Hot Housekeeping How-Tos
How To: Reuse Old Coffee Grounds
Many people start their day with a fresh, hot cup of coffee. They purchase their coffee with care and enjoy it greatly. But what do you do with those grounds once you’ve drunk your coffee? Here are some uses for those used coffee grounds! Note: It's always easiest to handle coffee grounds when they're cool, so wait a couple of hours after you've switched off the coffee pot to try any of these!
How To: Replace a Door Knob with a Handle Set
Need to replace your old door knob? Follow Milan Rosan as he takes you through a step-by-step, do-it-yourself approach to installing your own handle set in your home. Remove old door knob.
How To: Clean a Flag
We hang flags to proclaim our patriotic spirit. This is especially true for retired veterans or those who have loved ones serving in the military. Others hang flags representing the seasons, important events, favorite teams or just a cute and whimsical design as decoration. An American flag can be particularly tricky to wash. Red, white and blue all lying together in one inseparable panel can cause the blue or red dye to bleed onto the white. This is not just a problem with an American flag; ...
How To: Keep socks paired and never lose a sock ever again
It happens to the best of us—missing socks. No matter how hard you try, no matter how careful you are when doing laundry, you always end up with that one sock who's lost its soulmate. And what do you usually do with that buddy-less sock? Throw it away? DON'T! This video will gives you some tips on how to keep your socks from disappearing, like A). don't throw away your sock because you might find its missing mate later, and B). roll your socks to keep you from losing one when not in the laund...
How To: Make a bed with perfectly square corners
Frustrated with blankets and sheets that bunch up around the corners? This tutorial shows you how to make perfectly square corners (or hospital corners) on your bed. It doesn't matter what size mattress or sheet you have, this technique will work on any bed.
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: Easily sort your snail mail with wall hooks and binder clips
If you've been letting your snail mail pile up for days on end, there's an easy solution that won't cost you anything. Just rummage around your house and find some wall hooks or binder clips, and start sorting away. You'll be surprised at how much more organized this method is!
How To: Make napkin rings, place cards and customized candles for Thanksgiving
With a few hosting tips, you will perfect your Thanksgiving season! This craft shows you how to make some elegant place cards, some easy and beautiful napkin rings, and custom-made deocrative candles. Be the perfect host or hostess this Thanksgiving season!
How To: Wash your windows quickly with white vinegar and dishwashing liquid
Don't let your window pane become a window pain in the ass to look at. Windows should give us clear views of the beautiful world outside, but without regular maintence they can become splotchy and muddled. Check out this video for a quick way to clearn your windows.
How To: Remove stickers from any surface using olive oil or peanut butter
We all know how it goes: We purchase a bundle of new binders for our classes, get entranced by some cute kawaii stickers, and plaster these little babies all over our binders. And then, approximately two months later, we question why we ever did such a thing and want them off.
How To: Blue a broken mug handle together using Elmer's glue
Did you accidentally drop your favorite Star Wars mug on the kitchen floor? Don't lament your cruel fate and sweep the mug pieces up to toss in the trash can; instead, just glue it back together.
How To: Organize the clothing in your home closet
In this video from DiscountTrendsetter we learn how to organize your closet! First take inventory of what you have an eliminate items you don't need. Place items such as oversized t-shirts in a drawer or in a bag. Keep your closet for your trendy stuff. Items that are ripped, torn, bleached, etc, get rid of them. Items that are still trendy, but you know you won't wear again, get rid of as well! If you haven't worn something in 2 years, give that item away! Now what you have left are the item...
How To: Preserve and clean your antique silver
This is a video tutorial in the Home & Garden category where you are going to learn how to preserve and clean your antique silver. Tony Duke shows a fast and effective way to clean heavily soiled silver ware. Put the silverware in to the "silver dip" fluid and leave it for about 35 to 45 seconds. You will see that it is cleaning. Because it is a liquid, it gets in to the nooks and corners of the silverware and cleans them. Take it out of the liquid and wash it. You then got to polish it with ...
How To: Remove gum from the carpet or clothing with various methods
There is no one way to remove gum. Depending on the type of gum and where it's stuck - the carpet versus your shirt, for instance - you may need to enlist a different method for each to remove the gum.
How To: Clean and optimize your garage and basement storage areas
Is your garage a little more cluttered than it should be? Well, it's time to get organized! And Lowe's is here to help! In this video, Mike Kraft gives some great tips for shaping up your garage or basement, in a neat and organized room that you can finally walk through.
How To: Use shortcuts to save time and energy when cleaning your house
Like having a clean home but wish there were a faster way to tidy it up? This clip from Good Housekeeping will teach you a number of useful, time-saving shortcuts certain to help. For all of the details, and to get started incorporating these tips into your own cleaning routines, take a look.
How To: Get rid of a cockroach problem as a homeowner
Need some help figuring out how to deal with a cockroach problem? Let this video be your guide. Getting rid of cockroaches is easier than you'd think! It's so easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview in about two minutes' time. For all of the details, and to get started dealing with your own roach problem, watch this video guide.
How To: Get rid of an ant problem as a homeowner
Need some help figuring out how to deal with an ant problem? Let this video be your guide. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview in about two minutes' time. For all of the details, and to get started dealing with your own ant problem, watch this video guide.
How To: Get rid of a wasp problem as a homeowner
Having a wasp problem? Take action and get rid of them. This video guide from Mahalo will help you to determine how serious the problem is, whether you should take action at all, and what sort of action you should take if you do elect to do something.
How To: Organize your closet by establishing a wardrobe system
In this tutorial, we learn how to organize your closet by establishing a wardrobe system. If you have tops that you wear during the day, put these on a different colored hanger than your nighttime tops. Color code these in your closet and then hang up your nighttime tops with a light wood or your choice hanger. If you have other random tops, you can hang them according to how you would wear them the most. Dresses can be hung on another color hanger and then pants can be worn on another color ...
How To: Prevent mice from living in your house
In this tutorial, we learn how to prevent mice from living in your house. To start, you will need to inspect around your home and see if there are any holes that mice can get in and out of. Also, look for signs of their waste laying around. Get on the roof and make sure it's secure, with no holes in it where mice can get into your attic. If there are small holes, cover them up using small pieces of wire that they cannot push their way through. After you do this, your home will be safe from mi...
How To: Do laundry at home
In this tutorial, we learn how to do laundry at home. To start, you will need to set your washer to the right settings. Go with the one that works the best for you and the size/color of laundry you're going to do. Turn off the extra rinse you're doing and turn on the cold rinse because it will save you hot water. From here, pour in your soap and place your clothes in. Then, turn it on by pulling the button. Once your clothes are finished washing, put them in the dryer. Then, clean the lint tr...
How To: Clean silver with baking soda and aluminum foil
If you've been wondering how to clean your silver, this video will show you a simple way to do it using products you have laying around. To do this, you will need baking soda, aluminum foil, hot water, and your dirty silver of course. First heat up water so it's close to boiling, not just hot water from the sink. Pour this into a large bowl to fit your silver, then grab sheets of heavy duty foil. Place the foil into the large bowl along with a few cups of baking soda. After this, place your s...
How To: Make homemade laundry detergent
In this tutorial, we learn how to make homemade laundry detergent. To make this, you will need: 6 c water, 1/3 bar grated laundry soap, 1/2 c washing soda, and 1/2 c borax. To start, you will heat up the water and the soap in a large pan until it's all dissolved. Then, you will stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until it's all dissolved as well. From here, boil the mixture for 15 minutes and then remove from the heat. Then, you will add this to cold water so you have 2 gallons of soa...
How To: Get glue stains out of clothes
Glue is one of the worst things that you can get on your clothes. It sticks to most things and fabric is no exception. Watch this video to learn how to get glue stains out of any type of clothing.
How To: Make your house fake clean for company if you don't have time to clean
If you don't spend the time cleaning your house regularly to keep it within reach of clean all the time and you need it to be clean fast, watch this video. It will teach you how to quickly and effectively fake clean a house if your parents, significant other, or other figure your want to impress is coming over.
How To: Kill a cockroach kindly
In this tutorial, we learn how to kill a cockroach kindly. If you currently use insecticides to kill bugs and insects in your home, rethink it! These fumes can be toxic to your health and the health of your family. To help avoid getting cockroaches, make sure you dust and sweep often, throw away food around the house, and keep it clean! If you do have these bugs, you can first pour some beer in a glass, then put bread in the glass along with some petroleum jelly. Next, you will set this on yo...
How To: Make and use nontoxic products for cleaning your house
Household cleaning products are some of the most toxic things in your house. If you want to get them out and replace them with all-natural alternatives, watch this video to learn how to make alternative cleaning products yourself out of common household ingredients.
How To: Get the skunk smell off yourself after being sprayed
Skunks are cute little animals with a nasty surprise waiting in the gland under their tail for anything that threatens them. If you've been sprayed by a skunk, you're never going to be at peace until your get rid of that smell, and this video will teach you how to do just that.
How To: Get the tarnish off silver by using toothpaste
Is your silverware or silver jewelry showing too much tarnish? You can remove the tarnish easily by using a baking soda toothpaste. This tutorial demonstrates how you can use just a dab of toothpaste, a soft cloth and some rinse water.
How To: Clean your microwave with just a few lemons and water
Is your microwave full of food and sauce spatter? You can easily remove all sorts of food detritus without using harsh or potentially toxic chemicals - all you need is to microwave a lemon in some water for a few minutes. Cleans easily, and your microwave smells fantastic!
How To: Unlock A Door In Case Of An Emergency
Materials Needed! Video: Undo a door's chain lock from outside with string, yarn or shoelaces.
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: Get vegetable oil stains out of clothing
If you use vegetable oil a lot in your cooking, you probably know the frustration of having it leap out of the frying pan and onto your shirt, staining it. Watch this video to learn how to get any vegetable oil stain out of clothes.
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: 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.
How To: Get the mildew smell out of towels with vinegar
Towels get wet more regularly than any other type of cotton clothing, and mildew can easily get all over them and make them stink. Watch this video to learn how some vinegar and your washing machine can get that smell out of your towels.
How To: Get oil out of carpet and clothing
Oil gets on everything and is nearly impossible to get out again. Cooking, motor, it doesn't really matter. If you've got oil on your clothes, your carpet, or some other fabric, watch this video to learn how you can get it out with vinegar and other household products.
How To: Get wax stains out of clothes
Wax is one of those material that you use all of the time that is also nearly impossible to get out of clothes without the right chemicals. Watch this video to learn the steps your need to get wax stains out of clothes.
How To: Make an occupied bed
In this tutorial, we learn how to make an occupied bed. First, gather the supplies from the linen closet. After you have all the sheets and blankets, put gloves on and walk into the room. Now, cover the patient with a bath blanket. After this, remove the top sheets, then roll the patient to the side of the bed. Next, tuck dirty linens close to the patient and then roll clean linens under the dirty ones. Then, fix the clean sheets up and roll the patient towards you and repeat the same as you ...