Tips For Renting Your Home And Being A Landlord For The First Time

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Homes are not selling as quickly as they once had been. This can be a problem if you need to move quickly. Sometimes this happens when someone accepts a job in a different state. If you are in this situation, you may be wondering what you can do with your unsold home. … [Read more...]

Before You Buy Gutter Guards, Review These Pros & Cons Of Installing Gutter Covers

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Gutter guards are advertised as being able to prevent your gutters from clogging with leaves, as well as water and debris -- thus saving you from what could be a dangerous household task. Cleaning gutters is no fun at all! However, not everyone agrees that gutter guards are worth the cost, time, and effort to get them installed.  Following are the pros and cons of installing gutter guards (or leaf guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, etc.) on your home...   … [Read more...]

How To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances And Remove Scratches

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Stainless steel is all the rage these days when it comes to kitchen appliances. However, as slick and shiny as stainless steel appliances are, keeping them that way isn't always easy. In no time, they seem to collect sticky fingerprints and smears. Unfortunately, you're left with a visible record of every time the refrigerator door has been opened. Stainless steel requires careful cleaning in order to maintain its luster. Abrasive cleaners or those containing chlorine can cause … [Read more...]

DIY Tips For Making Your Own Foaming Soap Refills + Prettier Foam Soap Pump Bottles

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I used to spend a fortune on those foaming soap dispensers filled with Dawn dishwashing soap! Seriously. They're so darned convenient that I quickly became addicted. I was always on the hunt for good deals on little bottles of Dawn foaming dish soap. When the soap ran out and the bottles became empty, I would just toss the bottle and replace it with a new one. For awhile, I was thrilled to actually find Dawn foaming soap refill bottles. They weren't nearly as large or economical as the … [Read more...]

The Shelf Life Of Household Products & Cleaning Supplies – See How Long Things Last (Typically)

What's the shelf life of cleaning supplies?... Check here... photo by Collin Anderson on Flickr

Earlier, I wrote about the life expectancy of home components -- things like appliances, doors, flooring, faucets and fixtures. That got me wondering about the shelf life of other common things within our house -- like cleaning products and electronics. So I set out to see what I could find about how long other things last...   How Long Household Products & Cleaners Last Here's what Real Simple says about the shelf life of common household products like cleaners and … [Read more...]

Simple DIY Door Stops You Can Make Yourself + Other Super Cool And Unique Doorstops

Using a tube bottle as a door stop. photo by Lynnette at TheFunTimesGuide.com

It wasn't until I saw this tube door stopper that I realized an empty (or not-so-empty) tube of anything makes a cheap and easy DIY door stop! Plus-d is a Japanese company that actually sells colorful tubes that are similar to a tube of hand lotion, facial cleanser, etc. and markets them as doorstops to keep your doors propped open. While those tubes may be more fashionable and modern than your typical door stopper (and regular tubes of stuff, for that matter), I can't help but think … [Read more...]

Best Gutter Cleaning Tools For Removing Leaves & Debris From Your Gutters With Ease

Here's a list of the best gutter cleaning tools that make this household chore even easier. photo by by NathanReed on Flickr

Do you tend to put off cleaning the gutters until as late as possible? Maybe you even skipped doing it last year because it's such a dreaded household chore. Well, there's no need to put it off anymore thanks to some helpful products that make cleaning gutters easier than ever! Following are the best tools that help you clean the nastiness out of your gutters.   … [Read more...]

Fabric Softeners And Dryer Sheets: Myths vs Facts

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There are all sorts of bold statements -- both for and against -- using liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets these days. Of course, those who advocate living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle typically avoid using fabric softeners and dryer sheets altogether, or they may advocate using only those that are made from all-natural products instead -- like these natural fabric softeners and these natural dryer sheets. Besides the eco-friendly reasons to stop using fabric softeners … [Read more...]

Stylish Home Wallpaper Tips: Modern Wallpaper Designs + How To Hang Wallpaper Yourself

You may be wondering, "Who would even consider wallpapering in today's modern home?"  But, the fact is, many people do choose to use wallpaper as part of their home decorating scheme. And you know what? Wallpaper can actually look quite nice when selected and applied properly!   With today’s new peel and remove wallpaper, the old days of standing with a steamer and a scraper for days are pretty much over. If you haven’t looked at wallpaper in the past few years, … [Read more...]

Flower & Plant Zone Hardiness Maps Updated

Do you know what your plant zone is? One of the most important considerations in determining which plants you can grow in your garden is whether or not they will survive the climate in your area; in other words, it depends on what zone you live in. Gardeners need to compare the climate of their garden with the climate that their particular plant of choice grows best in. If you plant a perennial, shrub, or tree, the plant needs to be able to tolerate year-round conditions in our area, meaning … [Read more...]