Housekeeping Features
How To: Remove melted candle wax using heat or cold
This video explains two different ways to remove wax from candles left on furniture. Both heat and cold are used to accomplish the removal of wax. Heat generally from a hair dryer will provide enough heat to remelt the wax without damaging wood furniture. Ice or even a pack of frozen vegetables is suggested when using the cold method since it makes the wax brittle and easy to remove. These are two great ways to remove wax from wooden furniture without damaging the furniture itself.
How To: Unclog a drain without toxic chemicals
Don't call a pricey plumber! Anyone with a few tools can unclog a drain -- without even resorting to those strong, toxic chemicals. Most of the time, anyway. You will need baking soda, vinegar, rubber gloves, cleaning rags or duct tape, a rubber plunger, a plumber's snake, petroleum jelly, a bucket or pan, and a length of hose. WARNING: Do not try this if you have already used a commercial drain opener, as it can create harmful fumes.
How To: Clean stains with sawdust
Use sawdust to draw the stains out of carpet, floormats, etc. It saves energy since you don't have to wash towels and will be thrown away anyway. This is a quick housekeeping trick that leaves your floors clean and does not hurt the environment. Make sure you properly dispose of chemical and oil waste.
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: Remove gum from the bottom of your shoe
After you finish cursing out the bleepity-bleep who tossed his gum on the ground, try this. Learn how to remove gum from the bottom of your shoe.
How To: Clean your dirty tile grout
Dominick from AskMeDiy demonstrates what he says is the right way, and the easy way, to clean your tile grout.
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: Fold pajama bottoms
In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold pajama bottoms. The storage of 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 pajama bottoms in no time.
How To: Fold a pullover sweater
In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold a pullover sweater for neat and compact storage. The storage of your shirts and sweaters 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 pullover sweater in no time.
How To: Kill bed bugs by applying Diatomaceous Earth
This is a good way to kill bed bugs; they are annoying bugs. 1. Diatomaceous earth is in powder form. You will first take the cap off.
How To: Iron shorts
Joyce Danielson, our professional wardrobe expert tells you how to iron pockets, add pleats as well as iron seams and cuffs. She also explains how to interpret care instructions on the label and how to wash and iron your shorts accordingly. Why look like a slob when you can look like a prep?
How To: Fold a shirt the Japanese way
A quick, efficient way to fold a shirt Fold a shirt the Japanese way.
How To: Wash your windows with a mop and squeegee like a pro
This video shows how to wash your windows with a mop and squeegee like a pro.This process includes the following steps,Step 1Take a bucket and a mop.Step 2Fill water in the bucket and put the mop in the bucket to wet it.Step 3Take some liquid soap and apply it on the mop and then clean the windows with this mop.Step 4Now rinse the mop in the bucket and squeeze it well so that the soap is drained out of it.Step 5Now clean the windows with this mop, rinse the mop in water again and squeeze it.S...
How To: Use d-CON No View No Touch Traps to kill mice
d-CON is here to help identify and remedy rodent problems in your living room. Watch this video tutorial on how to use d-CON No View No Touch Traps to kill mice in the living room. Signs of a mouse in the living room include droppings, footprints, gnawing, rubmarks, unusual pet activities, strange sounds, and burrows or nests.
How To: Fold a t-shirt
The T-shirt may be the king of casual wear, but take care of it like your finest dress shirt and you'll be able to stay casual a good long time.
How To: Pack lamp shades for storage or moving
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to pack lampshades. Most lampshades are packed into 4 cu ft cartons. Begin by placing crushed paper into the bottom of the box. Then place clean sheets of packing paper over each side of the box, making sure that the flaps and inside wall of the box is covered. Now carefully place the lampshade top-down into the box. Then spread clean packing paper over the shade. Now gently place the smaller shade into the larger shade and pack in the remaining packi...
How To: Clean a clothes dryer filter
Keeping the filter clean improves your dryer’s performance and avoids the risk of fire from lint buildup. By leaving your lint filter full, you run the risk of also breaking your dryer, leading to an expensive repair or an expensive new dryer.
How To: Fold a pair of tap panties
In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold a pair of tap panties for neat and compact storage. The way you store 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 tap panties in no time.
How To: Clean up white sneakers with Raven-Symone
Disney star Raven shows us how to make our sneakers white and new again using toothpaste. All you need is whitening toothpaste, an old toothbrush, and a bowl of water, and those shoes will look fresh and clean again. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to clean up old sneakers by following along with Raven-Symone.
How To: Defrost your freezer
If you’re still living in the Ice Age—that is, with a non-defrosting freezer—you’ll need these ancient skills. Learn how to defrost your freezer.
How To: Use ThermaPure to get rid of bed bugs
Bed bugs come out and suck your blood in the middle of the night. ThermaPure can get rid of bed bugs in a safe manner. ThermaPure uses probes to heat up the areas of the house such as the bedding, carpets, and wall voids, to a temperature that will kill the bed bugs. The ThermaPure heater is programmable which allows for a precise duration and electrical current needed to rid your house of bed bugs. ThermaPure is a green technology and will not harm you in the process of ridding your home of ...
How To: Clean your coffee maker
Make your coffee maker sparkle with these easy tips. This Howcast video presents a helpful guide on cleaning your coffee maker.
How To: Prevent your bathroom mirror from steaming
Learn how to make your bathroom mirror unsteam. The trick is to use soap solution on the mirror.
How To: Remove rust easily
Over time, rust can develop on pots and pans if they're not used for a certain period of time. Rust can also develop on other items as well, if they not taken care of properly. This can hurt any possibly resale value of the item and can look ugly. So in this tutorial, you'll find out what items are needed in order to remove rust. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Clean a toaster oven
Cleaning a toaster can be tricky if you've never done it before, but this appliance only requires a little bit of your time to keep it clean, safe, and functional.
How To: Remove super glue
Superglue (cyanoacrylate) has many uses. Besides the typical household function of sticking things together, it's used in surgical procedures and even in crime labs to develop unseen fingerprints. Originally marketed as Eastman #910 in 1958, this stuff is sneaky and it goes everywhere if you don't keep an eye on it.
How To: Clean exterior windows
Watch as a window-cleaning professional demonstrates how to clean your exterior windows, including how to prepare and effectively use your squeegee, in this free online video about window maintenance.
How To: Clean leather
Sometimes getting a stain on finished leather can mean the end of having a nice garment or piece of furniture, but not always.
How To: Use de-icing rock salt on your snowy driveway
Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, shows the different kinds of de-icing salts that can be used on your driveway during the winter times, to get rid of that snow and ice.
How To: Fold a pair of socks
In this how to video, the Beverly Hills Organizer, Linda Koopersmith demonstrates how to fold a pair of socks for neat and compact storage. The way you store your clothes and accessories 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 socks in no time.
How To: Fold a towel
In this video we show you how to fold a towel.
How To: Get rid of spiders without resorting to chemicals
In this how-to video, you'll learn how to get rid of spiders without resorting to harmful chemicals or pesticides. It's easy enough. Just vacuum them up, remove the cobwebs when you see them, and use eucalyptus and hedge apples. This will force them out.
How To: Pack hanging clothes and drapes for storage or moving
Here you will learn how to pack clothes and drapes for storage or moving. Follow these easy steps to pack clothes and drapes the right way. Hanging clothing or drapes need to be packed in a standup wardrobe. This box comes with an aluminum bar that spans two sides. Place the wardrobe box near the closet. Secure the bar with packing tape and place clean paper at the bottom of the box. Hang clothing, distributing them evenly. You can also place quilts, and bedspreads on hangers. When you are do...
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: Mend a tear in clothing
There's no need to go to the tailor to mend a tear in clothing. Save some money and do it yourself instead! See how you can mend an "L" tear with iron-on mending tape, and also a tear along a seam.
How To: Organize your closet with organizing inserts
Choosing the right closet organizers can make organizing your closet a lot easier. So, Meghan Carter visited Master Simplifier and owner of the organization firm White Space, Cynthia Ivie, to discover which type of closet organizers work best.
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: Erase permanent marker with a dry erase marker
Want to know how you can erase permanent marker? Well, a simple dry erase marker will do the trick. And a cloth of course.
How To: Iron a dress shirt
In this clothing care video series, learn how to iron and press a dress shirt, so that you never find yourself in this scenario and potentially ruin your chances at career advancement. Our expert will show you how to use and ironing board, how to fill the iron with water, starching tips, how to iron under buttons, how to press sleeves and cuffs, and more tips to make ironing a snap. Show the world how much pride you take in your appearance by learning how to press a dress shirt.
How To: Remove carpet dents
Don't let heavy furniture ruin your carpet This how to video shows a easy, quick way to remove dents made in your carpet from heavy furniture and other things.