Allowing water to remain in your outdoor spigot after below-freezing temperatures set in can severely damage it. As water freezes, it expands. With nowhere to expand within the plumbing, the frozen water can crack and damage the spigot. Once your spigot is cracked after being frozen, you will have t

A loose toilet tank can cause your toilet not only to work improperly but also to leak water onto your bathroom floor, possibly resulting in expensive water damage. Luckily, if your toilet tank assembly is loose, you can easily fix the problem by yourself. The toilet tank is held in place on the bac

Gutters are often overlooked when you tend to the different items on your property but, because of all the dirt and water they carry, gutters easily become faded with grime. You can easily restore your faded gutters to a clean, pristine state by removing the layer of dirt clouding up its appearance.

Usually made of vinyl or metal, the slats of the venetian blind run horizontal along a set of strings. For proper fit, the venetian blind is usually measured in width, in relation to the window that it is to be hung. Very wide windows will require a wide blind, but the blind will also be extra long.

The bottom of a steam iron may eventually develop residue over time after using products such as starch, or from placing a hot iron on delicate fabrics, which causes fabric to stick to the bottom of the iron. This residue can transfer onto clothing items, causing stains or discoloration. However, cl

Ceramic tiles are notoriously difficult to remove because of their strong, lasting adhesive and fragile nature when being pried up. The task doesn't have to be frustrating. Using the proper tools, such as a hammer, chisel and heat gun, plus allowing extra time to loosen the adhesive, is a surefire w

Who doesn’t love popcorn? It’s great with a movie and low in calories. It’s also a great source of fiber. If you have a microwave, it’s even easy to prepare. Step away from the microwave for one second though and your popcorn is toast. Soon you’ll be choking from t

Cleaning grime from old wood restores the grain and deepens the colors.Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty ImagesRoutine dusting and polishing will keep wood bright and the grain beautiful, but over time, dust, wax or polish can build up, especially in carvings, indented panels and...

Chocolate can quickly turn into a messy situation when you put it into a microwave oven. The small appliance will quickly melt the chocolate and possibly burn it, causing an unpleasant odor to fill the inside of the microwave. The burnt-chocolate smell can last for days and can alter the taste of ot

Wildlife enthusiasts worldwide enjoy providing fresh drinking water for birds and small animals in cast aluminum birdbaths. Although they stay relatively clean, concern for disease prevention demands that these be disinfected frequently with a bleach mixture. Algae and dirt will build up and discolo

The quality and condition of your carpet can make a big statement about your room. Carpet is meant to be an attractive accessory to a room's decor, but is also meant to blend in with it. Carpets that have worn out or dirty spots stand out more, but not in a good way. Good quality carpets that have r

While removing scratches from mirrors is fairly impossible, this article identifies a few of the most used methods of trying to do this, while they may work for some they may not work for others.

USDA grades for eggplants range from U.S. Fancy to U.S. No. 2, and are based on the vegetables' appearance and quality.eggplant image by TMLP from Fotolia.comThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certifies eggplants produced in the United States according to minimum grade...

Product review of Denim Shampoo, a gentle cleaning product for blue jeans.

Whether you have written a name on a book with permanent marker or accidentally brushed a marker across it, you need to safely remove the permanent marker without damaging the book itself. Using something that will safely break up the ink residue allows you to remove most, if not all, traces of the

When people decide to put dreadlocks into their hair, sometimes a product is used to make it easier to get the dreads started and make the process go faster. Beeswax is a substance people use, as wax-based products have the benefit of ease of handling and low cost. But beeswax can leave a residue be

Blood is a messy substance to clean up and can leave stains that are hard to remove no matter how much you scrub. You may know the rules for cleaning blood out of fabric, but when an accident leaves a stain on your hardwood floor or wooden kitchen table, you obviously can't throw those materials int

Silver-plated cups are made of metal coated with a thin layer of real silver. These items require extra care while cleaning to prevent chipping the silver. Handle the cups gently and never use any harsh abrasives. Clean silver-plated items with a mild soap and remove tarnish with a baking soda solut