get rid of weeds instantly and makes lines and edges look clean and finished. So in this tutorial, you'll be finding out how to use one in your yard today. So good luck, be careful, and enjoy!

How To: Maintain your swimming pool by removing algae from the water with Lowe's

Swimming pools are a lot of fun, but occasionally you may have some problems with your water. If you're starting to see algae grow, you're going to need to get rid of it. Thankfully, Mike Kraft, Lowe's home improvement expert, has some tips for maintaining your pool and algae removal. Learn the differences between green, black and mustard pool algae and the different treatments for each.

How To: Effectively water your garden to beat the summer heat

If you're new to gardening, it's important you know some of the best tricks. Not being able to do something properly can result in flowers that may soon die. One thing that is important is watering your plants just right during the summer. So in this tutorial, you'll find out how to effectively water your garden in order to beat the summer heat. Pay attention and good luck!

How To: Replace your home's gutters

If you own a home with beat down and rusty gutters, it may be time to replace them with new ones. Gutters are important during the winter time by helping collect any water that can seep or leak into your home, causing water damage. They're not too difficult to replace and can help out the overall look of a home significantly.

How To: Install a shade cloth in your backyard

If you enjoy spending time outside, but can't stand being in the sun for too long, you have a bit of a problem. Buying patio furniture or an umbrella is a good idea, but it can be a pain lugging it around, especially if it's not weatherproof. Another great option is creating a shade cloth.

How To: Build your own bookcase for your study

If you have a ton of books and no place to store them, a bookcase may be needed. Buying one from the store is an easy way out, but building one on your own is another great idea. Not only will you have the power to determine how it looks and what size it will be, but you'll feel satisfied knowing you made something useful.