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However, if you decide to switch to LEDs, what do you do with those old bulbs and Christmas lights? First off, don’t just discard them in the trash. Twinkle lights, CFLs, fluorescent bulbs, and incandescents should be recycled. CFLs contain mercury, so if they are not properly discarded, they can break and release small amounts of mercury into the environment. Light strands might also contain lead, which is in some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wire coverings to make them more flexible and less likely to crack....

Find out what you can do to help plants recover from frost damage. How to Save Frost-Damaged Plants The plan of action for frost-damaged plants can be summarized in three words: Wait, see, and water. Since not all frost damage is obvious immediately, waiting is the best approach. What you shouldn’t do is reach for the pruners and cut off the damaged plant parts. The more pruning you do, the more energy the plant needs to heal those wounds instead of spending it on recovering....

You will not easily escape paying substantial money for a qualified electrician. But there are ways to shave down those costs to make them more manageable. Create or Update Your Circuit Directory There is a major, costly problem with your electrician spends more time being a detective than being an electrician. The electrician arrives, looks at your service panel (circuit breakers), and is confronted with a non-existent list of circuits or a list that is so grossly outdated that it is meaningless....

How to Stop Dye Bleeding in Clothes If you suspect that brightly colored clothes are going to bleed, should you try to “set the color?” Some people add salt to a load of clothes to set the color, while some swear by the idea that adding distilled white vinegar to the wash or rinse water will set the dye. Unfortunately, neither method will work reliably to prevent dye bleeding from clothes or fabrics that have already been commercially dyed....

Installing multiple boxes along a wall is much faster and easier when each box is the same height. Any variance in height slightly increases the friction on the NM (non-metallic) cable as you fish it through the holes drilled into the studs. Uniformity becomes even more critical when you are pulling rough-surfaced BX armored cable through studs. Uniform box heights also help with cutting and placing the insulation in the walls and attaching drywall to the studs....

Here are the best tips on how and what to store under the bed. Under Bed Storage Solutions Before heading out in search of storage bins or boxes that fit under your bed, measure the width and height of the space. Write down the measurements on an index card that will easily fit in your wallet. This way, you’ll always have it with you when you’re out shopping. When selecting containers:...

This rose is a floribunda variety, meaning it produces plentiful flowers in tight clusters. Deep green, leathery foliage creates a beautiful contrast against the yellow roses. Developed in the United States in 2004 and introduced to the market by Weeks Roses, the common name of this plant comes from the famous chef Julia Child, who personally chose this rose to bear her name. These eye-catching blooms attract bees, butterflies, and birds and make great cut flowers....

Water-Resistance Even though kitchens are not as water-intensive as a shower, bath, or even the general bathroom area, they do get water. That’s the number one reason why surfaces like tile (vinyl stone, or ceramic) or sheet vinyl are great for kitchens: water cannot degrade these inorganic materials. Durability Kitchens are notorious for getting lots of activity, and not all of it related directly to cooking. So, your kitchen floor tiles need to stand up to the constant flow of traffic....

There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a new showerhead. Do you want a fixed showerhead or a a handheld one? How many settings do you want it to have? Are you concerned about finishes? And, of course, what’s your budget? Modern showerheads can cost upwards of $200, but the Kohler Forté Single-Function Showerhead comes with a modest price tag. It also promises a powerful, rainshower-like flow thanks to Katalyst air-induction technology—which basically means the showerhead intensifies each and every water droplet by infusing the flow with two liters of air per minute....

There are over 50 of these types of lady’s slipper orchids—many of which are native to North America and Europe. They’re hardy, rhizomatous perennials that, unlike many orchids, can often survive through harsh winter conditions. They typically grow in shaded and cool woodland areas. While they might cope with cold conditions, that doesn’t mean lady’s slippers orchids aren’t without their challenges. If you can provide them with the right conditions and attentiveness, though, growing long-lived Cypripedium orchids will reward you with exotic looking flowers year after year....