Housekeeping

How To: 5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Mirror from Fogging Up

Getting hot and steamy can be awesome, as illustrated in the 1997 smash hit Titanic. But having the bathroom mirrors fog up during a nice hot shower can be very annoying. Getting ready in the morning can already be rush, and having to wipe down your mirrors after your shower is time wasted. Since most people like to shave or clean up after a shower, the need for a clear mirror is prime.

How To: Use Dryer Sheets to Clean Soap Scum Off Shower Doors

How often do you fight with your shower doors? Maybe not literally (although my elbow has smacked the hard glass many times), but when it's time to clean the bathroom, getting a few weeks' worth of soap scum and grime off the shiny, clear surface becomes an insurmountable task. Whether you use a special cleaner and squeegee or a carefully selected wipe, chances are you still battle the streaks and grit left behind. Although it might not make sense to steal cleaning supplies from the laundry r...

How To: Clean a Butcher Block Table

A butcher block table (or counter) is a solid, wooden table. Originating in butcher shops (hence the name), this has become a popular household item. Butcher block tables and counters are durable and attractive looking. The downside of butcher block is that the wood is so porous it can stain easily. Butcher block can be sanded and refinished to get rid of stains, but that drastic step isn't always necessary.

How To: Get grease stains out of fabric

Don’t panic if you spill grease on your clothes or the couch. Start tackling it instead. Learn how to get grease stains out of fabric with this how to video.

How To: The Secret to Washing Your "Dry Clean" Clothes—Without Going to the Dry Cleaner

Unless your work clothes require dry cleaning, you probably only go to the cleaner a few times a year. And for those few items in your closet for which you do, you have to then find the time and extra budget to make a trip all the way to the cleaners and back again. In the end, it can be quite the hassle.

How To: Make your own vacuum space bags for extra storage

Have you seen commercials on TV for vacuum sealed storage bags? They can be expensive, but you can replicate this space age technology in your own home! All you need is a water bottle, some trash bags, a box cutter... and a vacuum!

How To: Remove a red wine stain from a dry clean only item

Did you spill red wine on a dry clean only item? Spilling red wine on a dry-clean-only item of clothing doesn't have to mean the end of your favorite dress or jacket. Here's how to get a head start on dissolving the stain, before dropping the item at the dry cleaner. Learn how to remove a red wine stain with the folks from Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE.

How To: Get tough oil-based paint off your skin

Oil-based paint is vibrant and durable, but all that means that getting it on your skin is a major pain. Watch this video to learn about some easy ways, including rubbing yourself with turpentine, of getting oil-based paints off of your skin.

How To: 10 Ways to Whiten Clothes Without Using Any Bleach

Whites are the hardest color to keep looking bright and new after just a few months' time. Your sweat and oils quickly become stains, and colors from other clothes will eventually bleed into the fabric, discoloring your bright whites into something merely whitish. But before you reach for the bleach, the ultimate chemical cleaner, try some a few of these safer, less-toxic DIY solutions out instead.

How To: Make a Homemade Cat Repellent - Home Remedies for Repelling Cats

Are you searching for a homemade cat repellent solution? This article will cover natural indoor and outdoor deterrents for every scenario where cats are causing trouble. The first part will cover home remedies for training cats to stay away from furniture and other restricted areas inside your house. The second part will cover outdoor repellents for keeping cats away from your garden, plants and yard. Step 1: Indoor Repellents for Training Cats

How To: 10 Reasons Why Your Freezer Is Perfect for Doing Laundry

Your freezer is no one-trick pony. While it does excel at keeping your food fresh for as long as possible, it has a few secret talents it doesn't want you to know about. Like making soda slushies and pyro-friendly smoke mix, as well as reviving dead hard drives. Even better—it can help you do laundry.

How To: Remove Almost Any Stain Using Alcohol

There are countless methods and cleaners aimed at eliminating stubborn stains from everything to clothing, carpet, and furniture. But completely removing every last trace of a stain doesn't require an arsenal of chemical cleaners and repeated cycles in the washing machine. Most stains can disappear in a matter of minutes with a dose of alcohol.

How To: Unlock A Privacy Door Handle

When owning a home one type of lever set you may have in your home is a privacy lever. In a privacy lever set, the main feature is that the door can only be locked from the inside. Sometimes a kid might get locked in or someone may accidentally lock the door behind them. It's really easy to unlock it in an emergency.

How To: Remove A Very Tight Lid

How to... Remove A Very Tight Lid? Use Items You Have Around The House! Step 1Want to remove a very tight lid? Do you have a weak grip or arthritic pain in your hands? Have you already tried tapping the lid with a spoon? Thumping the bottom of the jar with the palm of your hand, and it still won‘t come off? An easy, quick way to remove a very tight lid is to put on rubber gloves! Yes. Ordinary household rubber gloves. Hold the jar in one hand, then use the other hand to twist the lid off. Thi...

How To: Separate two glasses that are stuck together

Learn how to separate two glasses that are stuck together with this Howcast video tutorial. You nested two glasses when you put them away – and now they’re stuck! Gently pry them apart with this system.

How To: Remove permanent marker stains with toothpaste

This shows viewers how to remove permanent marker stains using toothpaste. First, you will want to do this in a bathroom or kitchen. Fill up a cup just barely with water. This should only be about 1 cm deep or full in the cup. Next, you will need to different kinds of toothpaste, preferably one a gel and another the average paste. Now, put the toothpaste into the cup, about quarter size, and use your finger or any tool to mix this with the water. Next, you'll want to put this mixture onto the...

How To: Remove Oil Stains from Fabric

Remove oil stains from fabric. Oil and grease stains in fabric can cause ugly marks. Fortunately, they don't need to be very difficult to get out of your clothes. Oils respond well to most soaps and can often be easily lifted if you catch them in time. First, try dabbing at the stain with some liquid laundry or dish detergent.

How To: Remove blueberry stains from fabric

Many people love those delicious, low-calorie and nutrient-packed blueberries... until they get them on their clothes. Blueberry stains are a pain to remove but with these tips, your clothes will be as good as new.

How To: Keep Denim Jeans Clean & Smell-Free Without Ever Washing Them at All

Even if you decode the laundry symbols on the tags of your clothes and follow them perfectly, using the washing machine tends to change their shape and fade colors over time. And whether you spent $20 or $200 on them, there's nothing worse than having your favorite pair of jeans ruined.

How To: Laundry Symbols Deciphered! Here's What the Care Labels on Your Clothes Really Say

Frankly, I never cared about the care labels on my clothing. They supposedly held some secret key to keeping clothes clean and bright, but who wants to look at little icons and a bunch of fine print for every single garment they wash?

How To: Fold panties

In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold panities for compact storage. The storage of your clothes and underwear makes a huge difference in the appearance and longevity of your garments. Watch this organizing tutorial and you will be properly folding and storing your panties in no time.

How To: Clean Low Water Light Sensor on a Weil McLain Gold Boiler

If your Weil McLain Gold water boiler has stopped working due to a low level water light being on, this video will show you how to clean the sensor.

How To: Get the wrinkles out of silk or satin

Silk and satin are notoriously hard to take care of, and when they get wrinkled you may think your life is over. It's not. Watch this video to learn what you have to do to get wrinkles out of silk or satin at home.

How To: Quickly fix a skipping DVD with toothpaste

How annoying is a skipping DVD? Picture it: you're in the middle of your favorite flick, and suddenly the characters freeze and seemingly melt away right before your eyes. Sure, you can skip ahead and start watching again at another point in the film, but that's no fun. And it always seems like the disc skips at the best part, doesn't it? Well, this tutorial will show you how to do a quick fix with a tube of toothpaste. It's not just for your pearly whites anymore!

HowTo: Trick of the Trade. Hang 10 Shirts in 10 Seconds

Another Home Hack for you, courtesy of Apartment Therapy. Get this: we know you dig the speed-folding, so how about speed-hanging? It goes a little something like this:

How To: Take sticky labels off easily

In this tutorial, we learn how to take sticky labels off easily. All you need to do this is a blow dryer. First, set your dryer to the highest heat setting possible, then blow the air onto your label for 2-3 minutes. Keep the heat in constant contact with the label, then after a few minutes, you will be able to pull the label off right away. You can use this on anything from lotion bottles and aspirin bottles to water bottles and plastic containers! This is a great way to remove the labels wi...

How To: Fold a t-shirt for neat & compact storage

In this how-to video, Beverly Hills Organizer Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold a t-shirt for neat and compact storage. The way you store your clothes can make a huge difference in their appearance and longevity. Watch this organizing tutorial and you will be properly folding and storing your t-shirts in no time.

How To: Pack wine glasses

Long stemmed wine glasses can be a challenge to pack, but Toronto's Best Moving Store shows you a quick and safe method to pack them.

How To: Make a sofa look as good as new

Sandra Redmond shows a few tricks to make a sofa look as good as new. Sandra takes everything off the couch first, then puts a throw over the couch to hide stains. This is a very simple how to. Make a sofa look as good as new.

How To: Clean a pair of white Nike Air Force Ones

Those genuine Nike Air Force Ones might look stylish in white, but once they get dirty, they start looking less than fresh. Fear not, there is a way to keep them looking brand new. You will need bottled water, a bleach pen, and a toothbrush. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to clean a pair of white Nike Air Force Ones.

How To: Clean wretched vomit smells from carpet with baking soda, water and a vacuum

No sane person likes the smell of vomit. Vomit is especially annoying when the smell lingers and wont leave your carpet. Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of disgusting carpet aromas. It involves the use of baking soda, a vacuum, and a flat tool.

How To: Clean an iron with Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE

What's the best way to clean an iron? It is inevitable that it will eventually need a good cleaning. Your dress shirts look crisp, but over time your iron might look the worse for wear. This simple technique gets rid of mineral spots on the iron's plate and cleans out caked steam vents. Learn how to clean an iron with the folks from Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE.

How To: Remove water spots from chrome

In this video, we learn how to remove water spots from chrome. This is one of the hardest surfaces to get water stains off of, but it can be done easily. First, grab an empty spray bottle, vinegar, water, a rag, and a paper towel. Now, mix two parts of vinegar to one part of water and spray it onto the chrome item. Use the rag to wipe off the mixture, then continue to spray on once more. Do this around five times total, then use a paper towel at the end for the finishing look! You can use thi...

How To: Build a fire with a Duraflame firestarter

Build a fire with a Duraflame firestarter. This video is going to show you how to do this. Crystal Whole from Duraflame is demonstrating the process in this video. First get your chimney cleaned and inspected. Keep all inflammable material at least 3 feet away from the hearth. Use dry wood that has been seasoned for at least six months. Or you can use stax logs in lieu of wood. Three stax logs are sufficient to keep the fire burning all evening. Open the flue of the chimney, put two stax logs...

How To: Turbo charge a toilet flush

Some toilets just don't have enough flushing power. As in, when you flush the toilet not all of the, er, stuff, goes down. As a result you have to flush the toilet twice, wasting water and your time.

How To: Detect bed bugs with tape

Rick Steinow shows how to detect bedbugs using tape. Rick shows that obvious signs would be fecal matter and blood stains. If you're still unable to detect bed bugs, you can purchase a roll of double-sided carpet tape. You're also going to need a roll of painters tape. Apply a strip of the double-sided tape all the way around the mattress. Place another strip of tape around the head board. Make sure to add a strip of painters tape first when doing the headboard. You'll do this because the dou...

How To: Kill bed bugs by using boric acid

Boric Acid is often used to treat or eradicate bedbugs. However, it doesn't work particularly well. It has to be ingested to kill them, but they don't necessarily consume it. There would need to be a bait that they can ingest that contains boric acid. Unfortunately, people are the bait that they respond to. Cockroaches, on the other hand, ingest it, because they clean themselves. Therefore, it gets ingested in that way.

How To: Fix stretched sweater cuffs with REAL SIMPLE

Learn how to fix stretched sweater cuffs with the folks from Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE. Don't give up on that sweater with the loose, stretched-out cuffs?just follow these simple tricks to tighten the material, and you'll be ready to put that pullover back into rotation in a snap. These tips will help you fix those old, stretched out sweater cuffs.

How To: Fold sweatpants

In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold a pair of sweatpants for neat and compact storage. The way you store your clothes makes a huge difference in the appearance and longevity of your garments. Watch this organizing tutorial and you will be properly folding and storing your sweats in no time.

How To: Remove wrinkles from polyester

One of the great things about polyester is that it doesn't wrinkle as easily as cotton and other natural fibers. It still can though, and you can't iron it, so watch this video to learn how to get the wrinkles out of any polyester item.