Category: HOME

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

Whether your goal is to purge your home of stuff you no longer need or you want to raise some cash—or both—you have options. You can sell your items on an auction website such as eBay.com or list them in the classified in a local newspaper or on Craigslist.org. You can unload unwanted clutter on…


How to Clean Windows Inside and out for Streak-Free Results

Compare a clean window with a dirty one, and the contrast is clear. Streak- and grime-free windows offer a lovely way to enjoy the outdoors, as well as an uninterrupted path for sunshine to enter into your home’s interior. But many people avoid this task because they are unsure how to clean windows. Luckily, it…


How Clearing out Clutter Can Improve Your Life

Getting organized is like dieting. Everyone knows how to do it, but the problem is getting around to it—to clearing out clutter, cleverly organizing what remains, and then maintaining the results. When we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, I emptied every cupboard and drawer, carefully labeling every box and bin with its contents….


Can’t Paint Your Home? Try These 5 Paint-Free Alternatives Instead

Renting an apartment or house is a cost-effective option for anyone who’s making their first foray into the real estate world or moving somewhere new (No home remodeling costs! No cost of selling a house to worry about!) but living in a temporary space can cramp anyone’s interior design game. Although you pay a monthly…


Cleaning Tips and Tricks That Promise to Cut Costs and Save Time

Cleaning is the one chore that most of us dread, but we all know it has to be done. And while none of these cheapskate cleaning methods pretend to make it fun, they do promise to cut costs and save time. Also, most of these tips can be implemented with everyday items you probably already…


Will Building a Treehouse Harm the Tree?

Q: Would it harm a tree if I built a simple treehouse in it? It would be nothing elaborate: a deck, three walls, and a roof. I was thinking of the nails that would have to be used to make firm steps for my grandchildren and for the support braces. A: A few nails or…


3 Ways to Clean a Bathtub That Are Easy on the Back and Knees

Cleaning the bathtub is one of those housekeeping chores that’s more pain than pleasure for those with health issues that make bending and kneeling difficult. So hard on the back and knees that it just doesn’t get cleaned well. Here to the rescue are three very effective and efficient ways to keep any bathtub sparkling…


Add Shading for Your Patio and Deck

Dear James: It gets too hot in the afternoon sun to use our deck, but we like being outdoors. Are there any inexpensive do-it-yourself shading projects that would help?—Kristin T. Dear Kristin: Being outdoors on a deck on a sunny afternoon can be unbearable. You will find it worse in the early afternoon when the…


My Neighbor’s Tree Fell on My Property

Dear Monty: My neighbor’s tree fell on our property. It destroyed our brick fence, and we have significant damage to the garage. My insurance agent gave me a very vague response about the insurance adjuster determining liability. She said she would come out in the next few days. She also hinted that my policy might…


6 Ways to Do-It-Yourself Home Search

Dear Monty: We want to buy a home, but we have been outbid twice already. Agents say few homes are coming on the market, which is a big reason for the high prices. Do you have any suggestions about how we could find a home on our own? Monty’s Answer: Here is what USA Today…