The good news is that when your toilet makes noises after flushing, the cause is usually easy to diagnose. Toilets are simple devices with very few parts, so most homeowners can fix their own toilets and stop those noises for good. Toilet Hisses for a Long Time After Flushing After you push the toilet lever, you may hear a hissing sound, like water running. While this is the normal sound of the toilet refilling its tank, the sound continues for longer than the expected one to three minutes....

Hanging pictures, changing batteries, tightening a screw, or two— there are a lot of reasons you might need a tool kit like the WorkPro 100-Piece Kitchen Drawer Tool Kit. You’re not using a home tool kit to build a home, but you should expect it to have the tools you need to maintain one. Home tool kits should have a few basic tools like a hammer, tape measure, screwdrivers, a socket set, and a pair of pliers....

When January rolls around, it’s time to take down all of the holiday decorations. While most items can be boxed and placed in the attic or basement, artificial Christmas trees need a little extra care. It’s important to find a good storage solution for your fake tree to keep it in good shape for years to come. We tested out one of the more budget-friendly options out there: the Zober Christmas Tree Storage Bag....

Choose a couple of your favorite evergreen varieties. It is wise to plant more than one variety of evergreen in a border so that disease and pests will not destroy the whole planting. Take a look at the top 10 choices. USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8Sun Exposure: Partial or dappled shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained soil in the 6.8 to 7.5 pH range USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 10, depending on the varietyColor Varieties: Non-flowering; dark green needles and red berriesSun Exposure: Sun, partial shade, or full shade depending on varietySoil Needs: Well-draining soil with a neutral pH...

When choosing hummingbird flowers for your garden or landscape, look for blooms with rich, bright colors (red flowers are particular hummingbird favorites), long or tapered shapes that can accommodate the hovering birds’ long bills, and plentiful nectar to keep them coming back for more sips. Native plants are always preferred because hummingbirds will be more familiar with the flowers and the plants will thrive with minimal care. Also, consider plants with a long bloom time or repeat blooming, which will provide a reliable food source for hummingbirds for many weeks....

Most heuchera varieties sold today are hybrid crosses of native species, usually including Heuchera americana as one of the genetic parents. Many of these hybrids are unusually flexible in their sun preferences, often tolerating both full sun and full shade. Those with H. americana as a parent are especially good for shady conditions. Here are 10 great heuchera varieties that could form the beginning of a new collection in your garden....

To inspire a home renovation or a kitchen makeover, we’ve rounded up some beautiful kitchens with hardwood floors. There are a lot of different ways you can go with wood floors—from raw and original to glossy dark woods and painted colors, too. To inspire a home renovation or a kitchen makeover, we’ve rounded up some beautiful kitchens with hardwood floors. In her home in Connecticut, you can see large wide planks of rough wood, smaller, glossy planks in a more blonde hue, and then yet another wood on the kitchen island, as well as reclaimed wood beams on the ceiling....

All of which begs the question, why don’t more people grow herbs indoors? Many people refrain from the practice because they think that it is too difficult to grow herbs indoors. They may assume that grow lights are needed, for example. While it is true that most herbs are easier to grow outdoors than indoors, the main things you need for success in growing many herbs indoors are simply a sunny window, a pest-free plant (inspect seedlings carefully before buying), and a little knowledge about plant needs....

There are gorgeous plants that come in every shade of red and orange you can think of and even some that have leaves that have a striking resemblance to maple leaves. Adding pops of color like this to your home will be a great way to ease into fall without going overboard just yet. Make the transition from summer to autumn by adding these 10 houseplants to your home as fall decor....

When the leaves of outdoor plants turn yellow, it is commonly associated with chlorosis, a symptom caused by insufficient chlorophyll being produced by the foliage. This pigment is essential for photosynthesis and gives leaves their green color. There are several reasons why chlorosis could be occurring. Yellow leaves can also be caused by pests and diseases, or can simply be a sign of the normal aging process of a plant....

1. The Location They say the three most important things to think about when buying a home are location, location, location. You can change almost everything else, but you can’t change your home’s location. So when you go house hunting, consider proximity to your work, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, and traffic. Also think about access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation....

Here are 11 fun plants to grow that are cold-hardy. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8Flower Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellowLight: Full, partialSoil Needs: Sandy, loamy, moist but well-drained, acidic to alkalineMature Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 foot wideDeer Resistant: Yes USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8Flower Color Varieties: PurpleLight: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, moist, acidicMature Size: 8 to 12 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes...

There are both one-step and two-step step stool plans here in both classic designs as well as more unique designs which besides being functional, will really add some style to your home. Take a look at all of them before deciding which one you’re going to use. In all these free step stool plans, you’ll find written building instructions, color photos, diagrams, and user tips on how to make sure your DIY project turns out to be a success....

Since they often grow rapidly and send out new shoots in all directions, vines can easily become invasive. One way to check and see if they will be problematic in your garden is to call your local extension service or nursery for information. While there are both herbaceous and woody vines, this will focus on the lianas, which are the species that become woody. This plant can be used as a houseplant where you can easily keep it in check....

Get ready to rethink your bathroom. We found some of the most beautiful shower ideas to provide inspiration for your space, plus the design elements, materials, and accessories to consider when creating a thoughtful and beautiful shower for your bathroom. Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.

Here are 12 excellent shrubs for providing year-round landscape color for every climate zone. Growing Zones: 5 to 8 Color Varieties: Yellow Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic soil amended with compost Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: YellowSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Lavender-blue, white, burgundy, deep purple, lilacSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Loamy Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: White, red, lavender, or light blueSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich and moist...

While vegetables in the cooking greens category aren’t always related to one another botanically, they all share some similar qualities. Most are easy to grow, and many offer a long season of cut-and-come-again harvesting, meaning you can take what you need for cooking and leave the rest of the plant to continue producing. Many cooking greens can be frozen for winter eating, and most can be succession planted—planted at different times in the same garden area to make maximum use of the growing season....

Many of these games get their inspiration from wink murder, one of the first free murder mystery games since the early 20th century. Unlike wink murder, which uses no props, each game includes character descriptions and scripts, so your guests will be ready to get into the game. Some free games include free invitations, name tags, and props. Many of these games request a “donation” or have paid versions that give users more perks or add-ons....

After valiant efforts were spent shopping for all the best gifts to meet shipping times and successfully planning out holiday gatherings, it’s understandable if getting the decorations up fell to the bottom of your list. But don’t stress—there are plenty of simple ways you can decorate for Christmas, even if time is no longer on your side.