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The Best Outdoor Furniture Brands, According to Experts
Looking to spruce up your backyard or patio area? We consulted with landscapers and designers to find the best outdoor furniture brands. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Learn more. You don’t need to be a design expert to...
The Best Amazon Prime Day Deals on Products We’ve Tested (and Vouch For!)
Looking to score a deal? We rounded up the best products we've tested that are on major discount during Amazon's 2024 Prime Day sales event. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Learn more. There are few certainties in life:...
Yeti French Press Review: A Coffee Connoisseur Gives Us Their Opinion
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. I’m a proud “weird coffee person,” which means I get nerdy about my morning cup of Joe. How weird am I? Well, as of this writing, I have about six different coffee-making devices ranging from moka pots to pour-overs.
I Tried the Fiskars Deluxe Stand-Up Weeder and It Didn’t Break the Bank or My Back
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Many of us love gardening and yard grooming, but few would say they love pulling weeds. Weed management is a nearly constant, labor-intensive activity that typically requires bending, stooping and kneeling to reach the weeds. The end result is usually a sore back, sore knees or both.
How To Test an Alternator
Save money and save your battery by testing your alternator with one simple tool. A faulty alternator can leave you stranded in rush hour traffic and damage your battery. If the alternator stops charging — or charges intermittently — the voltage the battery supplies the vehicle drops, and other systems may stop working or be adversely affected. If you've noticed your vehicle running low on juice, it's time to test the alternator and see if it's giving the battery what it needs.
How To Safely Neutralize and Remove Battery Acid
With over 50 years of experience in the auto repair industry, I’ve lost count of the repairs I have made due to corrosion caused by battery acid. Learning how to neutralize and remove battery acid safely offers great benefits. Most importantly, neutralizing and removing battery acid reduces the possibility of a no-start condition due to corroded battery terminals. Although the corrosion build-up (that powdery white or blue powder build-up) you see on a battery terminal is bad, it’s the corrosion you don’t see between the battery terminals and battery post that causes all the problems. Battery acid can also erode the hardware that secures your battery in place. A loose battery jouncing around when driving can short circuit, quickly causing a fire.
When Is the Best Time to Spray a Wasp Nest?
Wasps are, for the most part, harmless. Of the 18,000 or so species in North America, only a few present a risk to humans. The rest help keep insect populations like aphids and spiders in check, plus are important pollinators, helping our gardens, crops and wildlands flourish. So, just because you see a wasp doesn’t necessarily mean you have to reach for the spray can.
I Tried the Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Hot Tub—Here’s My Unbiased Review
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. True story: My partner and I were hemming and hawing about getting a hot tub for years. Each time we approached the conversation, the same questions would arise: Would we use it enough to make it worth the cost? Will we have to hire an electrician? And, last, will it be easy to maintain?
Ego Leaf Blower Review: I Tried It, and Here’s What You Need to Know
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. If you’re a weird leaf blower fanatic like I am, chances are super high that you have heard of the Ego 765 CFM leaf blower. This blower has received rave reviews from everyone under the sun who has had the privilege of laying hands on it. And I am one of those people. I first tested this blower in 2022, and it has not left my side since. This Ego leaf blower is the Taylor Swift of leaf blowers right now—a popular star everyone wants to see in person.
I Tried the Backyard Discovery Willow Greenhouse and I’m Raring to Get Growing
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Fun fact: Greenhouses can extend a growing season and raise temperatures on cold days by allowing filtered light through their windows. As a recent transplant back to the southern U.S., I had to be reminded of their warm-weather uses—diffusing direct sunlight and allowing for more control over temperature and humidity levels.
Master Using Levels and Plum Bobs with These 14 Tips
A plumb and level are essential for various building tasks. Here are tips on how to use them. Whether you’re hanging a picture or framing a house, plumb and level is essential. These tips show how to use plumb bobs and levels for a wide variety of building and decorating tasks.
What Is Window Header Framing and How Does It Work?
Whether remodeling, adding on or building “from scratch,” building strong, stable walls is a priority of any construction project. Then, opening after opening is cut into these walls to accommodate windows, entry doors and patio doors we love. Strange, yes. But if these openings are created correctly, we never have to fear our walls or houses will collapse. And that “right way” means using the structural support system that has been developed over the years to keep houses solid and happy.
Does Scattering Soap in the Yard Work to Repel Bugs and Animals?
Whether you have a cozy yard that requires minimal maintenance or a large expanse of lawn and patio space for entertaining, you have probably come across problems with unwanted insects or wildlife. Most of us want to find a way to manage outdoor living without harsh chemicals for the safety of family and pets who spend time outside in the summer months.
How to Thin Latex Paint for Spraying, Brushing, and Rolling
To thin or not to thin, that is the question. The answer? Thin latex paint if the manufacturer provides directions and it benefits your project. Paint formulas are carefully calculated to provide specific results, so changing paint’s physical makeup by thinning can void warranties and alter product performance if not recommended by the manufacturer.
We Tried the All-New EcoFlow Delta Pro 3: The Battery Generator to Power Your Entire Home
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. We’re in the process of customizing a classic camper for a colleague. One of his first requests was for it to include a portable power station that could double as a home backup system so that when the grid goes down, he doesn’t lose his year’s stash of elk meat. So when we got the chance to test the new EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 power station, we were particularly excited to see if it would be a good fit for him, as well as for others wanting a versatile home backup system that’s relatively affordable.
How to Install a Vapor Barrier in a Crawlspace
Many homes and additions are built over a crawl space to save time and money. Unlike traditional basements, crawl spaces are often only a few feet tall, built above grade, and many are unfinished with dirt floors. In these settings, moisture must be managed a little differently. Vapor barriers are...
How To Remove Drywall Anchors
Learning how to get anchors out of drywall is an essential part of basic home maintenance for both homeowners and renters alike. Learn how to remove drywall anchors like a pro. We'll show you easy ways to deal with stubborn anchors with minimal damage to the wall. Tools Required. Hammer.
Is Your Water Heater’s TPR Valve Leaking? Here’s What to Do
“Without a TPR valve, a water heater would be like a giant bomb in your house. In the early days of water heaters, before TPR valves existed, there were cases where the water heater would explode.” This warning comes from master plumber Robert Mazzacone, and if it doesn’t grab your attention, it should.
What Happened to Laundry Chutes?
In the early to mid-20th century, laundry chutes were popular in luxury homes. Nowadays, you’ll still see them in hospitals and hotels, where heaps of dirty linen need ferrying across multiple floors, but they’re rarely seen in modern homes. If you’re tired of collecting clothes from your teen’s...
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