Hot Home & Garden How-Tos
How To: Build a light post for your landscape
Learn how to build walls with Allan Block in this video tutorial. See how to build a light post for your landscape, which is great for your front lawn, made with Allan Blocks.
How To: Build a patterned retaining wall with Allan Blocks
Learn how to build walls with Allan Block in this video tutorial. See how to build two-sided patio walls for your landscape, which is a patterned retaining wall, made with Allan Blocks.
How To: Attract hummingbirds to your yard
Hummingbirds are just as pretty as flowers—and a lot more interesting to watch. Here’s how to bring these tiny miracles within view.
How To: Make a tabouret table designed by Gustav Stickley
Here's my interpretation of Gustav Stickley's No. 603 tabouret. This little round table works great in almost any decor.
How To: Tap a maple tree to make maple syrup
Check out this video tutorial to learn how to tap a maple tree from seventh generation maple farmer Arnold Coombs, from Coombs Family Farms. It will explain what you'll need and how easy it is to begin making your own delicious pure maple syrup, the small family farm way.
How To: Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard
Food, water, and shelter—that’s all butterflies and birds need to consider your backyard a home. And the great thing is that what attracts them will beautify your yard as well!
How To: Pack clothing for a move
Moving is one of the top ten most stressful life experiences. Here’s how to pack it up without wanting to pack it in.
How To: Clean a wooden cutting board
A cutting board is essential — even if you only ever cut drink garnishes, slicing limes on a dormroom desk is pretty gross.
How To: Keep more than the laundry scented with dryer sheets
Having trouble staying organized? Need some tips on cleaning our your garage? How about getting rid of evidence? The DIY's Guys are here to help. In this episode see what you can do with dryer sheets besides get rid of static cling. Keep shoes smelling fresh, the garbage smell under control and the couch scented with laundry dryer sheets.
How To: Clean stains with sawdust
Use sawdust to draw the stains out of carpet, floormats, etc. It saves energy since you don't have to wash towels and will be thrown away anyway. This is a quick housekeeping trick that leaves your floors clean and does not hurt the environment. Make sure you properly dispose of chemical and oil waste.
How To: Hang hooks in your closet
Hanging closet hooks is one of the simplest ways to expand your storage space. You will need hooks, drill and bits, a steady hand, a stud finder (optional), a hammer (optional), & wall anchors (optional).
How To: Fold a t-shirt
The T-shirt may be the king of casual wear, but take care of it like your finest dress shirt and you'll be able to stay casual a good long time.
How To: Install shelves in your closet
Installing shelves in a closet turns dead space into useful storage. You Will Need:
How To: Install a clothing rod in your closet
Don’t pay a handyman to do this simple job—learn how to become handy yourself! You Will Need:
How To: Adjust your water heater to save energy
If you can make yourself a cup of tea just by turning on your faucet, you need to lower your water heater. You’ll help the planet and save money on your heating bills.
How To: Pack boxes for a move
There’s an art to packing boxes without breaking your good china—or breaking your back. You Will Need
How To: Test your phone line (NID) if you have no dial tone
Learn a little bit about technology with help from EMBARQ. Watch this how-to video tutorial on testing your phone line (NID) if you have no dial tone. If there is no dial tone on your home lines, just test your NID (Network Interface Device) on your house to see what's going on. This is an important step to getting your High-Speed Internet up and running.
How To: Work with sheet metal
The tools you need for drilling, punching, cutting, bending, joining sheet metal. In the video, we forgot to mention tin snips and a riveter/rivets. Sheet metal tools are specific so that you don't destroy your bits and equipment.
How To: Make an Arc Welder with a Car Battery & Pocket Change
Arc welding is a type of welding that uses a power supply to create an electric arch between an electrode (electric conductor) and a base material to melt the metals at the welding point. While you can certainly purchase a welder for your car shop or jewelry making business, you can actually save some money in that department by making your own.
How To: Set support beams and rim joists for a wooden deck
This video tutorial from Hometime TV shows how to set supporting beams on top of posts when building a deck. It also shows how to install the rim joists, which define the perimeter of the deck, and demonstrates several types of metal connectors for these framing elements.
How To: Recycle your old electronics
Have a computer too old to sell? A hopelessly dated phone? Don’t just toss them into the garbage, where they will leach toxic materials into the soil and water. Recycle them. You need to research recycling options, and you will need a delivery method. No reason to toss old electronics, recycle them!
How To: Fold a dress shirt or button down shirt
Dress shirts are best kept on a hanger in a closet, but if you're pressed for closet space, here's the next best way to store them. You will need a dress shirt in need of folding and a clean, flat surface. Fact: In the state of Indiana, you can make up to $17,000 a year operating a shirt folding machine, a handy device patented in the U.S. in 1989.
How To: Plant blueberries in a container
Dave Wilson Nurseries, Ed Laivo shares ideas for growing blueberries in containers. You will need 1/3 acid based potting soil plus 1/3 peat moss plus 1/3 medium sized bark. For the best results, containerize your blueberry plants. We show you the proven way to do it.
How To: Polish church appointments, like a chalice and candle
Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish church appointments, like a chalice and candle. In this demonstration we use a Church Polish & Cleaning Kit that includes Simichrome and Flitz to polish a brass chalice and candle stick. The tutorial includes detailed work instructions and best practices.
How To: Remove gum from the bottom of your shoe
After you finish cursing out the bleepity-bleep who tossed his gum on the ground, try this. Learn how to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe.
How To: Label boxes when moving
Make moving a tad less stressful with these tricks to labeling boxes. Learn how to label boxes with this how to video. You will need moving boxes, permanent markers in different colors, duct tape in different colors, and "Fragile" stickers (optional).
How To: Clean your bathroom sink
Washing your hands in a dirty sink won't make them any cleaner. Watch this video to learn how to clean your bathroom sink.
How To: Fix a running toilet (without calling the plumber)
Is a constantly running toilet driving you mad? Don’t call the plumber until you try these simple adjustments. Don't waste your money just yet- watch this instructional video on how to fix a running toilet. You will need a faulty toilet and some food coloring.
How To: Fix a flickering light yourself (and save money)
A flickering light isn't just annoying; it can be dangerous. Learn how to fix the problem. You will need patience to find the problem, a flat head screwdriver, a new cord, and time. Watch this video to learn how to fix a flickering light yourself, without calling an electrician.
How To: Fix a leaky faucet without calling the plumber
There are many kinds of faucets, but chances are your leaky fixture is a compression faucet -- and it's a snap to fix. You will need an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, a new washer, and a rag, string, wicking or plumber's putty. Watch this instructional video to learn how to fix your leaking faucet without shelling out the cash to a plumber.
How To: Save money by making your own laundry detergent
Brew laundry detergent that cleans your clothes for just three cents a load -- a fraction of what it costs with store-bought detergent.
How To: Make your own glow-in-the-dark wall art
Take a break from watching your lava lamp, and have some freaky fun with phosphorescence. Inspired by the Instructables project: http://www.instructables.com/id/UV-Fun/
How To: Unclog a drain without toxic chemicals
Don't call a pricey plumber! Anyone with a few tools can unclog a drain -- without even resorting to those strong, toxic chemicals. Most of the time, anyway. You will need baking soda, vinegar, rubber gloves, cleaning rags or duct tape, a rubber plunger, a plumber's snake, petroleum jelly, a bucket or pan, and a length of hose. WARNING: Do not try this if you have already used a commercial drain opener, as it can create harmful fumes.
How To: Save water by taking a shorter shower
With apologies to the opera singers among us, there's almost nothing we do in a shower that can't be done in a few minutes less. Conserve water, save time and keep life exciting by showering in less time. Wasting water is passe. Get into the future with quickie showers.
How To: Retrieve an item dropped down the drain
This is how to retrieve an item dropped down the drain. Did your ring slip down the sink? You can get it out with these handy plumbing tips designed to get your valuables out of the pipes without a problem or damage to the diamonds.
How To: Fix air leaks in your home & save on your heating bill
Having a 1/16-inch unsealed crack around a window is like leaving that window open 3 inches. Decrease your heating bill and your energy use by sealing up air leaks. You will need caulk cartridges, a caulking gun, a putty knife, weather stripping and optional: expanding foam sealant. Tip: Caulking guns with an automatic release create much less mess than simple caulk guns and are well worth the extra few dollars.
How To: Polish a shoe with a banana skin
How to use a banana skin to buffer up and clean your shoes!! Use the oils from the fruit to buff your loafers. This is a quick, easy and economical solution or replacement for shoe polish. Plus you get a great snack to eat in the meantime.
How To: Make gelatin air fresheners for the Trailer Park
Make your own air fresheners! With gelatin on Trailer Park crafts with Jolene! Save your money and budget too! These super simple Air Fresheners are so easy to make, and it keeps you from having to pay eight dollars or more for oil refills! By using old baby food jars, you're also recycling too! What is your favorite scent?
How To: Clean a ring from your bathtub
Save hand-washing house guests the horror of having to stare at a line of dirt and dead skin ringing the bathtub.
How To: Clean a toilet tank
It's pretty obvious when you need to clean your toilet bowl, but it's easy to neglect your tank. Don't - that's gross!