Household Hints & Tips

Just because you don't find bugs in your home very often doesn't mean they're not swarming around its foundation. And we're not just talking about termites.

By Danielle Fisher

Keeping a clean kitchen isn't just about appearances. It's about good health. What steps should you always take to keep your food and your surfaces clean?

By Denise Harrison

There are roughly 91,000 species of insects in the ground, the air, on your plants, and in all of the nooks and crannies of your home. Find out how to kick them out and keep them out.

By Emilie Sennebogen

While you could chase a fly around with a swatter (or a shoe) all day long, one of the best ways to combat flies is to go after them where they breed.

By Patrick E. George

Ants sure know how to ruin a good time, and picnics don't have the market cornered. They can be anywhere from your recycling bin to your bathroom.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Low-flow toilets -- including dual-flush models -- are now the only kinds of toilet you can buy in the United States. How much water and money do they save you, anyway?

By Alison Cooper

Your mattress might be nastier than you think. Fortunately, it's easy to clean and disinfect it.

By Beth Brindle & Sydney Murphy

Your kitchen sponge is probably loaded with germs. But before you toss it (and more money) in the trash, try disinfecting it instead.

By Beth Brindle

Those green and brown stains in your toilet aren't your fault. They got there through the minerals in your water. The question is, how do you make them disappear?

By Debra Ronca

One of the biggest complaints among apartment renters is being able to hear the sound from the people you share your walls with. Here are a few ways to help you deal with the noise.

By Christopher Neiger

Bidets have never been popular in the United States, so "comeback" might not be quite the right word. But there's definitely a growing grassroots effort in support of them -- and it's coming from a perhaps surprising group.

By Alison Cooper

Cockroaches are nasty little critters and one of the worst things about them is you never know where they're hiding. We'll tell you 10 places they could be and how to get rid of them.

By Terri Briseno & Austin Henderson

You might think your kitchen is perfectly clean, but good kitchen sanitation is about more than appearances. It's really a matter of concentrating on three things: storage, preparation and cleaning.

By Alison Cooper

Ants are a year-round nuisance in homes and buildings. Where do they come from? This article discusses the various locations where ants can build nests.

By Stefani Newman

Ants are pretty predictable, and you can keep them out of your cupboards and pantry if you adopt a few ant-busting habits.

By Sara Elliott

Most ants are opportunistic feeders; they'll eat just about anything. There are some ant species that do have preferences, though.

By Sara Elliott

Ants may be unwanted guests looking for shelter from inclement weather, but a more likely explanation is that they've located food. Stop them before they invade.

By Sara Elliott

If you live on planet Earth, it's pretty much guaranteed you've had a run-in with a cockroach. Here's how to prevent it from happening frequently.

By Emilie Sennebogen

In the battle of the bugs, which is worse for your home: termites or ants? The answer may surprise you.

By Sarah Winkler

Fire ants are aggressive insects that can inflict bites and venomous stings when they feel threatened. If you've been bitten, you know the experience is no laughing matter.

By Sara Elliott

There are thousands of species of ants worldwide, but only a few that you might encounter in your home. Here are a some species you can probably identify in your own kitchen!

By Stefani Newman

Self-cleaning public toilets are already a common sight in European cities, but exactly how do they work?

By Beth Brindle

Termites can wreak havoc on a home, so you should always be on the lookout for an infestation. But what should you look for?

By Sara Elliott

It may seem like a no-brainer but there is actually a science to keeping your toilet bowl clean. We'll flush away the mystery.

By Kim Williamson

Cleaning the bathroom is a very dirty -- and sometimes -- gross job. But with the right tools, you can finish the job in the blink of an eye!

By Emilie Sennebogen