Household Tips

Why I Like Costco (...So Do Celebrities & Costco Employees!)

Costco is a wholesale membership club where you can purchase food in bulk and also take advantage of group price rates on every day items like cameras, televisions, computers, clothing, and more. 

There's a lot of talk these days about Costco's employee benefits and even celebrity sightings at Costco (more on that in a minute).

First, here's a little about why I shop at Costco, plus tips for shopping at Costco (formerly known as Price Club)...

Continue reading: Why I Like Costco

Bona Spray Mop vs Shark Steam Mop - Which Is Best For Hardwood Floors?

When we moved into our new house recently, I was faced with the challenge of finding a way to keep all of these hardwood floors as beautiful and clean as they were the day we moved in.

I have to be honest. We had hardwood floor in the kitchen and dining room of our old house, and we did not do a good job with those floors. We used harsh floor cleaners and waxy polishes, without thinking twice. After the first year, they never looked good again. They were also a softer oak floor (not laminate though), and we raised 3 dogs on those floors. So, you can imagine what they looked like when we moved out after 8 years!

That's exactly why I vowed to take extra special care of our new hardwood floors. I was only going to use "the best" cleaning products on them, and I would try to keep the dog running in the house to a minimum -- in order to prevent dog claw marks.

Here's my review of the Shark steam mop, compared to the Bona Spray Mop, plus my findings on the best liquid hardwood floor cleaner...

Continue reading: Shark Steam Mop vs Bona Spray Mop

Laser Back Hair Removal For Men: Is It Better Than Waxing? Better Than Electrolysis?

It's said that there is only a 2% difference between the DNA of a man compared to the DNA of a chimpanzee.

Unfortunately for some men, this evolutionary similarity has resulted in their backs (and other body parts) being covered with thick, coarse hair.

In some instances, back hair can be not only unsightly and uncomfortable, but it can also present health problems. Beyond causing itching and skin irritation, body odor can be an issue, as can infection from ingrown hairs.

Laser back hair removal is an FDA-approved method of safe hair removal that is a more permanent solution than the use of hair removal creams, waxing, electrolysis, and shaving.

TIP: It's been found that laser treatments are most effective with those who have dark hair and light skin.

 

 

Continue reading: Laser Back Hair Removal For Men

Leaf Blowers vs Leaf Rakes - Which Is Best & Why?

Wow, if this isn't a hot topic!

No matter where you live, or how much you like your neighbors, the minute a neighbor fires up a noisy leaf blower, you're at their mercy and have to deal with the loud noise & air pollution. 

Still, leaf blowers are commonly seen as the simpler, faster option when it comes to gathering leaves.

But are they really more efficient than raking?...

Continue reading: Leaf Blowers vs Leaf Rakes

Do's & Don't When Making A Rain Barrel For Rainwater Collection

Rain barrels are all the rage these days!

Did you know that 623 gallons of water can be harvested from 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof?

In terms of rain barrels, a typical 1/2-inch rainfall will fill a 50- to 55-gallon barrel.

Here are some fun and easy ways to make your own rain barrel:

• Build Your Own Rain Barrel
   
• Super Cheap & Easy DIY Rain Barrel
   
• How To Make A Rain Barrel
   
• 3 Cheap Rain Barrels That Actually Look Nice
   
• How To Start A Home Rain Barrel Project
   
• The EPA's Tips For Making A Rain Barrel
   
• 3 Ways To Make A Rain Barrel For Less Than $10
  
• Step-By-Step How To Make A Rain Barrel
   

Continue reading: How To Make A Rain Barrel

9 DIY Fire Fragrances To Make Your Chiminea Or Fireplace Smell Really Aromatic

Once the weather starts to cool down, it's nice to spend some relaxing time in front of the fireplace.

If you have a deck or patio and the temperatures don't get below freezing, then it's fun to spend some time outdoors in front of a chiminea or fire pit as well.

Do you know what would make those warm fires even more enjoyable? Having a really unique fire fragrance fill the air around you!

There are all sorts of things you can burn in your chiminea or fireplace that will give off wonderful aromas. And the best part: many of them are items you can find right in your home or in your backyard!

Here's how to make your own fire fragrance for your fireplace or chiminea...

Continue reading: 9 DIY Fire Fragrances

Yard Aeration: How & When To Aerate Your Lawn

If your lawn has brittle little blades of grass rather than a thick plush surface, it may be suffering from compacted soil.

This prevents the root system of your grass from penetrating and growing to its fullest potential. It also prevents water from penetrating through to the roots when the rains fall.

The end result? Moisture runs off into the drainage ditch and your lawn misses out on the nourishment it needs to thrive and grow into a lush green lawn.
 

Compressed soil makes it difficult for earthworms to perform their jobs and therefore causes thatch to accumulate. Such a problem will continue to worsen unless something is done to loosen up the surface layer of soil so that the soil can access fresh air.  Source

Aerating your lawn means to provide air -- and, in turn, water and nutrients -- for your grass to grow.

Continue reading: How & When To Aerate Your Lawn

14 Unique Rakes With A Purpose - From Leaf Rakes To Garden Rakes And Everything In Between

Odds are, if you head to the garage for a rake, you will probably grab one of these:

• A standard leaf rake.

Lawn rakes or leaf rakes have 2 designs: straight edge or sweep (broom). Straight edge rakes pull leaves and debris toward the user, gathering up heavier trash such as sticks and stones. Sweep rakes are used like a broom. They pull or sweep the leaves and debris past the user. Sweep rakes are fan shaped, better ones with spring-steel teeth of graduated lengths for a straight leading edge. Others have a rounded leading edge.  Source

• Or, a garden rake.

Garden rakes are used to break up and smooth soil after it has been spaded and cultivated. They have sharp, curved teeth of high-carbon steel to pulverize dirt clods, and straight backs to level the soil for planting.  Source

Those 2 rakes should be able to address the majority of your raking needs, year after year.

However, for more serious yard tool aficionados, those 2 rakes barely scratch the surface! There are actually many different possibilities when it comes to types of rakes and their unique capabilities.

Perhaps one of these unique rakes will meet your needs better than the standard leaf rake or garden rake...

Continue reading: 14 Unique Rakes With A Purpose!

12 Lawn, Garden & Home Projects That Should Be On Your Fall To-Do List

Before you know it, cooler winds will start blowing in and winter will be here to stay. 

There are so many things that need to get done around the house before the snow starts falling.

Following are 12 household projects that should probably be at the top of your fall chores checklist...

Continue reading: 12 Projects For Your Fall To Do List

Bounty Paper Towels: How Much Mess Will One Roll Really Pick Up?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Thankfully, Rob at Cockeyed put a roll of Bounty paper towels to the test -- like no one else can. You see, Rob likes to measure things... and count things... and figure out how things work.

His little household experiment with a roll of paper towels reveals just how many spills one roll of Bounty paper towels can really absorb!

See the results...

Continue reading: Bount Paper Towels Experiment