Hot Housekeeping How-Tos

How To: Get gnats out of your house

Gnats are pretty harmless, but they're really hard to get out of your house once they're in. Watch this video to learn about a bunch of different ways you can get rid of gnats in different parts of your house with different homemade tools.

How To: Clean and polish antique brass

Brass is one of the oldest workable metals, and some have surpassed it in durability. It remains popular and beautiful, but needs regular cleaning and polishing to maintain it's shine. This video will show you everything you need to know to clean brass.

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: Save time & money at the grocery store

In this video, we learn how to save time and money at the grocery store. At holiday time, grocery shopping can be extra tough. First, make sure you bring your own reusable bags. Then, place in your soda and water in the cart first so you don't have to re-arrange. Make a list before you go to the grocery store so you don't wander around the store. Also, see if you can place your deli order ahead of time so you don't have to wait around. Have your grocery clerk group like items together so unpa...

How To: Kill bed bugs in the workplace

Bed bugs appearing in the office space is becoming more and more common. Often, someone brings a bed bug to the office on their clothes, and the bed bug roams away from the garment. These don't normally turn into reproducing infestation.

How To: Treat bed bugs with inspections & follow-up

In this video, we learn how to treat bed bugs with inspections and follow-up. First, you want to take off all your bedding and sheets, then place it into a bag. After this, you need to clean it in burning hot water to make sure the bugs are all killed. After you have removed this, you need to search the mattress to find where the rest of the bed bugs are at. Check around the headboard to see if the bugs are hiding there. Once you find these, you need to use either professional chemicals or a ...

How To: Make your bed super cozy with the proper mattress, sheets & comforter

The foundation of a bed is really the mattress itself. So, that means that money should not matter when dealing with mattresses. You should invest in the best and highest quality mattress you can find. If you can spring for the ultimate mattress, a good option is the featherbed, or a memory foam. Then, to make your bed even more comfortable, there's the sheets and the comforters. To learn more about the blankets and other goodies to make the perfect bed, watch this Chatelaine video. Oh… and d...

How To: Stop Bed Bugs from Entering Your Suitcase

To prevent bed bugs from entering your suitcase, you will need to pre-treat it, with diatomaceous earth. Bed bugs often hitchhike home with you when you stay overnight in hotels or on long trips. They will normally stow away in your suitcase. To prevent that from happening, dust your suitcase with a diatomaceous earth (DE) compound. For this, you will need a paintbrush, diatomaceous earth, and a large plastic bag. Sprinkle a little onto your suitcase, and use a dry paintbrush to spread the di...

How To: Use Phantom Insecticide to kill bed bugs

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn about Phantom Insecticide for bed bug control. You cannot buy this pesticide over the counter. You will need a license to purchase this. It is very effective in bed bug control. While evaluating a pest control company, check out whether they use this pesticide. It can take seven to fourteen days to kill a bug after it is exposed to this pesticide. So, if you are bitten by a bed bug after applying the pesticide, don't think that it is not wor...

How To: Kill bed bugs with a PackTite unit

A Pack Tite Unit is used to treat items that may be infested with bed bugs. It can be used to treat suitcases and other items that can't be easily washed in hot water. Be careful not to allow any items to touch the heating unit. Place your item in the center of the rack. Place the metal safety rack on top of your item. There are also side racks available. Zip it closed. Make sure it is zipped as far as it will go. This will kill bed bugs and eggs, because it will heat items up to 140 degrees....

How to Kill bed bugs: Climbup™ Insect Interceptor

The Climbup Insect Interceptor is a new monitor for the use of detecting bed bugs. This is a new monitor. It's a passive monitor. You can place the monitors underneath one of the legs of a sofa or bed or other suspicious piece of furniture. This will not rid your home of bed bugs. This is a way of letting you know where the infestation is or isn't. It is a monitor, but it does not control them. Once the bugs fall into the trap, they can't get out. You will need to properly dispose of them, af...

How To: Kill bed bugs using a vacuum

You can use a vacuum to help with bed bug management and control. Some bed bugs are tolerant and resistant to pesticides. So, spraying alone may not be a solution for you. In this case, a vacuum is a good tool. A vacuum alone will not solve all of the infestation problems. Vacuums aren't able to pull up all of the eggs on furniture.

How To: Protect yourself & your mattress from bed bugs

In this video, we learn how to protect yourself and your mattress from bed bugs. These bugs live in your bed and hide anywhere in your home and even hotels. To see if you have them, you will see blood stains on your mattress and look on your skin for any bites you may have. If you suspect you have them, you should call a professional to help take care of the problem. Check the edges and corners of your bed to see if you have been infested with bed bugs, and look at the label as well. Be caref...

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: Get rid of bed bugs using a steam cleaner

In this video, we learn how to get rid of bed bugs using a steam cleaner. First, you will need to purchase a simple steam cleaner, which will produce steam that is hot enough to kill bed bugs. Now, take your steam cleaner and let it heat up for twenty minutes. Remove all your bedding items, including sheets and mattress covers. Grab your steam cleaner and steam all around the side of the bed until you have reached all of the spots. Go around the entire mattress as well as the box spring and t...

How To: Kill bugs in wall holes with Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth may be useful for killing bugs in walls. Light sockets and phone jacks provide a highway for bugs to travel from one infested room to another or one infested apartment or another. They also function as a hide-out for them during daytime hours, when they might be more visible.

How To: Kill bed bugs with glue boards & monitors

The CVC 3000 is a monitor. It is an active bed bug monitor that use attractants to lure bed bugs to it. It is another tool in bed bug management. It contains a carbon dioxide cylinder/cartridge. The capture slides will be trapped on a tray. The capture slides are one time use capture slides. They have to be replaced each time. The cartridge lasts 10 hours, and it has to be replaced every 10 hours. To use, you will need to place it near the area, where you suspect infestation. Just lie it flat...

How To: Exterminate & prevent bed bugs

A bedbug is a small brownish, blood-sucking insect. Usually, infestation brings emotional trauma. So, the problem is greater than the physical problem, since the bugs bite at night, while the victim sleeps. Often, the bites are mistaken for dermatological conditions, until the bugs are found. Typically, bedbugs are going to be within 10-15 feet of your bed. They will usually be along the rim. They will also be underneath the box spring. There will be in the nightstands. There will also be blo...

How To: Treat bed bugs & get rid of them

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to find bed bugs and how to get rid of them. When users are aware that their home is infested with bed bugs, it is critical for users to locate all of the bugs. There are many areas where bed bugs inhabit. Bed bugs can be found on the bed, headboard, electrical sockets and telephone jacks. Bed bugs may also be found in cracks. The best treatment to remove bed bugs is to use Delta Dust, bed bug spray or any other bed bug products. This video will benef...

How To: Use trained dogs to get rid of bed bugs

Trained dogs may be used to help eradicate bed bugs. A sign that your home is infested with bed bugs is the presence of bites. If bites appear in a straight line, on the skin, then that's a classic sign of bed bug bites. Trained dogs are able to pinpoint the bed bug infestation. They are 98% accurate, when other methods are only effective 30% of the time.

How To: Kill bed bugs with Bed Bug Dogs

In this video, we learn how to kill bed bugs with bed bug dogs. There are now upcoming kinds of K9 dogs that are specifically trained to smell the scent of bed bugs. This is a great tool to use to detect early on if your room has bed bugs in it. If you don't have bed bugs already, you can get them at any time just by touching something or someone that has them, then transferring them onto your bed. You can find these dogs through the website Bedbugdogs and see if there are any available in yo...

How To: Repair Nasty Carpet Burns for a New Carpet Look

In this tutorial, we learn how to repair carpet burns. First, take some tongues and ruff up the surface to break up the burnt pieces that are inside the carpet. Next, take some Resolve and spray it onto the spot, then brush it with a handheld brush. After this, blot the area with a towel until it's nice and dry. Next, cut out a small piece of spare carpeting and then open up the area that was burnt. Cut it out with scissors, then replace this with the new carpet.

How To: Heat your home and save energy

In this video, we learn how to heat your home and save energy. Any gaps around the door can lower the temperature dramatically, so make sure you have weather stripping along the sides, bottom and top of the door. You should also make sure this stripping is on your windows as well. Just by having all these in your home, you will save a lot of money on your bills. Also, you need to make sure your control system is set onto one temperature all the time. If it stays at one constant temperature, y...

How To: Make your bed properly

In this video, we learn how to make your bed properly. Start off by fluffing all of your pillows, then placing new pillow covers back onto them. After this, take everything off your bed and lay your sheet down onto it so it lies flat with no creases in it. After this, place your pillows at the head of your bed. Next, place the comforter on your bed and fold it at the top to slightly show your pillows where they are at. After this, press down on the bed to avoid any creases and it will look gr...

How To: Organize and store your personal accessories

In this tutorial, we learn how to organize and store your accessories. First, you will need to have some boxes that are decorated that you can keep scarves in so you don't have to hang them up and take room in your closet. You can also keep your pashminas in the boxes as well, along with summer scarves. You can also use a box that has a divider in it to store your bracelets and necklaces that are large. Store your smaller accessories in a jewelery box, or a box that is similar to a fishing ta...

How To: Use Diatomaceous Earth to stop bed bugs

In this video, we learn how to use Diatomaceous Earth the stop bed bugs. First, place this in a tray and then use a brush to brush the powder around the base of the bed. This will last for 6 months and will need to be reapplied whenever you vacuum the floor. When the bug touches it, it will kill the bug within twenty four hours. This is a great way to create an oasis in your bed, just make sure you don't have any sheets touching the ground, or the bugs will be able to crawl up them and go in ...

How To: Make a hospital bed while it is occupied

In this video, we learn how to make a hospital bed while it's occupied. First, take the top blanket off then take the linens off and make sure the patient is lying on their side. After this, roll the linens towards the patient, then replace new ones where the old linens were originally at. After this, put down a moisture sheet and place it under the clean sheet. Now, put the side table up and roll the patient over and let them know there will be a bump in the middle. Now, move to the other si...