Watch this six part Home & Garden how to video sequence to get tips and tricks for properly staining an outdoor wood deck. Learn how to clean, strip, brighten and stain your wood deck with a semi-transparent finish that will last for years and protect it from the weather and U ...more
Paul Ryan of the DIY Network shows how to make concrete countertops for the kitchen. Concrete is now available in a wide range of colors and textures. First build forms out of 3/4-inch melamine (a waterproof smooth material for easy casting), according to the blueprints. Use c ...more
If you're anything like me, you probably think it's borderline sacrilege to even think about a sandwich or a burger that doesn't have a layer of smooth mayonnaise. But I don't just keep a jar of it in my fridge for lunch—it's also there for practical purposes. I learned this ...more
You are great at throwing a party but how are you at hiding the evidence? All you have to do is be good and thorough at house cleaning with maybe a knack for stain removal. The trick is to dispose of party trash far away. After a night of partying, cleaning up wells takes tim ...more
Don’t throw out that banana peel—or that overly ripe banana. Put them to good use around your house instead. Step 1: Shine your shoes Rub the inside of a banana peel on anything made of leather—shoes, pocketbooks, jackets. Then wipe away the residue and buff with a lint-free ...more
There are a lot of frustrations when you're dealing with cramped living quarters, but you can do a lot of good cooking in your tiny kitchen if you make the most of your space. These storage hacks will make it easy to cook delicious meals, no matter how limited your square foot ...more
Beer isn't just for drinking anymore. There are many useful and surprising things that an ice-cold brewski can help you accomplish, from household chores to better-tasting food. It can even help you look and feel healthier. And while it may seem sacrilegious to use a beer for ...more
One of the hottest trends in the food world right now is "spiralized" vegetables. I will confess that I am a bit suspicious of any diet or food fad that eliminates an entire food group for anything other than physician-ordered health reasons, but something really good has foll ...more
Unless your work clothes require dry cleaning, you probably only go to the cleaner a few times a year. And for those few items in your closet for which you do, you have to then find the time and extra budget to make a trip all the way to the cleaners and back again. In the end ...more
I assume at this point you have already completed your control panel using Part 1 of this How To guide. Now, if you are anything like me, you couldn't fight the urge to play, and you have your panel sitting on saw horses in the living room. Depending on your situation, your s ...more
Wow! No longer do you have to buy those huge marble machine roller coaster toys — you can DIY one! This video covers the materials, tools and techniques used to make a homemade rolling ball marble machine. If you haven't seen this rolling ball marble machine toy in action yet, ...more
Remember the arcades? Were you saddened when they closed up one by one, leaving no outlet to actually go out and socialize while you played video games? With all the home consoles and internet connectivity, gaming has evolved, but the social factor has been eliminated. Sure we ...more
There's three types of animal lovers in the world. The first are your basic pet owners. The ones with a cat or dog in the home, meant to be their cuddly companion. They love and adore it and consider it a member of the family. The second are animal rights activists. They ten ...more
This article is a guide for making Chainmail Armor from start (simple wire) to finish (a finished chainmail shirt). We will be using the European 4 in 1 weave, as this is the most common weave. This is the weave that you usually see in movies. There are several sections to thi ...more
There’s a good chance that you’ll be alone in life one day, and no... I’m not talking about a couch-bound, dateless loser with a pocket pussy and a bag of potato chips. I’m talking about alone. In the wilderness. Hungry. Cold. Lost. You can’t stay in one place too long, so it ...more
Fire. It’s everywhere— always has been. From the Ordovician Period where the first fossil record of fire appears to the present day everyday uses of the Holocene. Today, we abundantly create flames (intentionally or unintentionally) in power plants, extractive metallurgy, i ...more
To follow along with this video, you will need a few supplies: a spray bottle filled with lukewarm water, a couple of clean white blotting towels, and a product called Legacy of Clean. To remove the stain you begin by applying a few drops of Legacy of Clean onto the stain. Use ...more
The basic idea of cleaning laminate floors is to use a dry or damp mop or cleaner for cleaning spills and as little moisture as possible. Laminate floors are resistant products and are made to last, but they also are sensible to moisture and thus it can produce damage. Also ve ...more
Mike Kraft tells us how to clean a concrete driveway in this video. The driveway can collect a lot of different stains, which can lead to deterioration. Pressure washing is the best way to clean a brick or concrete driveway. You will first need to place detergent onto the driv ...more
Want to remove dried wax from a carpet? You'll need four items: a white towel, a regular electric iron, a carpet cleaning solution and a hot-water extraction machine. For a complete, step-by-step demonstration of how to remove pesky paraffin wax stains from your own carpet, wa ...more
Ink stains are a very common stain that people get from an accidental pen mark on the clothing or when an ink pen bursts in a pocket or a purse. Start by putting a little cloth in between the ink stain and another part of the clothing. Get some glycerin and dab some of it on t ...more
Nothing worse than the dreaded red wine stain. No need to panic if someone spills red wine on your crisp white shirt, tablecloth, or other washable fabric. In a few easy steps, the fabric can look as good as new. Learn how to remove a red wine stain with the folks from Martha ...more
If your furniture has seen better days but is nevertheless structurally sound, restoring it might be as simple as applying a fresh layer of paint or wood stain. This free video tutorial demonstrates a method for refinishing furniture with a power sander. For more information, ...more
Outdoor furniture is made of a lot of different things: Wood, iron, aluminum, even plastic. Dust, dirt, mold, mildew and moss on your outdoor furniture can be cleaned off almost immediately with a pressure washer. Watch this how-to video and learn to use a pressure washer to c ...more
When that dusty old dresser you have starts looking more fit for Grandma than your sleek 21st century home, it may be time to refinish. This tutorial guides you accurately and quickly through how to refinish furniture, including using a chemical stripper, scraping off the fin ...more
Setting: manhattan construction site Necessary Items: 7-story cranes, bungie cords, goggles, wetness on the ground, all the paraphanalia to make you think we just had a port-a-potty launch. But the fake-out is that the port-a-potties are clean as a whistle, brand spanking n ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to build a stained-glass bar cabinet. Steps: 1. Cut the cabinet's 1x preprimed pine sides to the length of the glass door. The ends and shelves should be 1½ inches smaller than the window's width. (You can also have the wood c ...more
If you're tired of the cement-and-motor-oil coloring you're currently rocking on the floor of your garage, you've come to the right place. This video will show you how to prepare the concrete floor in a garage for staining by etching and degreasing it, ensuring that it is clea ...more
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to make utensils in the wilderness. You'll see how to make a wooden fork, spoon, pot hanger and support when out in the woods. Also, learn how to clean your knife using moss. A nice piece of hazel wood is what you'll want for this survi ...more
Why buy a beaded candle holder at the store when you can make one at home? Use this crafty idea to turn your favorite votive candle holder (or shot glass!) into a beautiful, eye-catching, colorful display! Things you'll need: Candle holder (or clear shot glass) Beads Super g ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to build your own prop shotgun. To make this, you will need: one 2x6 that is 2 feet long, one 1x3 eight inches long, two 8" diameter PVC piping 2 feet long, two one inch PVC end caps, picture hangers, assorted nuts, bolts, and crews. First, draw ...more
An asphalt driveway looks good when new but over time, wear and tear will show. This video by Lowes.com shows you how to clean, repair and reseal your driveway to maintain it and make it last. Before starting the job, check the weather for a few dry days. Tools and materials n ...more
On this video from Bushcraft Machete, he explains the purpose of a scandi edge and how to use it. He uses the machete as a planer, stripping the bark from a log by holding the machete almost flat against the log and tapping the back of the blade with a stick. He explains that ...more
Grafting, also known as "top working," is simple-but-essential technique that enables you to change the variety of fruit a tree bears. In this tutorial, Stephen Hayes of Fruitwise Apples Heritage demonstrates the rind grafting technique, a useful method for grafting over a sou ...more
It's no secret, artists are broke. That's why they're referred to as "starving artists". One day these artists will achieve unimaginable success, but for most of their lives, they'll be struggling to survive… struggling to keep their vision alive. That's why they need to work ...more
Here is a very crafty and cute way to create a wind chime out of old salt and pepper shakers that can be found either around your house or bought at second hand stores and a small tin tray or plate to hang your shakers from. A bit of out door or water-proof glue and some color ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to replace a baseboard heating cover. Steps: 1 Slide wood shims behind the back plate of the baseboard heater. 2 Use reciprocating saw to cut nails or screws holding back plate to wall. 3 Pull the adjustable damper from the ha ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to troubleshoot a leaky shower. Steps: 1. Cover shower drain with rag to prevent dropped screws from falling down the drain. 2. Remove handle from shower valve. 3. Unscrew escutcheon plate from the shower valve. 4. Inspect rea ...more
This is a video tutorial how to change the drive axle boots at a Porsche 944. The boots are different for the different versions, i.e., the Turbo and S2 version have stronger drive axles, but the work is the same for all models. Note The video has a German soundtrack but Eng ...more
How to Build a Basic BirdhouseMaybe you were outside in your back yard and you noticed that it seemed a little lonely and empty. Our maybe you have young kids that love to experience wild life in their own back yard. Whatever reason you have for searching out this article, you ...more
Remember summer camp? Remember the smell of the log cabins? The feel of the treated wood? Well, you can create something for your home that's perfect for a nostalgic summer camp aesthetic. Meg Allen Cole (recently of Threadbanger) was inspired to make this mid-century modern w ...more
Need a new hobby? How about railroad modeling? You can turn a full sized train and rail transport into a scaled model for you to enjoy. Model railroading is a hobby that requires attention to detail, so no slackers here, please. Watch this video tutorial to see how to hand la ...more
Find out how everything in a chemistry lab works, from pipettes to burners to recrystallization to storage. You'll get precise instructions on how to work and perform certain scientific duties in the chem lab, whether it's chemical or just ordinary high school science. Watch ...more
I am writing this quick post in response to the recent earthquakes and tsunamis that are affecting Japan. As soon as the news broke, and we began to hear of tsunami warning for our area, I immediately realized how under prepared I was for a natural disaster. The thing that dro ...more
Make your upholstered furniture look like new again by getting out spots and stains. Learn how to remove stains from upholstered furniture with this how to video. You Will Need * Clean, white cloths * Dishwashing liquid * Rubbing alcohol * Baking soda or cornstarch * A vacuum ...more
When restoring older wood furniture you will probably encounter dark rings and black spots, which are caused by water stains. Oxalic acid is a moderate bleach that will remove these stains even if they have penetrated the wood surface. Oxalic acid will also remove finish stain ...more
Make your leather furniture look like new again by getting out spots and stains. Step 1: Clean stains immediately Blot spills immediately with a clean, white cloth, and then clean the spot as quickly as you can. The more time that elapses, the more difficult it will be to re ...more
Learn how to remove red wine stains. Thinking of switching to white wine just to avoid stains? Memorize these cleaning tips instead. You Will Need * White wine, club soda, or cold water * A white cloth napkin or clean white T-shirt * Salt * Liquid enzyme detergent * Spot st ...more
Over time, stains can collect in your crockpot. Learn how to properly clean your crockpot and remove stubborn mineral stains and water marks. When cleaning the crockpot, fill it with hot, soapy water once the cooker has cooled. Let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub with ...more
Building a frame for your paintings can save you money and provide one more creation of which to be proud. Normally recommended for abstract paintings, basic float frames offer a professional feel to your art. This video demonstrates how to build a very simple float frame, whi ...more
Make sure your winter wardrobe survives the summer by putting it away properly. Learn how to store your winter clothes. You Will Need: * Acid-free tissue paper * Plastic trash bags, plastic boxes with mesh-type lids, or cardboard boxes * Hangers with clips * A soft cotton clo ...more
In this do it yourself video guide to refinishing and restoring wood furniture, learn tips and techniques for how to refinish your old, well-loved wood furniture, including everything from wood stain removal to applying a fresh, new furniture stain. Our expert, Jennifer Ware, ...more
You Want White Teeth Without Expensive Over-The-Counter Products? Here's An Inexpensive, Effective Solution. Everywhere you look there are products for whitening teeth. You could spend a fortune on products you have to use everyday. This tutorial will show you a natural, inex ...more
Your ironing skills are rusty, and so is your iron. Now you’ve got rust stains on your blouse. What to do? You Will Need * A steel-wool pad * Lemon juice * Water * Cloths or paper towels * Vinegar WARNING: If your fabric is not machine-washable or color-safe, have it professi ...more
Learn how to get out lipstick stains. It's not just lipstick on your collar; your favorite shade can turn up anywhere! That's why you need a battle plan. You Will Need * A clean, white towel * A clean, white washcloth * Rubbing alcohol * Grease solvent Step 1. Place stain ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Japanese screen. First, cut your wood out and sand it down. Then, use a corner clamp to drill a hole in and screw the different sides together. Also use wood glue to help stick the pieces of wood together. Once your frame is assembled, ...more
In this video, Charlie from Mr. Appliance shows us how to clean ovens and microwaves. When any cook top becomes stained, it's always best to clean it right away or it will stain easily and be harder to clean later on. When you use the self-clean option in your oven, make sure ...more
Add shimmer and color to your wood furniture with a Deep Red Mahogany Finish. Watch as The Wood Whisper's Marc Spagnuolo shows you how to apply this look to anything wood in your home. First Marc tells you about narrowing down whether or not you have to mask the wood or enhanc ...more
Don’t panic if you get grease on your carpet. Start tackling it instead. Learn how to get grease stains out of carpet with this Howcast guide. You Will Need * Shaving cream * A clean toothbrush * A clean cloth Step 1: Spray with shaving cream Spray it with shaving cream and ...more
Sometimes getting a stain on finished leather can mean the end of having a nice garment or piece of furniture, but not always. Remember to use caution when cleaning leather because cleaning it can dramatically change the color of the leather. This video shows you one of the be ...more