Our best tricks for whiter whites and vibrant colors. Whites and brightly colored fabrics may become yellowed, dingy, or dull over time. Stains from sweat and dirt and too-frequent washing also make perfectly clean clothes and linens appear faded or grungy. Credit:BHG / Alicia Long Be careful when mixing household or laundry products, and even homemade remedies. Always follow instructions and give a shot to use known-irritants in a well-ventilated area....

Learn the steps required to winterize and safely store a pressure washer during colder months. However, simply storing apressure washerisn’t enough to ensure the safety of this popular tool. Use this guide to learn how to winterize a pressure washer and safely store this garden tool. Credit:Getty Images / Irina Shatilova You may need to turn the pressure washer on for a short period to empty the fuel tank fully....

Prepare for cold weather and prevent damage to pipes with our guide to winterizing a sprinkler system. The water lines run underground to evenly spaced sprinkler heads, making it easy to water the yard. Additionally, some sprinkler systems pair with an automatic timer for a set-it-and-forget-it operation. Credit:Dave Toht To ensure your irrigation system is properly prepared for winter, follow this guide to winterize a sprinkler system. Automatic Draining This can only be done with sprinkler systems that have an automatic drain function....

Protect strawberry plants from cold damage with these autumn care tips. June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral strawberries can all be grown as perennials in most areas. Andy Lyons Why Winterize Strawberries? Credit:Andy Lyons Most strawberry plants can technically overwinter in growingUSDA Zones 4 and warmer. However, extreme cold temperatures can prove fatal to strawberry plants if they dont have extra winter protection. If temperatures dropbelow 15F, unprotected strawberry plants will likely die back and not return the following year....

Porches are an extension of the home. Jean Allsopp Luckily, there are ways to get more use out of your porch in the winter. Use these steps to winterize yourscreened-in porchand make it a cozy getaway all season long. Credit:Jean Allsopp Brie Williams 1. Clean It Out Before prepping your porch for winter, give it a deep clean. Sweep out any dust and dirt, andwipe debris off screensand surfaces, includingporch furniture....

Lay a strong foundation for a concrete block wall with these simple steps. prior to beginning, become familiar with block terminology. The concrete that forms the block is called the web. The cavities within the block are called cores. A stretcher block is the common block with ears, or flanges, on the ends. Stretcher blocks make up the middle of a wall between end blocks and corner blocks. Leads are the built-up corners of a wall and are three or four courses high....

Metal studs are a great choice when installing a new wall. Getting Started Metal studs save money and are easy to install. Metal studs have precut holes designed to accommodate electrical and plumbing lines. Always use the special bushings designed to protect wiring. Lay the channels where you want them and fasten to the ground and ceiling using a drill and screws. Slide the studs into channels at the bottom and top of the wall....

Keep all those fillings from spilling out using a sandwich wrap paper of your choice and these tips. Ahh, picnic season. (And of course, the entire family is happy and well-behaved.) Credit: Blaine Moats The number of times I’ve experienced this: zero. Using somesandwich recipe inspirationand these wrapping tips, fillings will stay in place and off my pristine picnic blanket. Beeswax sandwich wraps are one reusable option to buy, or you might make your own....

Ditch the wrapping paper and learn to wrap your gifts with fabric this holiday season. This eco-friendly swap couldn’t be easier. But once our gifts are unwrapped, the wrapping paper goes into the trash. Credit: Jacob Fox (Most wrapping papers can’t be recycledbecause of all the dyes, laminates, and shiny additives.) Swapping outwrapping paperfor pretty fabric is one of our favoriteeasy ways to go green. You will not only be green but also save green....

Think Inside and Outside the Box Part of the fun of gift-giving is the presentation. You want to build anticipation and convey that you put thought into how your package might delight your recipient. Or try using colored cellphone wrap and decorative tape. Credit:Brie Goldman We’ll show you how to wrap a gift like a pro in just a few easy steps. Place Gift in a Box Wrapping a present is easier if it’s placed in a box....

Turn a store-bought floral arrangement into a sweet thoughtful gift with our favorite bouquet wraps and free gift tags. Here we’ll show you which wraps go well with different bouquets. You’ll also get inspiration for how to style our free printable gift tags. Credit:Adam Albright These finishing touches will make any last-minute flower gift feel special regardless of the occasion. Aftersplattering the paper with paintand a brush, let it fully dry....

In many parts of the country, water resources are becoming scarcer. That’s why it’s a good idea to landscape your home using water-wise techniques. Called xeriscaping, this process will help you have a less thirsty backyard. Here’s how to do it. Xeriscaping Defined So what is xeriscaping? In this front yard, drought-resistant plants are staged around boulders that help block runoff after storms. Improve Soil The first step in creating a water-wise landscape is to improve your soil....

You don’t have to be a tree expert to pick a tree by shape. Whether you want a cone-shaped tree or a tree with horizontal branches, we have tree ideas for you. They aren’t necessarily narrow, but they appear to be because of the branching pattern. Many commonly known trees are available in columnar versions. These typically smaller, ornamental trees soften the hardscape. Many commonly known trees are available in a weeping form....