Home Improvement

Our world is full of insects, and our first response to seeing one is usually to reach for a can of spray to zap it. Is this good idea? What's in your typical can of bug spray? And, could it harm you, too?

By Beth Brindle

Is one gallon of paint the same as the next? Not really. Find out if you can use that interior latex you fell in love with on the outside of your house, too.

By Maria Trimarchi

Painting the outside of your house can seem pretty daunting, but you can save a lot of money doing it yourself. This article will give you the tools to get started.

By Dave Roos

It takes more than a can of paint and a brush or roller to paint the outside of your house. Here are some other must-have tools to make the job look more professional.

By Laurie L. Dove

Your home is your castle, but unlike a castle, it probably requires a couple of coats of paint now and again. How frequent should your paint jobs be, and why?

By Maria Trimarchi

Summer doesn't seem as fun when you have an endless exterior house-painting job looming over you. To make it more enjoyable, let's play a game where we predict the house-painting mistakes you're about to make.

By Kate Kershner

The middle of an emergency is a lousy time to realize that fire extinguishers are more than a point-and-shoot proposition. Think you could manage one that you lob at the local inferno?

By Nicholas Gerbis

As you leave home on a winter morning, you may wonder whether to turn off your heat, turn it down or let it maintain a cozy temperature. Which will save the most energy and money? The answer might surprise you.

By Chris Opfer

If you live in an apartment building, you're sure to see a sign put up by management to keep your faucet dripping when the weather report forecasts freezing temperatures. But why is that? How does a dripping tap keep pipes from bursting?

By Laurie L. Dove

Most expensive home repairs come from items we don't pay attention to every day – like the roof or foundation. And yet, routine maintenance is often very cheap. Which items should you focus on most to avoid costly replacements and repairs later?

By Dave Roos

Keep your marble looking like new with these simple tips.

By Tanya Edwards

Keeping your water softener clean prevents costly repairs.

By Sarah Fernandez

Keep your fancy old tub looking fabulous.

By Tanya Edwards

Avoid the bacteria and soap scum in your bathtub jets with these simple cleaning tips.

By Sarah Fernandez

Clean shower mold simply and effectively before it becomes a bigger problem than it needs to be.

By Sarah Fernandez

Lime spots from hard water can show up on just about any surface in your bathroom. But getting rid of those ugly marks isn’t usually too difficult, especially if you make it part of your regular cleaning routine.

By Tanya Edwards

Keep your tub free of streaky lime and calcium deposits.

By Tanya Edwards

Spend less time in the laundry room with these easy tips.

By Blythe Copeland

Keep your shower head clean with these tips.

By Tanya Edwards

Add tile to your kitchen backsplash to make a big impact without spending a lot of time (or money!).

By Blythe Copeland

There’s a lot of hidden dirt in your home, but it’s not that hard to clean – if you know where to look.

By Tanya Edwards

Keep your stainless appliances looking sleek with these cleaning tips.

By Tanya Edwards

Low-maintenance vinyl windows are easy to clean – if you know where to start.

By Tanya Edwards

Cleaning the windows is easier if you keep these supplies on hand.

By Tanya Edwards

This dreaded chore can be a breeze with a few simple tips.

By Sarah Fernandez