I used to dread finding a stain on my favorite clothes. And it seemed like every time I invested in a great pair of jeans or a more expensive top, these items became instant stain-attractors. I could go weeks, or months, in a pair of old, ill-fitting pants without even a shadow of a blemish appearing on them. But the moment I put on my new jeans from a recent shopping splurge, a spot of mustard or a splash of tomato would appear on one of the legs....
As environmental sustainability becomes more and more important to today’s consumers, many companies are looking at ways to make everyday items less negatively impactful on the earth. After finding my favorite green laundry detergent, I was ready to take the next step. My family of five generates a lot of laundry each week, so I was thrilled to be able to try The Wonder Wash from The Laundry Alternative as a way to make my daily cleaning greener....
Packing up a life’s worth of belongings—and later finding a way to ensure these belongings land unharmed in your new place—is certainly the cause of many headaches. But, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. As pros on all things home, we have tried a lot of moving materials and products in our day. That’s why we are sharing the essential items that you should invest in before you begin packing to ensure a smooth move—and yes, it’s possible....
Tropical plants are a great way to add a touch of the exotic to a non-tropical garden, providing a taste of warmer climates for the duration of summer. However, tropical plants can be expensive to purchase, and growing an impressive tropical specimen can often take years of proper care. Treating tropical plants as annual plants can seem like a waste of money, the time spent caring for the plants, and the plants themselves....
Planning the right chicken coop begins with considering and answering a number of key questions. Do You Need a Moveable Tractor or a Stationary Coop? The type of coop you choose depends on whether the chickens will live full-time in it with access to an outside run or larger portions of pasture, or if it needs to be a movable coop that can be relocated frequently to provide fresh ground for the chickens to forage....
Furniture Dolly and/or Utility Dolly A utility dolly—the upright kind with two wheels—can be used to stack and move several boxes at once, saving your back and the possibility of dropping a box that contains breakables. A furniture dolly, which has a large flat base with four wheels, is essential for moving large, awkward items and to safely move large pieces of furniture. You just need to make sure the heavy items are well-secured and that you have extra help in moving items down stairs and up the ramp to the moving truck....
Owner Karen B. Wolf of KBW Interiors Location Long Beach Island, NJ “Growing up, I spent many happy summers on Long Beach Island and always dreamed of owning a beach house there,” explained Karen. “When that opportunity presented itself, location was never a question.” Style After purchasing the perfect plot of land, Karen designed the 2700 sq. ft. home from the ground up, “designed to bring to mind a clean-lined California beach cottage....
Why Baking Soda Works The scientific name for baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It is a weak base that can act as an acid depending on what it comes in contact with. The smells in your fridge are made up of food particles that float around and eventually settle into your other meals. Putting a box of baking soda in your refrigerator gives those smelly particles something other than your leftovers to bond with....
What Is Variegation? The term variegation refers to the appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves and stems of plants. Variegation occurs due to a lack of chlorophyll in some of the plant’s cells, which most commonly occurs as a result of cell mutation. Some fungal diseases can also result in leaves looking variegated. Foliage variegation can be two-toned, tri-colored, or even quadricolored, and occur in a variety of patterns such as splotches, stripes, dots, blocks, and more....
How Much Water Does a Flock Need? Chickens need constant access to fresh, clean water and feed. On average, a full-grown laying hen will drink a pint of water daily. But this varies widely, due to the size of the hen, the season, and the outdoor temperature (some layers can drink a quart a day in hot weather). Meat birds require even more water than laying hens, as their breeds have a quick metabolism that helps them grow big fast....
Retain the Kitchen Footprint Most kitchens come in one of several pre-determined shapes. Few kitchen designers ever do anything different, mainly because these shapes work so well, but also because kitchens typically have such limited spaces. Whether it is the one-wall kitchen layout, corridor or galley, L-shape, or U-shape, your existing kitchen layout probably works better than you may think it does. The problem may be more in the arrangement of your services within that shape than the shape itself....
The launch includes three types of cleaners—glass, bathroom, and multi-surface—but like other waste-conscious companies, this line’s cleaning power comes in the form of tiny reusable “pods.” 3 reusable spray bottlesMulti-Surface Concentrated Cleaner Refill (x2 pods per refill)Glass Concentrated Cleaner Refill (x2 pods per refill)Bathroom Concentrated Cleaner Refill (x2 pods per refill)Palo Santo StickReusable Microfiber Cloth First Impressions The bottles feel chic, with squared edges and glass-look plastic that make me feel slightly better about wiping away the latest stain my toddler has blessed my walls with....
Growing up, my parents disliked grass-cutting so much that they bricked in our yard. So, you could say I was predisposed to avoid (and even dislike) lawn maintenance, and I know I’m not alone. Even shopping for a lawn mower—whether a corded or uncorded, ride-on or push model—can be a chore and not to mention an investment. Electric lawn mowers are more affordable and eco-friendly than their gas counterparts, and they supposedly don’t sacrifice power....
There is some argument over the need for a bonding wire, considering that few building codes require it. Those that advocate their use lean on one of two lines of reasoning. Reducing Corrosion One reason a bonding wire is installed is that it can prevent the electrolysis that can occur when dissimilar metals are joined together. When a water heater is connected with copper piping, the union where the copper meets the steel fittings on the water heater is subject to a slight electrical potential that can accelerate corrosion....
Conceived around the specialized systems, processes, equipment, and worker safety considerations of manufacturing, processing, power generation, and other industrial activities, industrial architecture includes factories, warehouses, foundries, steel mills, water towers, grain silos, distilleries, breweries, refineries, power plants, and many other tailor-made utilitarian structures. The History of Industrial Architecture The first industrial buildings were constructed in the 1700s during the first Industrial Revolution that took place mainly in Britain from 1760 to 1830....
Japanese woodworking is also a craft that do-it-yourselfers can practice with just a few tools. It’s a slow, meditative craft that helps the woodworker feel a closer bond to the natural materials they’re working with. What Japanese Woodworking Is Japanese woodworking uses only wood—no additional metal fasteners or glue. Pieces attach by friction; thus, precise measuring, cutting, and planing are required. Joints are often created by shaping the two pieces of wood so that they perfectly attach to each other....
Task Lighting: Its Purpose and Why You Need It In Your Home Task lighting is a valuable lighting feature in any home. From kitchens to workbenches and office spaces, task lighting plays a critical role in making life easier. It illuminates the workspace, helping you see important details. Besides making your work easier to see, task lighting is important for your eye health. Inadequate lighting can cause eye strain and lead to eye problems....
What Is Chinese Astrology? The study of Chinese astrology is called the Four Pillars, also known as BaZi. Many feng shui practitioners study and apply Four Pillars analysis to inform their feng shui adjustments because these modalities are interconnected. The Four Pillars are made up of the 12 zodiac animals (also known as the Twelve Earthly Branches) with the five elements (also known as the Ten Heavenly Stems). Together they create the Cycle of Sixty, which covers all the possible combinations of the 12 zodiac animals and the five elements....
