Home Improvement

There is at least one big advantage that the air outside the house has over the air inside the house. Check out this article to learn what that is.

What is plywood? Why do people use it so much? What about oriented strand board (OSB)?

Metal locks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and are made of various materials. Some locks have the words "Case Hardened" stamped on it. What does "Case Hardened" mean?

Clothes moths can be a real problem in clothes made from natural fibers (especially wool). To combat this, use moth balls. But first, read this article to find out what moth balls are made of and whether they are harmful to your health.

How can motion-sensing lights detect your presence, and what prevents them from seeing you when you're standing still? It all comes down to the movement of light.

What is this bumpy stuff on my ceiling that looks like popcorn or cottage cheese?

I have an electronic stud finder, and I am amazed at how well it works. How does it know where the studs are?

How does pressure-treated lumber work and can it be harmful to humans? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this helpful home improvement article.

Have you ever noticed that paper is listed in weights? What does this mean and how can a piece of paper weigh twenty pounds? Find out the answers in this article.

Circular saws can be so loud that a person may have to wear hearing protectors whenever using it. Vacuum cleaners are also as loud as a jet engine. How can a 30-inch table saw be so much quieter than a circular saw?

A lot of tools, like saw blades and drill bits, come with "carbide tips" that can be used for various purposes. But what is carbide and how does it enhance a tool? Find out about carbide and its many uses in this article.

Each time you flush the toilet or wash something down the sink's drain, you create sewage (also known in polite society as wastewater). Find out where it goes and how it's treated before it flows into a river near you!

By Marshall Brain

As the saying goes, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Smoke detectors are amazing: They're pretty inexpensive, but they save thousands of lives each year. Learn all about nuclear and light-sensing smoke detectors.

By Marshall Brain

Most of us are entirely dependent on electricity, so a power outage can become seriously annoying. Learn about the generators and inverters that can put an end to home power failures.

By Marshall Brain

A fascinating look inside a combination lock!

By Marshall Brain

Electric screwdrivers combine batteries, motors, gears and a switch into one extremely compact package. How can such a lightweight, handheld tool drill through tough wood or even metal?

By Marshall Brain

It seems simple enough -- a skylight is a window in your roof. But skylights do more than just light up your room. They can have a profound affect on your mood, too.

By John Fuller

Whether you've been eyeing a new kitchen countertop or a pair of boots for your arch mobster rival, concrete has many applications. What's the recipe for this durable, ubiquitous substance?

By Robert Lamb

The Big, Bad Wolf can huff and puff all he wants, but he'll never blow one of these roofs off. Could a concrete roof protect you from violent storms (and wolves), or will it make your walls buckle?

By Robert Lamb

It's all fun and games until your game system malfunctions. Why stare at a frozen screen in disbelief when you can prevent mishaps with regular cleaning? Here's how to keep things in working order.

By Chris Obenschain

For a lot of people, their shower is the sanctuary. A place to get away for a few minutes a day without any interruptions. It also can be a breeding ground for mold, mildew and grime. But, a few steps after you shower can deter the dirt.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Carpet used to almost be an afterthought, merely a decorative addition. Now it's one of the basic building materials that help determine a home's value. When you're shopping for carpet, the fiber will be your most important consideration.

By John Kelly

At the end of a long day, you want nothing more than to flop down in front of your flat-screen TV and zone out. But if you come face-to-face with a dusty, dirty LCD screen, you may want to clean it first. So how do you properly clean an LCD screen?

By Chelsea Hedquist

Cleaning glass, whether it's a window, a mirror or a coffee table, is more about the tools than the elbow grease. With the right stuff in your bucket, you can get your glass streak-free.

By Julia Layton & Alia Hoyt

You may not want to think about it now, but your shiny new cell phone will soon become encrusted with fingerprints, dust and all manner of filth. But how do you clean such a delicate piece of machinery? Very, very carefully.

By Dave Roos