Before Replacing Your Washing Machine Washing machines, same as their laundry partner, the dryer, typically will last approximately 10 to 14 years. If your washer is coming of age and starts having mechanical issues, it most likely is time to replace it with a new one rather than trying to repair it. If it is only a few years old, it might be worth seeing what it will cost to repair your washer before going out to buy a new one....

Look to Your Surroundings The next time you step outside, focus in on the homes around you and examine their hues. This can be useful whether you’re looking to have your house blend in with neighbors’ homes or if you wish for your place to make an unexpected statement. “If there are a bunch of white and gray homes, then a navy blue could be a nice color to stand out,” says Linda Hayslett of LH....

These tried and true tips to remove clutter will help you clean up your closet once and for all. Number 3 is the real “light bulb” question for many people. Even if you love it, do you want to wear it in front of other people? Be a brutal critic. If necessary, enlist a friend to tell you if something is wrong for you. Closet space is limited, so don’t waste your prime real estate on something you’re not crazy about....

Choosing a Tree Birds are not picky and the tree you decorate as a Christmas feeder does not need to have a perfect shape. Ideally, the tree will have plenty of horizontal branches widely spaced enough that seed ornaments and other decorative foods can hang freely and give many birds room to feed. An evergreen tree will offer additional shelter and keep edible ornaments more protected from snow, but it may have less space for birds to perch while feeding or to access feeders....

So, how do you string lights on a succulent or cactus? Very carefully, for starters. Wear a pair of suede or leather gloves that can’t be penetrated by the needle-like spines of a cactus, which can even poke through the strongest types of gloves. Then follow these tips. Illuminating Desert Plants for the Holidays It’s a bit more time consuming and a specialized task to adorn cacti, succulents, yucca, and unusually-shaped desert plants with string lights....

1. Don’t Skimp on Bedding Many people look forward to snoozing in a cushy hotel bed when traveling, swearing it helps them sleep better. Whether you require a solid nine hours per evening or can squeak by on just six, you’ll want to maximize your sleep time at home by making your bed ultra comfortable and soothing. “Purchase the best bed linens you can afford,” designer Charles Almonte urges. “Beddings should be soft and feel luxurious as it touches your skin....

If you suspect you have mice in your walls, it’s important to take action to prevent them from causing further damage or spreading illness. You can contact a pest control company to have the mice removed, or you can try some do-it-yourself methods. Either way, it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible. What Do Mice Look Like? Mice are small rodents that typically have grey or brown fur....

Squirrels typically go through two breeding cycles a year in late winter and early spring, and a nest of squirrels in your attic, walls, or rafters can do substantial damage as they gnaw through insulation, wood, or even electrical wires and plumbing pipes. The good news is that a squirrel is usually more scared of you than you are of it. As recommended by the Humane Society of the United States, there are six tips you should consider before getting lethal....

You can plant astilbe in either spring or fall but avoid planting in the hottest part of summer. If you must plant then, keep the plant well watered until new growth emerges. These are relatively slow-growing plants, but once established will bloom for many years before needing division. In hot, dry climates, they need to be planted in the shade and/or given plenty of water. Different varieties will bloom anywhere from mid-spring to late summer....

Elderberry shrubs are generally planted as container-grown nursery plants or balled-and-burlapped plants in fall or early spring. Elderberries are fast-growing shrubs, often reaching full size and producing berries in their first year. While not regarded as invasive, elderberry is an aggressive spreader that will require regular removal of suckers if you want to keep it from spreading. This plant is moderately toxic to people and pets. Leaves, stems, and roots contain glycosides that can induce severe digestive symptoms if ingested....

If a space contains particularly poor soil, especially sandy, rocky, dry, or close enough to the coast to suffer from high salt levels, selecting the blackjack oak for the spot might make sense. A few things need to be considered about this oak species when deciding on a blackjack. While it might not reach 100 feet, it can still be an unmanageable space for a small area, reaching heights of 50 feet or so at times....