7 Spring Flowers That Will Add Instant Color to Your Garden

These annuals and perennials will fill your garden with beautiful spring flowers. Kickstart your spring garden with these planting suggestions that will instantlyadd cheery color to your containersand flower beds. Head to your local garden center and fill your cart with these pretty annual and perennial plants. Credit: Peter Krumhardt They’ll pair well with otherearly-blooming flowersyou may already have in your yard, includingcrocus,daffodils, andtulips. “And because they are cold tolerant, late-season chills or even snows wont deter them from blooming....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 587 words · Jennifer Harris

7 Stain Removal Mistakes You Might be Making

Preserve your favorite garments by avoiding these common stain-removal slip-ups with the help of a laundry expert. To help prepare you for unavoidable, we turned to the experts. Letting Stains Sit One of the most crucial errors you might make is waiting totreat stains. Credit:BHG / Alicia Long Essentially, time is of the essence when it comes toremoving stainsso dont wait to act. However, youre missing a potentially crucial step in the stain removal process....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 264 words · Timothy Johnson

7 Steps for Planting Bare Root Trees in Your Yard

Here’s how to plant bare root trees properly. Many types of trees such asapplesand oaks are sold as bare root trees. Dean Schoeppner What Is a Bare Root Tree? Credit:Dean Schoeppner Bare root trees are harvested and shipped while they are still in their winter dormancy. The key to success is keeping the trees in this dormant state until they are ready for planting. Adequate moisture and just-right cool temperatures keep trees dormant....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 449 words · Samuel Williams

7 Steps That Made These Chocolate Chip Cookies King Arthur’s 2024 Recipe of the Year

A few simple steps and ingredient adjustments take these CCCs to the next level. King Arthur Baking Co. We know everyone has different tastes: chewy vs. crispy;double-chocolatevs.oatmeal-infused;barsvs.no-bake. (2024 marks the brands 11th Recipe of the Year.) Credit:King Arthur Baking Co. Here are the 7 special steps that make this cookie recipe stand out. Use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour. Your finished product should come out fairly similar. Credit:King Arthur Baking Co....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 312 words · Christopher Green

7 Surprising Uses for Irish Spring Soap Around the House

It doesnt only clean your skin but also helps fix some pesky problems around the house. Bloomberg / Getty Images Since 1970, Irish Spring soap has been a staple in households worldwide. The soap gained popularity thanks in part to commercials featuring scenes of Irelands countryside and catchy slogans. Credit:Bloomberg / Getty Images Fun factsaside, Irish Spring soap has more functions than bathing andhandwashing. Read on to find out how to put a bar of Irish Spring soap to work in your home....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 257 words · Patrick Gonzales

7 Tasty Summer Slow Cooker Meals for a Cool Kitchen

Your slow cooker isnt just for winter soups and stews. Keep the kitchen heat to a minimum with these fresh and flavorful summer slow cooker meals. Unlike your oven, these fresh, flavorful, and creative dishes wont overwhelm your kitchen with heat. Credit: Scott Little Slather ciabatta bread with pesto mayo and layer on the slow-cooked chicken, mushroom, and zucchini blend. Slice and split for a recipe that puts a Tuscan spin on the classicchicken sandwich....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 172 words · Jose Le

7 Things to Clean with Windex (Besides Windows!)

This iconic glass cleaner can be used for much more than just your windows. Suntorn Somgtong / Getty Images Windex has been a key player in thehousehold cleaningbusiness since its invention in 1936. While originally intended for cleaning windows, Windex’s spot-free cleaning abilities don’t stop there. Credit:Suntorn Somgtong / Getty Images Also, never mix Windex with bleach to avoid creation of toxic gases. Mirrors Make spotty and dusty mirrors shinewith Windex....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 299 words · Kimberly Reed

7 Things You Should Never Clean with Paper Towels (and What to Use Instead)

AzmanJaka/Getty Images Paper towels are aconvenient cleaning tool, but theyre not always suitable for every surface or task. Glass Paper towels might seem safe for cleaning glass, but theyre far from your best option. Paper towels tend to leave a linty residue, making glass furniture, windows, andmirrors look dusty. Credit:AzmanJaka/Getty Images First, microfiber cloths are non-abrasive, trap dust, and are much more eco-friendly than paper towels. They wont harm glass or mirrors, and they won’t leave any residue....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 245 words · Denise Cain

7 Thoughtful Ways to Celebrate National Best Friends Day

This June 8, let your besties know how much you love and appreciate them. It may surprise you that National Best Friends Day is an actual holiday to celebrate your BFFs. But why celebrate friendship? Credit: Tim Robberts/Getty Images It turns out that spending time with close friends has some surprising health benefits. 22% of people live longer if they have a data pipe of close friends. Plus, people who spend time with friendshave a decreased chance of developing depression and anxiety....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 251 words · Jeanne Kane

7 Tiny Home Takeaways These Real-Life Owners Want You to Know

Prepare for Unexpected Costs Tammy Sonspurchased a tiny home on a lake in Tennessee two years ago. I wish I’d known land prices had increased so much before we got our hearts set on one. Land prices have skyrocketed, Sons says. Credit:Getty Images / Tony Anderson In addition to hefty land costs, Sons recalls a few other key expenses that surprised her. The septic cost us thousands. That was totally unexpected, she says....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 450 words · Elizabeth Hill

7 Tips for Enjoying a Solo Thanksgiving

Heres how to make the most ofand enjoyyour table for one this holiday. This opens up the ability to experience everything more deeply, peacefully and enjoyablyregardless of external circumstances." Tracy Thomas, Ph. Credit: Westend61/Getty Images So, find the bright spots amidst the chaos. If so, keep your phone in a drawer and stop scrolling through updates from friends and family. If youdofind joy in connecting and communicating online, feel free to log on....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 300 words · Mr. Thomas Little

7 Tips for Growing Milkweed from Seed to Attract Monarch Butterflies

Growing milkweed from seed is an easy way to make your garden a monarch landing zone. Kindra Clineff Growing milkweed from seed is one of the easiest ways to help declining monarch butterflies. In December 2024, the U.S. “The use of pesticides and the loss of habitat and food sources are the main culprits. Credit:Kindra Clineff The hardest part may be deciding which key in to plant. Use these expert tips on growing milkweed from seed to get started....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 304 words · Andrew Chapman

7 Tips for How to Stake Tomatoes to Get a Better Harvest

While staking tomatoes takes time and effort, the results are worth it. Blaine Moats 1. The height of the staking system depends on the pop in of tomato. Credit:Blaine Moats Tomato varieties are divided into two groups based on how they grow:determinate and indeterminate. Determinate tomato types grow to a certain height, usually 3 or 4 feet tall, then stop growing. They flower and fruit within a few weeks. Credit: Carson Downing...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 389 words · Alvin Burnett