Home Improvement

Have you ever wondered how a house is built? Or what holds up the ceiling and walls? And how do you keep the rain out? It's a complex process that involves quite a bit more than you may think.

By Marshall Brain

Before the handy ballpoint, getting a few sentences onto paper was a pretty involved task. Find out how the ballpoint pen stores and manages its own ink supply to make writing a snap.

By Melissa Russell-Ausley

Today's high-tech panic rooms are a far cry from fallout shelters of the past. You can have a basic reinforced closet -- or a luxury security den with an arsenal of weapons.

By Tiffany Connors

A forced-air distribution system is just what the name implies. Air is forced from the furnace through ducts to registers in various rooms. Learn to troubleshoot a forced-air distribution system.

By Walter Curtis

Repairing floors is easy if you know what you're doing. From annoying squeaks to sanding hardwoods, learn how to do it yourself when it comes to floor problems.

By Walter Curtis

Windows are a major source of heat-loss in most homes. They also may stick shut when they're painted or swell shut from humidity. Learn tips on how to keep your windows working properly.

By Fix-It Club

Painting can be a task that takes a couple of hours, a half day, or more. Whatever the size of your painting job, the techniques remain the same. Learn how to paint a room.

By Walter Curtis

From blocked gutters to loose shingles, the types of problems that can cause a leak in a roof are numerous. Use the tools in this article to help you make these kinds of home repairs.

By Fix-It Club

Most plumbing problems occur at or near such fixtures as sinks, tubs, and toilets. Sometimes, however, the pipes themselves are the root of the problem. Learn how to repair pipes.

By Fix-It Club

Heating systems are usually trouble-free. But no matter what type of furnace you have, there are several things you can do to keep the system in top condition. Learn how to maintain a furnace.

By Fix-It Club & Patrick E. George

Whatever happened to good ol' polyester? If all the different synthetic fabrics have you confused, read this article for tips and guidelines on how to clean many of the bunch.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

There are different ways to control mosquitoes, but what if you wanted to get rid of mosquitoes for good? You would need to devise the world's best mosquito trap. Learn about how the Mosquito Magnet' works.

By Marshall Brain

A spud gun can hurl potatoes hundreds of feet at close to 400 miles per hour. But why is this staple of the dinner table such a popular projectile? Learn the science of spud guns and how they can be customized.

By Tracy V. Wilson

People use safes to keep their valuables, well, safe. But in movies, thieves can open one using a little concentration and a good ear. Could you crack a safe that easily?

By Robert Valdes

If you've ever missed the nail and hit your thumb with a hammer, you understand the draw of a nail gun. And the raw power is a nice perk too. Some nail guns can launch nails at 1,400 feet per second.

By Tom Harris

Toothpaste is for cleaning your pearly whites, right? True, but there are other cool uses for it that you may not know about. Here are nine of them.

By Alia Hoyt

A houseboat's one way to stay at the beach. It might sound exotic, but day-to-day life on a houseboat poses some unusual challenges -- like staying afloat.

By John Fuller

Asbestos has been used for thousands of years, dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. Its ability to withstand heat and erosion made it attractive to builders, and it was even used in some clothing because of its fire-resistant qualities. So why is it so dangerous?

By Tiffany Connors

Is vermicomposting an underground movement? Are people relying on little soil angels to provide the black gold they're searching for? Hey, if it doesn't work out, you can always use the worms for bait on your next fishing trip.

By Jennifer Pocock

Wouldn't it be great if you never had to pay for dry cleaning again? A steam dryer could make that wish a reality for you. And its washer companion could cleanse mildew, cat dander and other allergens out of your clothes.

By Jane McGrath

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

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