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So to help you avoid the shock, it’s time to learn what colorfast means and how to be sure you won’t have a laundry disaster. What Is Colorfast? Colorfast is the ability of a fabric or other substances to keep the same color without fading or running even if washed, placed in harsh light, exposed to perspiration, or treated with certain chemicals. The term, colorfast, was first coined in 1916 by the manufacturers of textiles in testing fabrics when exposed to light, washing, perspiration, and abrasion....

How Brick Bonds Work Most brick bonds require bricks (or other masonry units) of the same size or at least compatible sizes. Uniform sizing creates a regular, repeatable pattern that can be applied over any size of the area. Many bond patterns include some method of interlocking each row of brick (called a course) to the neighboring courses. If you stack up bricks in single-file columns, the stacks can easily topple....

How Concrete Vibrators Work Concrete vibrators come in different forms and can be electric or air-driven. Applications for concrete vibration can be grouped into three basic categories: Formwork vibration: Formwork vibration is commonly used in precast concrete construction and involves mounting the vibrators to the outsides of the concrete forms. For larger pours, the external form vibrators are often spaced 6 feet apart. Surface vibration: With surface vibration, large vibrators (sometimes called “jumpers”) are directed manually onto the surface of the poured concrete....

For almost 30 years, Coyuchi has been manufacturing luxury organic linens. The Coyuchi Mediterranean Towel is a modern and elegant version of traditional towels found in bathhouses. If you’re looking to spruce up your bathroom, this towel seems like an excellent—albeit expensive—choice. Assessing components like design, texture, and durability, I tested the Coyuchi towel to see if it’s worthy of its high price tag. Read on to hear my final verdict....

The fruit, while edible, is not very flavorful, and Darjeeling banana is generally grown instead for the unique foliage, which exhibits a striking cinnamon-red color on the leaf undersides, with leaf tops that sport eye-catching red striped patterns. In zones where it is hardy, this banana can be planted at any time. This fast-growing plant may put on as much as 9 feet in its first growing season and can reach 12 to 15 feet in three years or so, when it flowers and produces fruit....

Given that the dawn redwood has existed for many millions of years, this is a remarkably trouble-free tree. It can be susceptible to frost damage, as it grows until late in the season and may be caught by early chills. Try to find a spot that can offer some shelter from the elements, if possible—especially if you live in the northern end of its hardiness range. Plant this tree in acidic to neutral soil that stays consistently moist—or where a water source for irrigation is near at hand....

Regardless of whether you’re an avid home designer or someone who just cares about having a home that looks nice and is environmentally mindful—if you’re forward-thinking in the slightest—chances are, you’ve probably considered ways to make your home a ‘home of the future.’ Here are a few of our top suggestions: 1. Start With Your Lighting One of the easiest ways to make your home a ‘home of the future’ is to prioritize conservation and minimize your carbon footprint....

How Do Electrical Circuit Overloads Work? Electrical circuits are designed to handle a limited amount of electricity. Circuits are made up of wiring, a breaker (or a fuse, in old wiring systems), and devices (such as light fixtures, appliances, and anything plugged into an outlet). The electricity usage of each device (when running) adds to the total LOAD on the circuit. Exceeding the rated load for the circuit wiring causes the circuit breaker to trip, shutting off the power to the entire circuit....

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for high thread-count sheets. Widely available, reasonably priced, and 100 percent cotton, the Fieldcrest Supima Classic Hemstitch Sheet Set offers a three-factor combination we couldn’t resist trying out. Do these sheets keep their promise? Keep reading to find out. Material: High-quality American cotton Not only are these sheets comprised of 100 percent cotton, the term “Supima” here actually refers to a specific type of cotton....

Three Designs for Mobile Home Roofing Mobile and manufactured home roofs have been built with thee basic shapes through the years. Mobile homes built before June 1976 typically have flat or bowed roofs, usually covered with sheet metal or asphalt coating. Mobile homes manufactured after 1976 (generally known as manufactured homes) generally have more pitched, or peaked, roofs. They are often covered with traditional asphalt shingles or metal roofing panels, much like traditional frame-built homes....

What Birds Eat Different bird species have different dietary needs and feeding preferences, so understanding what birds surround your area and what they eat is the first step toward attracting them with food. The different types of foods most birds naturally eat include insects (worms, grubs, and mosquitos), plant material (seeds, grasses, flowers), small berries or fruit, and nuts. Larger birds like hawks and vultures may also eat small animals like rodents and snakes....

If you’re constantly digging through your fridge, you’re probably committing one of these cardinal sins of fridge organization. Click through for the biggest mistakes and how to fix them. Investing in a few open-air plastic containers is a great way to keep your fridge zones in order and encourage you to stick with your system. If you’re short on space, invest in wire racks or a lazy Susan in your fridge to optimize all of the space without resorting to creating a mountain of food....

The If you’re looking to zhush up your own front porch in time for spring, we’ve rounded up several ideas to keep in mind. After all, if you’re lucky enough to have such a space at your disposal, you may as well make the most if it! 1. Be Strategic With Furnishings You’ll want to select porch furniture that is optimal for entertaining small groups and is comfortable. Landscape Designer Linda Greenberg selects opting for furniture that can accommodate two people, if not four....

Gable Roof vs. Hip Roof: Major Differences The main difference between a gable roof and a hip roof is that a gable roof has vertical sides and a hip roof has no vertical sides. Gable Roof A gable roof has gables: triangular-shaped, vertical sections within the two intersecting roof slopes. With a gable roof, two or more of the walls extend upward to form part of the roofline. A basic gable roof has two sloping sides of the roof that meet at the center to form a peak....

Giant fleece flowers have dark green, pointed leaves with slightly serrated edges. The stems are sturdy but may need some support by the end of summer. Its astilbe-like white plumes are popular with butterflies and even the late-season seed heads are also attractive. For best results, plant in your landscape in early spring. Once your giant fleece flower reaches maturity, expect a bushy plant with exceptional height and spread. It will bend slightly toward the sun, but should not need staking....

Types of Lettuce There are five main types of lettuce: Crisphead: These are generally the most difficult types of lettuces to grow, mainly because they require a long, cool season to mature, and most of us simply don’t have those conditions in our gardens. Crisphead varieties are ready to harvest approximately 95 days after sowing seed. In most of the U.S., to succeed in growing crispheads, you need to start the seed indoors in late winter....