Set up laundry room plumbing and install a washing machine with these expert tips. Kimberly Gavin you could’t just buy a washing machine, bring it home, and hope it works. These dutiful appliances need to be hooked up to a water supply and draining system first. Credit:Kimberly Gavin These valves look like outdoor hose bibs but point straight down. The drain for either of these must slope down at a rate of 1/4 inch per running foot....
Ditch the grocery bags and learn how to sew a market bag with a roomy interior and practical pockets. A handy exterior strapdesigned tohold a fresh bouquetprevents excess water from dripping inside the bag. Its sure to become your go-to weekend bag. Credit:Better Homes & Gardens you’re able to even tuck apicnic lunch, purse, or smallerDIY totesin this roomy bag. Fuse to the wrong side of the handles, centering down the middle of the strips....
Freshly-sharpened garden shears are the key to making clean cuts in your landscaping. Lakeview_Images / Getty Images Working with dull tools can turnpruning tasks into an unpleasant chore. Here’s how to sharpen garden shears that arent making clean cuts. Credit:Lakeview_Images / Getty Images The following steps work for bypass pruners, anvil pruners, and loppers. However, if yours dont come apart, skip the first step and follow the rest. Sharpening blades involves working with very sharp edges....
If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. Your grass will look tidier and stay healthier after its mowed with a sharp blade. When you know how to sharpen alawn mowerblade, youll get thatnice, clean edgeon each blade of grass. Credit: Peter Krumhardt A dull blade can tear the grass and leave it more susceptible to disease from the exposed tissues. When the grass is cleanly cut, the blade is better able to absorb water....
New shirt too big but you’re able to’t return it? Try shrinking your clothes with these expert tips. Blaine Moats Shrinking your new wool sweater after washing it is acommon laundry mistakethats pretty frustrating. Credit:Blaine Moats But there might be occasions when you want to downsize something from your wardrobe. Garments with synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, are less likely to shrink, she says. Some fabrics, like wool, can shrink very rapidly....
Bonus: Smoking frees up so much space in the oven! Roasting turkeyfor yourThanksgiving menuor a Sunday dinnerwill never go out of style, if you ask us. But if you ask Americans who are searching for recipes and how-to guides online, smoked is superior. Credit:Jason Donnelly Locals in the other 45 states were on a quest to learn more about how to smoke a turkey. Its an easy way to get a lot of flavor....
Have you been itching to learn how to smoke food? Once you try it, you may never go back to plainburgers on the grill. Plus, try a few smoked food recipes using the techniques. Credit: Peter Krumhardt Before you get started, there are different ways of smoking food you should know about. Here are the general steps you’ll follow to make a DIY smoker. They work best for recipes that need tosmoke for longer than 30 minutes....
Here are 4 ways to soften butter fast so youll always be ready to start baking. Soft butter mixes much easier with flour and sugar in batters orcookie doughthan hard, cold butter. Here are butter softening methods for both salted and unsalted butter. Credit:BHG/Andrea Araiza No part of it should be melted. Softened butter is not the same asmelted butterand the two cannot be used interchangeably. The timing will vary depending on the room temperature and how cold the butter is....
Roast your Thanksgiving turkey in a fraction of the time with the same juicy results. Spatchcocking yourThanksgiving turkeyhelps accomplish the juiciest, most eye-catching star of the table youve ever served. What Is a Spatchcock Turkey? Credit:Carson Downing. Food Styling: Lauren McAnelly Spatchcocking is a cooking technique that refers to butterflying a bird to prepare it for cooking. Essentially, you are removing the backbone so it can lie flat on the pan....
Protect your plants from diseases by knowing the symptoms to watch for and practicing prevention. Plant diseases are likely to make an appearance in just about any garden from time to time. Other diseases can mean game over, no matter what. Credit: Kindra Clineff What Causes Plant Diseases? Ideal conditions (e.g., humid, dry, or cloudy) allow the disease to develop. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that live on various kinds of organic matter....
Give these houseplant pests the boot for good. But don’t panic. Most common houseplant pests can be controlled with a few simple techniques and a little patience. Credit: Marty Baldwin “There are no quick fixes and it will take time and dedication to manage the pests.” Here’s how to get rid of the most common houseplant pests you may find. Scales Scales are soft-bodied insectsthat suck plant sap. Credit: emer1940 / Getty Images...
Learn how to free up space in your laundry room by stacking the washer and dryer. Here are steps for safely stacking your washer and dryer so they stay put even during the spin cycle. If you’re purchasing new models, consult the retailer to confirm your potential purchase is stackable. Credit:David Land Safety Considerations You shouldn’t ever stack machines that aren’t intended to be stacked. Just because awasher and dryer are front-loadingdoesn’t mean you might safely stack them....
Staining your deck provides fresh color and added protection from the elements. Learn the steps to stain a deck for a major style boost. Deck staining does more than add beautiful color to your outdoor space. Credit: Anthony Masterson If the water beads on top, your deck staining is likely good for another few months. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure proper software. Most deck staining can be done in one weekend, plus a few days of dry time....
