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)...

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...

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.

 

 

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?...

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
   

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...

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.

• 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...

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...

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...

Please do keep one thing in mind though: Skin cancer is no joke.

You and your friends can get a FREE skin cancer screening at a Dermatologist's office in your area!

If you haven't revised your suntanning procedures yet -- in search of safer alternatives for getting a tan -- now may be the time to do so.

Following are a few things to keep in mind the next time you think you want a tan, including the "safest" ways to get a tan... if you must.

It's not that my legs are bad looking, but darn it, they are definitely not what I'd call long and tan.

Since I'm barely over 5 feet tall, I've had to accept that maybe my legs are never going to look long, tan and sexy.

Oh well. There are still a few things I can do to firm and tone my legs and keep them looking great.

If you want to firm & tone your legs and get sexy legs... fast, then try these tips!

I especially do it wrong when I'm folding fitted sheets!

No matter how hard I try, I just can't get past anything other than a lopsided lump when I'm folding fitted sheets.

So I went back to an article I posted awhile ago about How To Fold Anything.

It's always been a popular article, so I figured it was time to heed  my own advice...

This time, it was easier because I have added 2 new dusting tools to my arsenal of housecleaning gear. They are:

• a ceiling fan duster
   
• a mini-blind duster

See how I found the best dusters for cleaning ceiling fans and mini-blinds, and why I think these are 2 of the best dusting tools around. (Especially the ceiling fan duster!)...

But before you spend a fortune on a new mattress, here's an interesting tip from ShopSmart Mag (June/July 2009):

If your mattress is 8 years old or older, it's probably time to get a new one, especially if you aren't sleeping as well as you used to. In a survey of 5,900 ConsumerReports.org subscribers who had bought a mattress within the last 5 years, nearly 75% said they slept better on the new mattress. Price didn't matter. Most were happy whether they chose top-of-the-line or bought a budget-friendly model. The secret to satisfying slumber shopping: Spend at least 10 minutes lying on each mattress before making your choice. 

That Advice Came In Handy...

For the past couple years, my wife and I have been suffering from inadequate sleep. We've been tossing and turning, waking up with aches and pains, and often just giving up only to go watch some late night infomercials.

With various bent springs and sadly sagging stuffing, the problem was pretty obvious. We had waited too long to replace our old mattress. The only problem was our budget wasn't going to allow us to spend $1,000 or more for a replacement mattress. Instead, we went looking for a sale and settled on a middle-of-the-road mattress to meet our needs.

Before we bought our new mattress, we did a lot of research. Following are some tips to help you make an educated selection when the time comes to replace your mattress...