How to Remove Odors From Trash Cans Baking soda: Baking soda can solve just about any cleaning conundrum. You’re likely aware that baking soda in the back of your fridge can get rid of odors. The same is true for stinky trash cans. If you can is made out of plastic, just sprinkle a light layer of baking soda on the bottom before you put the bag in. For a metal can, you need to take one extra step to prevent corrosion: Pour a good amount of baking soda into a coffee filter and secure it with a twist tie before placing it in the bottom of the can....

A vacuum is a staple cleaning tool for a modern home. The Oreck Commercial XL2100RGH Upright Vacuum Cleaner cuts vacuuming down to the bare bones—mighty ones. A solid vacuum needs the suction power to pull dirt and debris out of various carpet pile lengths and hard floors. It should be easy to empty and needs a cord that’s long enough to let you navigate your home without too many outlet changes....

It gets its name from the many lilac or white bell-shaped flowers that form above the green foliage on the upright stalks during the summer. Planted in groups, they add a lovely splash of color and height in perennial borders, and they look fantastic in cut flower arrangements, too. The long-lived flowers attract pollinators like butterflies to your garden and, if the conditions are right and it’s well-maintained, it could give you around five years of floral interest....

What Is an Herb? For the most part, the term herb is not definitive. Some sources consider them plants that do not develop woody stems. Others consider any plant used for medicinal, culinary, or aromatic qualities to be an herb. That’s a pretty broad definition. It is generally accepted that herbs are those plants used for their roots, leaves, green stems and flowers. It’s best not to spend too much time debating what is or is not an herb....

All parts of poison sumac contain urushiol, and it can even remain active in dead plants. If you need to work with poison sumac in your garden, you should always wear protective clothing, including long sleeves and pants, rubber gloves, and boots. Thoroughly hose down your boots and gloves after you’re done in the garden, and immediately wash your clothes. It’s ideal to take a shower as well, just in case there’s some resin on your body....

In general, polycrylic can be best understood as a light-duty sealant that dries quickly with a clear or slightly milky hue. It’s low in flammability and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Polyurethane is better for high traffic areas, though it does take longer to dry. Oil-based polyurethane is a flammable product with a high level of VOCs. Water-based polyurethane still has a higher level of VOCs than polycrylic. Use this guide to find out more about the differences and similarities of polycrylic vs....

Ideal pH The pH is a measurement of the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The pH will affect how well your roses can access nutrients in the soil, so it’s worth paying attention to it. If the pH is way off, it won’t matter how much you pamper your roses, they will still be stressed. Luckily, roses prefer a soil pH close to the typical level for ordinary garden soil, which is slightly acidic to neutral (6....

If you decide to prepare your major appliances yourself, follow this step-by-step guide so they’re ready to go when you are. What You Need Household cleaner Cleaning and/or work gloves Packing tape Screwdriver and/or wrench Contact the Manufacturer or Dealer For all major appliances, contact the dealer for specific move instructions or refer to the owner’s manual if you have a copy. If you don’t have a copy of the moving instructions, go to Appliance411....

We admit that doubling up on some dryer loads in order to save time and energy is productive. However, this is strictly when combining two small (or tiny) similar-fabric-and-color loads (we’re sticklers for proper sorting) into an appropriately-sized dryer load - with the word “appropriate” being key here. Let’s talk capacity. If your dryer has a 7 ​cu. ft. drum, this may come as a shock, but you’re not supposed to cram 7 cu....

Flaxoleum? Linoleum Is So Natural, You Wouldn’t Believe It Partially, it’s linoleum’s green, eco-friendly factor. The name is a concoction of the “lin” from linseed and “oleum” from oil. So, just as the word petroleum is “rock oil” (petra = rock, oleum = oil), linoleum is “linseed oil.” Linseed is flax, and flax is often touted as a miracle seed, capable of all sorts of medicinal properties. Whether that is true or not, what is certain is that flax is such a tough, fibrous seed that it is processed and woven into textiles....

Many, not to say all, concrete mixes today contain one or more concrete admixtures that will help your pouring process, driving down cost while increasing productivity. The cost of these admixtures will vary depending on the quantity and type of admixture being used. All of this will be added to the cubic yard/meter cost of concrete. Concrete Admixtures: Set-Retarding Set retarding concrete admixtures are used to delay the chemical reaction that takes place when the concrete starts the setting process....

Why Pruning Is Recommended Pruning tomato suckers is often recommended because the resulting new stem is competing for nutrients with the original plant. Your plant may have more fruit if you let the suckers grow, but the tomatoes will be smaller and the plant will be more cumbersome, requiring a lot of effort to stake as the summer progresses. Pruning tomato suckers makes your plants more manageable and more robust at the same time....

What’s In Weed and Feed? Because “weed and feed” is an umbrella term, there’s no one set list of ingredients for it. Not only is it sold in different forms (granules vs liquid), but it can also serve different purposes. If you’re trying to thwart weeds before they emerge, then you need a weed and feed that contains a pre-emergent herbicide. But if you need to kill weeds after the fact, the product to use is one with a post-emergent herbicide....

Location: Pasadena, California, “in the Linda Vista neighborhood, which sits right above the Arroyo where the Rosebowl is located,” explains Blazek. “I love this neighborhood because it is all residential, has incredible views over the Arroyo, and there’s lots of interesting and varied architecture, natural beauty, and tree-lined streets.” Size: The ranch-style home is just more than 2,700 square feet, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Style “I would describe my style as laid-back Californian with Southwestern influences and a little edge for good measure,” says Blazek....

In terms of installation, not all headboards are created equal: some attach directly to your bed frame, while others need to be mounted on the wall. So, when eyeing a new headboard, make sure you can actually install it in your space. Once you’ve handled the logistics, you can move on to more aesthetic considerations, like what the headboard looks like, and what material it’s made of. To help you reimagine your bedroom, we’ve rounded up some of the most striking headboards on the market....

Our top pick is the RYOBI 40-Volt Brushless Self-Propelled Mower, a cordless electric mower that is powerful, quiet, and relatively easy to maneuver, even on hills. Here are the best lawn mowers. We sent this mower to our tester to try at home. They were particularly impressed by the power of the self-propelled feature and found that it could cut through thick, dense grass with ease. They also appreciated that there were seven cutting height options....

“The most important rule is to choose a planter with drainage holes in the bottom, so the soil doesn’t become waterlogged,” Hynes says. “Well-drained planters are the best protection against drowning plants.” Without good drainage outdoors, rain can collect and drown or rot your plants. Indoors, it’s tricky to prevent overwatering unless the pot drains. In researching the best planters, we kept in mind value, durability, style, and how well the planter suits different plants and growing needs....