Puracy’s Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner leaves synthetic ingredients behind for a more natural take on clean. As far as bathrooms go, shower doors are one of the hardest areas to keep clean. Hard water and soap scum cloud the glass, leaving behind an unsightly residue. All shower cleaners aren’t created equal, though, and may lack the adequate strength to clear up stains. To see if Puracy was up to the task, we picked up a few bottles and got to work....

These days, a natural disaster could strike any second, which is why more and more consumers are stocking emergency preparedness kits in their homes. Now, I’m one of them. I moved to Hoboken, New Jersey, right after Hurricane Sandy tore through and left the town flooded for days. My friends and neighbors told me to never overlook the importance of disaster preparedness. So I tested out the Ready America 2-Person Emergency Kit....

Yet even with a territorial attitude, this hummingbird is a welcome and beautiful addition to many yards in western North America and is a surprising eastern guest in some winter yards as well. Learn what makes this orange hummingbird so distinctive through this informative fact sheet. Fast Facts Scientific Name: Selasphorus rufusCommon Name: Rufous HummingbirdLifespan: 3-5 yearsSize: 3.75 inchesWeight: 3.1-3.4 gramsWingspan: 4-4.5 inchesConservation Status: Least concern Rufous Hummingbird Identification While small birds like hummingbirds can be challenging to identify, the rufous hummingbird has several distinct field marks that make it easy to recognize....

Laundry is a daily demon for most families. It grows, seemingly without much effort. Keeping a handle on this mushrooming pile of pants and underpants takes planning and patience. But that doesn’t mean you should struggle with machines that don’t respond to your preferences. Indeed, older washing machines consist of a handful of settings—normal, delicate, and bedding, if you’re lucky. But newer machines have been designed for the generation that loves precision, customization, and the ability to control from a phone....

How Septic System Works In a traditional septic system, all water and wastes carried by that water flows down the home’s drain system and through one main sewer pipe to the septic tank. The flow of wastewater may be a matter of simple gravity, or it may be enhanced with an electric pump. The septic tank holds the waste material long enough for the solids to settle to the bottom as oil, grease, and liquids — the scum later — float to the top....

No Backing Out Imagine how less cool it would be if Batman had to carefully back out of his cave and check for oncoming traffic before getting on the road to answer the bat signal? A drive-through garage lets you be more like Batman, but there are even bigger benefits to not having to back out. If you own a trailer or pull a boat behind your car, you can pull it right in or pull it right out....

Rugs Rugs are great in foyers because they add softness and (if you desire) color. They also help define the space. When choosing an area rug for an entryway make sure to get something fairly flat so that the door can easily open and close over it. Think also about cost versus durability. A lot of people like to use old antique rugs in entryways. While they’re not often cheap, the quality is usually excellent and they can handle a lot of wear and tear....

Tips for Caring for Hardwood Floors Sweep wood floors often with a soft, fine bristle broom. Vacuum once or twice a week to remove dirt and sand. Use a soft brush attachment to minimize scratching. Since water is one of the wood floor’s worst enemies, get rid of water right away! Remove wet spills ASAP with soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum, then dry thoroughly. Use a very dry damp mop when mopping polyurethaned wood floors, since excess water can seep into seams and ruin a wood floor....

While spittlebugs are very good at hiding, it’s hard to miss their presence in the garden. The white spittle remains frothy and visible for weeks. It can be puzzling trying to figure out whether it was caused by a disease or a feeding insect. After all, what kind of creature would spit on your plants? And if they dislike your plant enough to spit it out, why are they still feeding on it?...

A living wall has the benefit of not only being beautiful and eye-catching, but it also can purify your air, reduce stress, and even muffle background noise in your room. Need more convincing that a living wall is a great addition to your home? Check out these beautiful examples. When deciding to install a living wall, consider plants that require similar care, as you’ll be watering and feeding them at the same time....

We used first-hand experience and research to evaluate dozens of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled growing systems on ease of use, size, controls, and versatility. Our best overall pick is the Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO because it’s easy for beginners, offers an intuitive app, and waters and delivers nutrients automatically. Here are the best indoor smart gardens to consider. The accompanying Click & Grow app is intuitive and provides a huge amount of information about the plants, their growing habits, as well as water and light controls and alerts....

Mild winters, punctuated by an occasional frostHot, dry summers with low humidityIrregular rainfall, usually from autumn to spring Gardeners who live in coastal California, central Chile, southern Australia, parts of North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), and Southwest Europe (Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain) may have unique, breathtaking landscaping and gardens, but they are faced with the challenge of growing flowers in regions that are beautiful yet harsh. Rocky soil, windswept cliffs, and drought are a few of the conditions these 10 rugged Mediterranean flowers will shrug off in your garden....

We researched the best indoor garden systems, evaluating products based on their size, capacity, system type, and ease of use. Our best overall pick, the AeroGarden Bounty Basic Indoor Garden, can hold up to nine plants and has an array of convenient features for low-maintenance gardening. This indoor garden has plenty of advanced features to make gardening a cinch. The touchscreen control panel displays your plant’s vital statistics and reminds you when to add water and plant food....

“You want to put mail—opened or unopened—in a place you frequent where it won’t cause your space to appear cluttered,” says professional organizer Shaniece Jones, who is the founder of One Woman Army Closet Design & Organization. We researched mail storage systems of various materials, colors, and styles. And we instantly fell in love with the Poppin Super Stacked Desk Set, which has two stylish letter trays and little cubbies to keep things like pens, letter openers, and paper clips ready to go....

Other Ideas: A basket filled with pears and other fruit A fresh pear tree from a local nursery or garden center A pear-scented candle Other Ideas: A dove art printA gift basket filled with Dove bath productsTwo turtle dove tree ornaments Other Ideas: Hens and chicks succulent basket A cookbook filled with recipes from France A cute hen Christmas card, filled with a gift certificate to a French restaurant Other Ideas: A bird-watching book with binoculars A charming letterboard A bird feeder with birdseed ornaments...

“Some people may prefer one big container for a large category like ‘bathroom products,’ where others may want to use several smaller containers for subcategories like ‘cleansers,’ ‘moisturizers,’ ‘makeup’ and so forth,” says Louisa Roberts, professional organizer and owner of Neat Method New York City. “Bins with lids are recommended for storing infrequently used items that need to be protected from dust, water, or other elements. Unlike open containers, bins with lids easily stack to maximize space, and they securely contain items you wouldn’t want children to access independently, such as paint and markers,” she says....

Whether you’re hoping to replace a major appliance, find the hottest new toy for the kiddo in your life, or save big on new seasonal decor, there’s something for everyone on sale right now. We’ll be updating this article regularly as more retailers announce early discounts, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly! The best early Black Friday deals to shop now: This cordless vacuum from INSE has a 45-minute runtime and comes with several attachments and interchangeable brush heads....

We researched the best personalized gifts for any occasion, considering the type of personalization, the varying hobbies and interests of your recipient, and shoppers’ budgets. Our favorite picks include a custom blanket from VistaPrint, a necklace featuring your zodiac constellation from Gorjana, and glassware from Uncommon Goods that features the night sky on an important date. Here, the best personalized gifts for all your loved ones. Price at time of publish: $127 Price at time of publish: $48 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $550 Price at time of publish: $55 Price at time of publish: $135 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $65 Price at time of publish: $28 Price at time of publish: $8 Price at time of publish: $84 Price at time of publish: $275 Price at time of publish: $259+ Price at time of publish: $62 Price at time of publish: $100 Price at time of publish: $163 Price at time of publish: $54 Price at time of publish: $85 Price at time of publish: $35 Price at time of publish: $82 Price at time of publish: $65 Price at time of publish: $98 Price at time of publish: $38 Price at time of publish: $99 Price at time of publish: $27 Price at time of publish: $108 Price at time of publish: $30+ Price at time of publish: $6 Price at time of publish: $35 Price at time of publish: $43...