In the past, the word "concrete" has brought to mind ugly, drab, gray surfaces that were good only for driveways, parking lots, sidewalks and maybe patios. But the advent of stains made especially to color concrete any shade, concrete has become a surface utilized for countertops, floors and decorat

Marigolds will keep mosquitoes away from your home according to an old wives' tale or urban legend. The belief is that the mosquitoes dislike the natural scent of the marigold plants.

Earn extra cash by renting out a parking space in your garage or the entire garage. While those in urban areas can make more renting out a garage due to the lack of parking spaces in cities, those in suburbs or rural areas can have success renting out garage space to drivers, artists, carpenters or

Smoke from a fireplace, stove, cigarettes or a freestanding heater will leave stains on a variety of surfaces in your home including furnishings and walls. Over time, the caked-on smoke discolors walls, baseboards, trim, fixtures and other surfaces. The cleaning process is time-consuming and messy,

With frequent use, it's common for stovetops to develop brown stains underneath the drip pans. These dried brown stains can be stubborn to remove if you don't know how to clean them properly, and trying the wrong approach can end up scratching the surface of the stovetop. Fortunately, these stains a

Many batteries used in vehicles contain sulfuric acid to generate the charge. Some of the batteries use acid in a water solution that needs refilling when the liquid gets low. Doing this sometimes results in overfilling, leading to a spill of the battery acid. The acidic liquid is highly corrosive

Wood floors require regular maintenance in order for them to remain in peak condition. Dirt and debris can act as an abrasive and dull the floor, if not regularly removed. That said, if you do not clean your wood floor properly, you can damage it, but you don't have to spend a fortune to clean it; a

If you are seeking to avoid chlorine or other harsh chemicals in your pool, there are many different options to choose from. Overall, maintaining a pool with a chemical-free system is no more expensive or difficult than using a system that contains dangerous chemicals. The biggest task lies in decid

Iron ScienceSteam irons eliminate wrinkles in fabric by combining heat with water vapor. While ironing clothes may seem simple at first glance, a surprising amount of science makes this possible. All fabrics are made of tiny, interconnected fibers. On an even smaller scale, each fiber...

Sometimes in the normal use of an oven, spills can accumulate between the layers of glass on the oven door. This can be an unsightly situation for an otherwise clean oven door. If this happens and your oven is still under warranty, you can call for service to help remedy this situation. If your oven

Mold is not a substance to take lightly, so if you notice it anywhere in your home, you should take it very seriously. For example, you might notice mold on an inside wall, such as in your basement, bathroom or laundry room. These are common areas because mold tends to grow in dark, moist and humid

Scraping the surface of a stove is one way to clean it, but improper scraping may damage the stove top. Food particles, grease, oils and spills bake and eventually burn onto the stove's surface making a thorough cleaning necessary. Drastic measures, such as scraping, may seem as if it is the only vi

Waking up to discover blood on your sheets from an opened cut or bloody nose always starts your day in a panic. Luckily, blood stains are rarely permanent and can be removed with some diligence. Treating the stain as soon as you discover it makes its removal a much easier process. With the help of s

Your shirts may be perfectly starched, but your iron is worse for the wear, as you can see by the caked-on spray starch all over the sole plate. Here's a gentle way to clean that iron!

Coffee stains leave brown marks on clothing and appear as dark beacons on white wool garments. White wool fabric requires a soft cleaning procedure to keep the material from shrinking or pulling out of shape as you remove the stains. Since coffee leaves dark stains on white wool, you need products t

If you handle muriatic, or hydrochloric, acid, it is wise to use extreme caution. If you swallow it, you could die; if it contacts your eyes, you could go blind. Even breathing the fumes could be lethal. The Material Data Safety Sheet for the chemical says that you should also use a respirator when

The Craftsman floor jack is a useful tool for any home garage. It makes lifting your vehicle and riding mower less work than using a standard crank jack. Just as your Craftsman floor jack helps you perform maintenance on your vehicle, it also requires maintenance from time to time. When you notice t

Candles bring light and warmth to any room or outdoor area, but can leave behind a waxy mess that's difficult to clean up. It's not impossible to remove spilled, hardened candle wax stains from hard surfaces such as concrete, wood or metal furniture or flooring. Most of the supplies you'll need can

Leather is a durable and easy-to-clean fabric, which is why it is so often used on furniture, especially couches. It takes a lot of force and usually a sharp object to tear the leather. If a rip or tear should occur, you'll need a handful of materials to get the repair done. Luckily, the process isn