Home Improvement

An unsightly stain on your favorite shirt or dress can be such an annoyance. Learn how to get stains out of clothes.

By Alia Hoyt & the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Once you've chosen new carpet for your home, the next step is to make sure it's properly installed. If you go the professional route versus tackling the job yourself, how do you choose the right vendor for the job?

By Thomas Moore

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

Whether it's a kitchen sink full of murky water or an overflowing lavatory, you've probably experienced a clogged drain before and reached for the drain cleaner. But how do drain cleaners work?

By Linda C. Brinson

Pepper spray is a common law enforcement and self-defense tool -- it's easy to carry and easy to use, and although it's extremely irritating and debilitating, it generally doesn't cause any problems in the long run. How does this spicy weapon work?

By Caitlin Uttley

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

You probably don't spend much time stressing over printer maintenance. Printers are generally pretty easy to use, but they can get dirty and clogged. How do you clean one effectively?

By Ed Grabianowski

If you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done, you might need a new way of organizing your tasks. Try these tips for setting a schedule and staying on track.

By Rebecca Regan

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

Deck fireplaces are "hot" outdoor accessories! We've five tips for installing one of these fireplaces on your personal patio.

By Alia Hoyt

If you want to scare a homeowner, there's one sure way to do it: Mention the word termite. It's important to always keep an eye out for them. Here's what to look for.

By Sara Elliott

Maybe your toilet won't ever be the prettiest fixture in your house, but it shouldn't be covered in ugly calcium deposits, either! Learn why these stains occur and how to banish them!

By Alia Hoyt

Minerals may be good for the body, but they're not so great for the toilet. How can you remove those nasty hard water stains they leave in your toilet bowl anyway?

By Terri Briseno

When you're searching for a new apartment to rent, the last thing you want to think about is probably the presence of pests. But if you ignore some telltale signs, you might find yourself inheriting unwanted critters.

By Jane McGrath

With nightmare stories of infestations, the old adage, "don't let the bed bugs bite," went from a harmless rhyme to an actual warning overnight. If you're on the road, how do you protect your belongings from these roach-like parasites?

By Julia Layton

With all of the parts involved, fireplaces can lose more heat than they provide. However, there are tools, tricks and green options so you can enjoy the look and warmth of a traditional fireplace.

By John Kelly

Sure, industrial and residential construction share some common traits. But in the grand scheme of things, the two fields are about as different as, well, night and day.

By John Perritano

Most people keep up with cleaning the toilet bowls, but the tanks are often overlooked. Which means mold and bacteria are festering!

By Emilie Sennebogen

You love to cook on your glass-top stove, but taking care of it isn't as simple as it seems. Burnt food and spills don't have to ruin the look of your stove or prevent you from cooking up a storm.

By Alia Hoyt & Stefani Newman

Your bedroom is a place for unwinding and leisure, but it gets just as messy as the rest of your home. If you're short on time but in need to clean, here are tips and tricks to spruce up your bedroom without spending the day straightening up.

By Stefani Newman

Granite countertops make lovely additions to any home, but they can become unsightly if you don't know how to clean them properly. We'll show you how.

By Marie Willsey