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Why Are Your Dishwasher Pods Not Dissolving?
Consumers love convenience. Is it smaller, easier, more efficient? Sign us up. Doing the dishes got three seconds faster once we compacted detergent into a pod, because pods take the guesswork out of it. No mess, no measuring. But there’s one drawback: Sometimes dishwasher detergent pods don’t dissolve all the way.
11 Pro Tips for How To Paint Trim
Walls, windows, floors and doors have a few things in common. First, they’re all surrounded by trim. And they’re also subject to daily wear and tear that can take a real toll on your home’s appearance. Think of trim as the framework that lets the rest of your home shine, almost like a framed piece of art.
10 New Award-Winning Vegetables for 2024
Sometimes, newer really is better. Meet some recent All-America Selections winners that are a distinct improvement over previous vegetable varieties. Plant breeders are always improving upon existing varieties. It could be a tomato with greater disease resistance, a sweeter melon, or a pepper with better staying power. As a result, some varieties I grew up with in the 1970s have been replaced by better options.
We Tried the Earthwise Electric Snow Shovel and Wish We’d Bought It Long Ago
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. In a love/hate relationship with winter? Well, don’t let the thought of shoveling snow get you down. We found the right tool for the job. The Earthwise 16-inch Electric Corded Snow Shovel is so easy (and, dare we say, fun?) to use, that you’ll look forward to the next snowfall. While manual snow removal can be a chore, this miniature electric snow blower takes the exhaustion out of the equation.
We Tested the Bissell SpinWave + Vac All-in-One Powered Spin-Mop and Vacuum
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. In the last few months, I’ve tested more than your average amount of vacuums—Bissell vacuums in particular. I’ve become quite partial to the brand’s cleaning solutions, from the upright carpet cleaners to the pet stain erasers. Bissell’s best carpet cleaners can clean anything from upholstery to pet stains, so I was eager to try the Bissell SpinWave + Vac All-in-One that claims to vacuum and mop at the same time for a more efficient clean. Read on for my full Bissell SpinWave review.
How To Get Rid of Sugar Ants In Your Home
In Florida, one easy way to pick out tourists from locals is watching how people eat lunch. Rest a half-eaten banana on the picnic table? Tourist. Wipe up a drip of jam immediately? Local. That drip may attract invasive sugar ants, which are a huge hassle to have in your...
Can Stainless Steel Go In the Dishwasher?
Many professional and amateur chefs consider stainless steel the best cookware material. It’s strong, scratch-resistant and stylish. But is it safe to put in your dishwasher?. The answer is yes — most of the time. But there are exceptions. And it might not be the best way to clean...
I Tried the Spengar IR Paint Stripper and Love Removing Paint Without the Chemicals
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. When it comes to removing paint you have several options and none of them usually seem appealing. There’s the chemical option wherein you pull on industrial-grade rubber gloves, PPE and lay out a tapestry of protective tarps. You read instructions, gather chemical-worthy containers, set aside a few sacrificial brushes and rags and get to work. When you’re done, egads, what do you do with all the leftover rags and chemical waste?
8 Stylish DIY Loft Bedroom Ideas
A loft is an open living space directly under the roof of a house. By definition, that’s where you would expect to find a loft bedroom. But more often, the term “loft bedroom” denotes style or design rather than location. In this case, an element of the room (usually the bed) is elevated above the rest of the space.
I Tried Anker’s Solix F3800 Portable Power Station with 240V Power
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Portable power stations have become integral to my partner’s and my life. We use them while working off-grid to run tools and charge batteries. We rely on them, coupled with solar panels, to power our camping van conversion. And when a recent storm knocked out our home electricity, we plugged in our fridge to save hundreds of dollars in groceries. But until now, there was one thing our power stations couldn’t do for us: run our 240V welding machine. So when we heard that the Anker power station was coming out, we eagerly anticipated its arrival.
How To Get Rid of Maggots In Your Home
For those of us who stumbled upon a cache of maggots, it’s an unforgettable sight. There’s something particularly disgusting about them. Maybe it’s because they signal spoiled food or dead animals. Or maybe we just don’t see them often enough to normalize them as a regular process of nature.
I Live in a Van, and I Swear By the Jackery Generator
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Living on the road, electricity is a commodity. Charging your devices and running essential appliances like a refrigerator isn’t as simple as plugging cords into an outlet. Well, it is, and it isn’t: My van is indeed equipped with standard 120-volt household outlets, as well as USB ports and 12-volt outlets. However, the integrated 320-Ah battery in my campervan has limitations, and I must be wary of power usage in a way I didn’t have to be when living in an apartment, house or condo.
24 Tips for Wiring Light Switches and Outlets
Play it smart and stay safe when wiring outlets and switches. We’ll show you how to wire three-way switches. The wiring is more complicated than a traditional single-pole switch, but we’ll explain how to make the connections. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to control a light from two switches.
What Are Toilets Made Out Of?
A modern toilet exists as something of a contradiction. By virtue of its function, it’s far from a sanitary item. Yet it’s manufactured to be one of the easiest-to-clean items in a home. And while toilets are amazingly durable — they can stay in service for a century...
I Tried the Halo Pizza Oven, and It Made Restaurant-Quality Pizza at Home
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. I was born and raised in New York City, where pizza isn’t just a food—it’s a religion that preaches that at-home pizzas are akin to blasphemy. This sin can be forgiven, however, if you have a pizza oven that can replicate the hot temperatures found in brick pizza ovens. Could the Halo Pizza Oven be the answer to my prayers? While not as well-known as the Ooni Pizza Oven or the Solo Stove Pizza Oven attachment, the Halo Versa 16 won the 2022 Retailers’ Choice Award and comes with features that have impressed rookie and expert pizza makers alike.
4 Emergency Substitutes for Dishwasher Detergent
Out of dishwasher detergent? We've got you covered!. You’re out of dishwasher detergent, and you have a sink full of dishes. What to do?. Sure, you can hand wash dishes, but that cabinet full of household cleaners looks pretty inviting. Is there anything you can sub for the detergent without harming your dishwasher, your dishes or your family?
How To Use a Dishwasher Properly
Do you use your dishwasher? It’s not that crazy of a question. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly 20% of U.S. households have a dishwasher but don’t use it. I went without a dishwasher for 20 years and washed a lot of dishes by hand. So...
Why Is Water Dripping from My Bathroom Fan?
If you see water stains in the drywall around your bathroom exhaust fan, or water dripping from the fan itself, the most likely issue is condensation in the fan duct. Of course, there’s always the possibility of a roof leak. “I had a customer call just yesterday and explain...
How To Get Rid of Groundhogs In a Humane Way
Groundhogs are adorable, unless they’ve eaten all your lettuce and dug big holes in your driveway. Well, even then they’re still pretty darling. But if they’ve become too bothersome and you want them out, some solutions don’t require lethal measures. First, don’t panic just because you...
10 Shower Niche Ideas for Your Bathroom
If you’re remodeling your bathroom, including a shower niche is a good idea. What exactly is a shower niche? Basically, a convenient place to put small items. “A shower niche is a space that is recessed into your shower wall and intended to store such things as shampoo, soap, razors, etc.,” says tile expert James Upton. “It gets those items off the ground and at a height that can be easily reached while showering.”
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