Hot Home & Garden How-Tos
How To: Use a tile file to shape a tile
This how-to video explains how to use a tile file to remove a sharp edge from a piece of tile. To being you just need to buy a tile file (or a couple if you plan to use it a lot). A tile file would be used if a piece of tile has a sharp edge that you cannot hide in a corner or cover with another piece. To use the tile file simple rub the tile file against the tile like you would a piece of sandpaper on wood. Rub the tile file back and forth until the sharp edge has been smoothed out and then ...
How To: Make an old paint can easier to open
In this video it is demonstrated that how to easily open an old paint can. It is harder to open lid of old paint can because when you open and close lid there is some paint which remains at the top of can and it act as a glue and the lid sticks on it. You can get rid of it by using old grocery bag or two layer of plastic. Just cover the top of the can with this plastic and close it with the lid and now with the help of wood block and hammer, make the lid tight. Using this process you can easi...
How To: Replace a leaky water faucet
If your replacement faucet is not the right size, pick up a connector and fitting from the hardware store. You will also need wrenches. First turn off the water supply. Then, brace the pipe with a pipe wrench. Use another wrench as a lever and remove the faucet. Take a piece of plumber's tape and wrap the brass connector. Make sure you thread the tape in the same direction that you screw on the connector. Screw the connector on by hand and tighten it with a wrench. Use the other wrench to kee...
How To: Folding a traditional fitted sheet like an expert
Ever have trouble folding your sheets perfectly? Well follow along as we are given quick and simple instructions on how to fold a traditional fitted sheet like an expert.
How To: Recycle materials for a kids craft box
Making crafts with a group of children can get a little hectic and also maybe a bit costly. Recycling materials to use for creative activites with your kids can be a fun and and economicly fiscal alternative to your normal purchases. This video will give you some example on how to recycle materials for your kids arts and crafts. Using these everyday materials, accompanied with some great insight from this video, you can have a lot of fun creating all sorts of interesting projects with your ch...
How To: Paint your house
This video describes how to prepare for and execute painting your home. To begin, you should power wash your house to remove any dirt, dust, cobwebs, etc. These would prevent the paint from setting properly, unless it was new wood. If it is new wood, you should put on a beige coat first. However you begin, you should let either method dry before moving to the next step. After it dries, you should apply a weatherproof and paint-over caulk to the cracks to keep out moisture and insects. After t...
How To: Clean antique porcelain and pottery
Show your antique porcelain and pottery a little TLC. Spruce up your favorite antiques with these safe cleaning techniques. Remove the dirt and let the beauty of porcelain and history shine through. Just because your pottery is old, doesn’t mean in needs to look like it came out of a tomb.
How To: Carry a heavy cardboard box
We can't actually lighten you load but we can make it seem that way. This simple trick of stacking your heavy box on top of an empty box will make it feel lighter. Moving a heavy box is a unpleasant so try this fun trick.
How To: Develop lazy habits that are good for you
Next time you don't want to make your bed, dry the dishes or clean the house there's no need to feel guilty. You may be doing yourself a favor. There are legitimate scientific reasons why some chores aren't always the best health choice.
How To: Clean a couch
No need to go on living one more day with a dirty couch. It's a good idea to thuroughly clearn your couch to remove any seen or unseen dirt. Include a good couch cleaning on your next chore wheel and see if you notice the difference.
How To: Put together the perfect home tool kit
A great way to save money and be more independent is to do your own repairs. Having a well-rounded tool kit is the best way to be prepared for those unexpected problems. A good base kit will last for many years and is a sound investment.
How To: Paint a mural with a projector
Decorate your child's room with this fun method. A projector is not longer just for classrooms or slide-shows. Project a vibrant picture on to a wall and you have a temporary stencil, and the only thing you need to do is add your artistic touch.
How To: Keep deer out of your yard
Deer can wreck havoc on your plants and yard. No need to go to war with the deer, when with a few tricks of the trade, deer can be discouraged from feeding on your yard. The neighbor‘s yard, on the other hand, might seem that much more appealing.
How To: Make a bed military-style
Grab your long-handled wooden spoon and let's get to bed making. There is a science in making the immaculate and consistent military-style bed. Use this method at home and know that your making your bed just like soldiers do every day.
How To: Install laminate flooring in your home
Laminate flooring is easy to clean and is a great way to spruce up a room. With yourlist of items in hand and a little bit of elbow grease you can have new floors in no time. Don't forget: measure twice, cut one.
How To: Grow watermelon
Watermelon is not only a refreshing treat but is full of nutrients and energy. Prepare for a summer you will never forget by starting a watermelon patch today. From seeding to watching your plants grow, this is a fun project for the whole family.
How To: Clean a sink drain
A clogged drain is not only an unpleasant but seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. Good thing there is a simple way to unclog most minor stoppages with a few household products. Be your own plumber and keep those drains free and flowing.
How To: Remove stickers
We have all had a sticker stuck on something that just will not come off. No need you scrape all day. Use a handy science trick and apply some heat to loosen up the adhesive and remove that unwanted sticker.
How To: Coat a drywall cornerbead
"Owens Drywall" wall describes how to coat a drywall corner bead. 1. Fill pan with drywall. 2. Take a eight inch knife and use to spread the drywall on wall, starting from the bottom and working your way up. If you drop any on the ground, go ahead and pick it up with knife. 3. Go over the same spot multiple times from the bottom up to ensure the drywall is on evenly and clean!
How To: Tighten & keep tight those loose bolts
Bob Schmidt teaches the secrets to tighten & keep tight those loose bolts in simple steps. First buy a removable blue thread locker and keep it ready to use. Check for any loose door locks or bolts in your house and remove its screw. Squeeze some thread locker out and apply it to the screw and stay away from carpets while squeezing it out. Let it set on the screw for about 5 minutes and fit the screw back. It can also be used in nuts and bolts and bath accessories.
How To: Install a Mortar Shower Pan
Mark Donovan is remodeling a ceramic tile shower, and shows how to install a mortar shower pan. First consider the framing of the shower. Plywood, 2x4's and 2x6's provide a good foundation for the weight of the tile. Then remove the cover from the drain. Use duct tape to cover the drain hole. Staple 15-pound felt paper onto the floor of the shower, and up about an inch on the sides, trimming around the drain, to protect the wood from moisture. Then staple down metal lath to reinforce the floo...
How To: Drywall an archway
Watch this video learn how to drywall an archway in five quick and easy steps. Measure and cut drywall to fit your arched opening. Score the back of your drywall to help it bend to your archway. Place drywall into opening. Tack or nail to hold the drywall in place. Screw drywall into arch. Mark and cut the drywall for the face of the archway. Place drywall over archway and use as a template to cut the drywall. Nail/Screw drywall to the face of the archway. It is now ready for corner bead, tap...
How To: Troubleshoot a toilet that won't flush the easy way
Learn how to troubleshoot a toilet that won't flush at your home in simple steps. First lift the lid and check whether the float ball is broken or touching the sides. Bend it a little if its touching the sides or replace it if its leaking or broken. Now check condition of the flapper valve and replace it if needed. Now check the handle, if its loose tighten the screw inside to fix it. Finally check the chain and replace it if broken or correct it to the right tension to lift the valve.
How To: Cut copper pipe with the right tools
This shirt video will show you how to cut copper pipe with the right tools. Cutting copper pipe is simple if you have the right tools. This short video clip clearly demonstrates how to go about cutting copper tubes. Among other things you will be using a pipe slice. The video also shows you how to remove the burrs before attempting to join the pipe. You are advised to never use a hacksaw.
How To: Build a cold smoker
Learn how to build a cold smoker from this video in simple steps . You will need: smoke pellets, a new soldering iron and a empty can. First leave the lid in the can partially attached and cut a hole in it for the soldering iron. Add you favorite smoke pellet to the can and insert the soldering iron through the hole in the can. Now plug in the iron and place the cheese into the grill on top of the can. Finally enjoy some smoked cheddar cheese.
How To: Read a Lowe's plant care tag
This quick video tutorial from Lowe's will show you how to properly read a plant's care tag. Every Lowe's plant has its own Care Tag, and by reading the tag you will earn how to care for your individual plants. Each tag also comes with a number which you can type in at lowes.com/plants. Here you will find more detailed information about your plants. The tags also come in different colors, and these also have a meaning, for example purple tags represent plants that are good in low light condit...
How To: Pack hanging clothes and drapes for storage or moving
Here you will learn how to pack clothes and drapes for storage or moving. Follow these easy steps to pack clothes and drapes the right way. Hanging clothing or drapes need to be packed in a standup wardrobe. This box comes with an aluminum bar that spans two sides. Place the wardrobe box near the closet. Secure the bar with packing tape and place clean paper at the bottom of the box. Hang clothing, distributing them evenly. You can also place quilts, and bedspreads on hangers. When you are do...
How To: Easily unblock a kitchen sink and waste pipe
Learn how to easily unblock a kitchen sink clogged with food particles in simple steps. Every time you clean your dishes and bowls at your home kitchen some food particles wash out and get clogged. When these particles are clogged the water starts to drain out slowly and bad odor arises. Put some Alka Seltzer tablets in your sink and crumble them through the holes. Now pour some vinegar over the tablets through the hole. Leave it for two minutes and flush the sink with water to finish.
How To: Make a micro terrarium
Learn how to make a micro terrarium which usually holds 1 small plant in simple steps. You can use any type of container like a light bulb, yogurt container, baby fruit jar, spice container, honey jar, etc. Now select your container and add some soil in it. Place the seeds if you are using them or plant the miniature sinningia in the soil. Use a copper wire to tamper down the soil nicely and close the container lid.
How To: Get up tough stains using things around the house
Bob Schmidt from Home Remodel Workshop teaches how to remove persistent carpet stains. Clean up the source of the stain as quickly as possible. Once the source of the stain is removed, mix one teaspoon of dish detergent with a cup of hot water. Pour the mixture on the stain. Soak clean rags in a bucket of hot water and place them over the spot. Place a hot iron over the rags and force steam into the carpet.
How To: Install a light bulb in your own home
This video teaches the secrets of installing a light bulb in your own home. First turn on the light switch to check whether your old bulb still works, but its not working. Now turn off the light switch to start the replacement and remove the light cover. Remove the bulb by twisting in anti-clockwise direction carefully. Now install the new bulb and turn on the switch to check if it works and the lighting is good enough. Finally attach the light cover to finish.
How To: Stop squeaky hinges at home with oil and wire wool
Learn how to stop squeaky hinges at home with oil and wire wool in simple steps. Spray some WD-40 lubricant to the hinge and open and close the door a few times. Use a spray tube to avoid the oil being wasted or even you can use cooking oil. If the hinges are still squeaky remove it completely and rub it wire wool, fix it back and spray the lubricant or oil. You can also rub it with soap instead of wire wool. If you still have the squeaky problem replace the hinge with a new one.
How To: Clean cut using a table saw, mitre saw or power saw
This short video tutorial Bob Schmidt will show you how to make clean cuts in wood. The blade rotation of any pretty much dictates the best way to run your material through. To get the cleanest cut possible remember these tips: Whenever you run wood through a Table saw, always make sure that your finished side is up. Do the exact opposite when you are using your Power saw. The finished side of your wood must be at the bottom. When you use a Mitre saw, make sure the finished side of the wood i...
How To: Make chestnut paling
Learn how to make chestnut paling using a paling machine from Aly May in simple steps. First tie the strings up and down in a wooden pole according to the length you need. Start by placing the wood in between the strings upside down fitting perfectly. Now roll the machine to twist the strings and repeat the same till you get your desired length. You can also use wood with sharpened edges if you want to make a fence. It can be also used for some events but you have to change its length and dur...
How To: Grow tomatoes in a container
Nothing says fresh and delicious like a ripe tomato from your home garden. This horticultural how-to will walk you through the fundamentals of container tomato gardening and present you with a list of the basic materials you'll need to get started growing your very own tomatoes.
How To: Install vertical blinds
First measure the window to decide if you would like the blinds inside the frame or outside on the casing. In most cases inside looks the best plus it gives you the added feature of adding curtains.
How To: Prevent Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are an incredible nuisance, as anyone in any warm climate knows all too well. In this video, with Chef Keith Snow of HarvestEating.com, we learn a simple but effective countermeasure against these aggravating little pests. Most successful, he says, is the use of vinegar.
How To: Fix a knot
Ever find yourself short on material and that one board you really need has a nice open knot in it? You could always go out and buy more material, but sometimes its just easier and faster to stabilize and repair the knot. And instead of trying to hide the knot, sometimes it's just better to embrace it and make it look look resinous and natural. And that's the goal here. Our guide uses an epoxy/dye mixture to create a stable and decorative knot. With a little elbow grease, and this video from ...
How To: Illuminate your ceilings
This short video from The Ceiling Tile Guy, at ceilume.com shows the process and applications of installing an illuminated drop ceiling. These ceiling tiles are amazing, and beautiful. They come in all kinds of patterns and would make an amazing impact on any room in your home or office. With these "Smart Ceiling Tiles" from ceilume you can create a brilliant designer ceiling on a do it yourself budget. This is a fantastic idea to look into if your thinking about starting a similar project at...
How To: Fix and repair a dripping faucet
James from J&C Home Repair explains how to fix a bathroom faucet. He shows how to turn off the water supply to the faucets and tells you exactly what tools you will need. He demonstrates how to remove the faucet handle and the valve using common household tools, and recommends taking the parts to the hardware store to make sure you get the correct replacement parts. This video shows that repairing a faucet is a simple job that anyone can do. You don't need to call a plumber for this!