Cornstarch, a fine, powdery starch commonly used as a thickening agent for sauces and gravies, can also be used to remove ink stains from the carpet, detangle stubborn knots, silence your squeaky floorboards, and give your pooch a dry shampoo. Cornstarch is also handy for add ...more
Kool-Aid, the flavored mix powder, commonly used to make sugary and fruity cold drinks in the summertime, is also unexpectedly useful around the home to clean your rusty dishwasher, remove rust stains from concrete, and check to see if your toilet tank is leaking. For arts an ...more
Ironing is a serious chore: hot, unpleasant, and frustrating all in one, but necessary if you don't want to look like you crawled out of bed just before work. While you might only turn to your flatiron when faced with wrinkled clothing, this little appliance packs the power to ...more
A good cutting board is almost as important as the utensils you use on it. The wrong type can cause your blades to dull faster, and certain materials hold onto juices (and therefore bacteria) from food. You can wash a plastic board with just about anything, but what about wood ...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
White or light-colored dinnerware is a classic: it looks crisp, clean, and elegant. The only problem is that after you've used it for a few years, the surfaces bear a lot of grey scuff marks from forks, spoons, and knives being dragged across the surface. It's tempting to don ...more
Whites are the hardest color to keep looking bright and new after just a few months' time. Your sweat and oils quickly become stains, and colors from other clothes will eventually bleed into the fabric, discoloring your bright whites into something merely whitish. But before y ...more
If you consider yourself a regular coffee, tea, or hot chocolate drinker, you probably have a kitchen cabinet full of stained mugs that refuse to scrub clean. Thankfully, there is a better solution that doesn't involve continuing to fight those stains with a sponge, bleach, an ...more
Ask 100 chefs what the most important tool in their kitchen is, and you'll get 100 chefs saying the exact same thing: their set of knives. For home cooks and professional chefs alike, nothing is more important (or exciting) than a good knife. A good knife allows you to work mo ...more
If you are cutting down on sugar and don't know what to do with the excess box of sweet stuff taking up space in your pantry, you are in luck—sugar is another one of those super-common household items that has many practical, non-edible uses around the home and garden. Grind ...more
Many of the beauty products you buy at drug and department stores are loaded with potentially toxic ingredients like parabens, while their active ingredients are made of things like glycolic, lactic, malic, and alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids, which are all derived from food ...more
Fight me all you want, but it ain't a party without alcohol—whether it's a Halloween party, Christmas party, dinner party, or even a damn wedding. (If you think that people will stick around after dinner for a dry wedding, then you're sorely mistaken.) And while we'd all love ...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
Becoming someone else for Halloween is a lot of fun, but it can take a ton of tools to accomplish. An elaborate costume can require you to slather yourself in all kinds of makeup, paints, and glues, and putting it on is only half the work. The real fun starts when the party's ...more
A lot of people have problems with their cats urinating inside the house, leaving behind the retched odor of cat pee. Others get frustrated when feral or stray cats pee on their porch, patio, or anywhere else outside of their house, as it's not the most welcoming odor when gue ...more
It's nearly impossible to keep a stovetop clean when cooking, at least, in my experience. No matter what I do, liquid and solid food bits fall to the surface and around the burners every single time, creating a hard-to-clean mess. Scrubbing away the stains and crusty charred ...more
Spills happen in the kitchen, and while every good cook knows to clean as you go, not every cook has an endless supply of cleaning materials. Besides, one spill can exhaust your entire stockpile of sponges, paper towels, and rags in a matter of minutes. Particularly egregious ...more
Acetone-based nail polish remover is great for removing nail polish, and it's also great for some DIY uses around the home. From eliminating scratches to fixing the consistency of correction fluid, its uses are varied but all effective. With nail polish remover, you can also c ...more
Snapseed is an app that you should definitely be using not only if you're really serious about photography, but also if you want to ensure that your online work sets the standard for social media. It's a great companion app to Instagram and VSCO, and it will save your day many ...more
Cheesecake is pretty awesome. It's super versatile, allowing you to change crust bases and toppings quite dramatically and still end up with something that's elegant and delicious. Which is why it's a great dish to add to your dessert repertoire! There are a number of approach ...more
If you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, you probably use that sucker to clean everything (minus your good cooking knives), and maybe even to cook your food, too. However, dishwashers are not without their faults. Dishes can still come out spotty and even with chunks of fo ...more
Did you spill red wine on a dry clean only item? Spilling red wine on a dry-clean-only item of clothing doesn't have to mean the end of your favorite dress or jacket. Here's how to get a head start on dissolving the stain, before dropping the item at the dry cleaner. Learn how ...more
Middle-aged woman shows how to remove a strawberry jam stain from a carpet. Video lists all the equipment necessary to complete the job including warm water, gloves, carpet cleaner and sponges. Good explanation of carpet cleaning products. Remove a strawberry jam stain from th ...more
How to remove a stain from a carpet The most important step for taking care of a stain is to use a blotting motion rather than rubbing the stain. Using a white paper towel or cloth towel is helpful because you can see if the stain is still coming out of the carpet and onto the ...more
Patricia Stark with Craving Confidence discusses how to build confidence by removing deodorant stains. A clean makeup sponge can help clear deodorant stains off of dark colored materials, like dress shirts or little black dresses. The makeup sponge grips onto the deodorant tra ...more
If you have ever spilled red wine on a light colored carpet, you know it is the last thing you want to do. You can use regular table salt to get that stain out. Just pour a good amount of salt over the wine and leave it over night, the salt will absorb the wine and you will be ...more
If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of dropping greasy strips of bacon onto your pants, you can remedy the oil stain right away with a paper towel and blue Dawn dishwashing soap. After removing your article of clothing, simply wipe up the oil stain as much ...more
Strawberries contain malic acid, which is great for removing stains on your teeth. You Will Need * 1 ripe strawberry * 1/2 tsp. baking soda * A soft toothbrush * Dental floss * Mouthwash * Hydrogen peroxide Step 1 Mash the strawberry with a fork and mix it with the baking sod ...more
This video shows viewers how to use orange peels to remove permanent marker from surfaces. Use a small piece of an orange peel for this. To begin, massage the skin (outer layer) of the orange peel. This will cause the oils in the skin to rise to the surface. Once you have mass ...more
Wood can be refinished by sanding off the old stain or paint but sanding runs the risk of removing fine details on the wood. Chemical strippers are the best to remove paint, varnish and shellac. Prepare the area on and around the project, strip, scrape and scrub. You might enc ...more
In this video, we learn tips on how to seed a pomegranate easily with Nicki Sizemore. First, cut off the crown of your pomegranate to expose the seeds. Then, score the pomegranate from end to end and a few places around it. Next, soak the fruit in cold water for 5 minutes. Whi ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to replace an old threshold. Steps: 1 Remove old threshold from doorway using hammer and reciprocating saw. 2 Use reciprocating saw to cut the nails securing toekick; remove toekick. 3 Test-fit new threshold in doorway. 4 Buil ...more
If you've ever owned a leather purse, you know that ink or pen stains are a pain in the ass. If you've ever owned a designer leather purse, then you've probably even cried over an accidental stain (oh no! My $3,000 purse is ruined!). Removing ink stains from leather is thought ...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
This tutorial will talk you through installing base boards. Installing base molding adds dimension to baseboard. It protects baseboards and it is easy to replace. Remove the old molding. Four techniques will be discussed about different cuts you will have to make. 1) end of ru ...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
Are you ready to learn a scrumptious new recipe to add to your repertoire? Impress your friends by making the perfect vanilla panna cotta with the executive pastry chef, Heather Bertinetti at Marea, a New York Times 3-starred restaurant. Check out the recipe below, from the Da ...more
Dripping taps can drive you mad, as well as waste water and stain your sink. Luckily, leaking taps can easily be sorted out once you've worked out what's wrong. Watch this video tutorial for tips on how to deal with dripping and leaking taps. Step 1: The modern style tap, one ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to remove red lipstick. First, make sure you have makeup remover for eyes and lips. First, grab the makeup remover and dab it onto a cotton pad. Next, start rubbing the cotton pad on your lips. Use several different cotton pads and keep rubbing u ...more
This video shows how to clean a stained washing machine. Stains are typically caused by brown dirty water in the washing machine. Water is usually brown because it contains high levels of iron. The narrator demonstrates a product called CLR, which can be purchased at Home Depo ...more
This video shows you how to clean oil stains from a garage floor using cat litter. Use the cheapest kind you can find and pour it on the stain. Next crush the cat litter into the floor using your feet. For a bigger stain, use more oil and you should let it absorb first. Next u ...more
Almost every human being on the planet uses toothpaste daily, but typically for just one task—oral hygiene. Keeping your teeth clean is undoubtedly important, but this magical mixture of abrasives, fluoride, and detergents must be useful for more than just scrubbing your chops ...more
Weather - there's no escaping it! Mother Nature can be hard on asphalt: if you live in an area where there are extreme weather changes from season to season then your asphalt will eventually become damaged. As the ground freezes and thaws there is movement that flexes the asph ...more
Once grout has been layed in between the tile, it's stuck there for a long time right? Well not necessarily. Grout can last for a long period of time, but if needed, it can be removed using the right tool. This is important, especially of you have any grout that may have becom ...more
In this video from cdrhead we learn how to save money by staining your own concrete floors. First vacuum the floor and under the sheet rock removing as much dirt and dust as you can. Place plastic on all walls and unfinished wood trim. Now use a 4 inch scraper to remove any re ...more
Mmmmmm. We all wish it was Thanksgiving every day with this delectable baked sweet potato. Betty puts a great spin on a traditional side dish with her unique toppings. In this video, Betty demonstrates how to make a luscious Brown-Sugar-Topped Baked Sweet Potato to accompany ...more
Sanding is an important step when preparing wood for painting or staining. You Will Need * Sandpaper of varying grits * A random-orbit finishing sander * A sanding block * Safety goggles * A dust mask * And a shop vacuum * A pencil WARNING: Always wear safety goggles when ope ...more
Prior to painting, pour some vanilla extract into the paint. The vanilla doesn't stain the paint, and the room won't smell like paint fumes. Video: .
In this episode, Michael shows how to rinse the color off the hair, and then shampoo (using a mild shampoo as you've just colored the hair) and condition it. Don't forget to rub the scalp gently as a massage to help remove the color from staining the skin.
When you spill coffee on a carpet, your first reaction might reasonably be PANIC. However, removing annoying coffee stains is not as hard as you might think. Here's a quick and easy way to really lift that coffee from your carpet. Clean coffee from a carpet. Click through to w ...more
Would you know what to do if someone ingested poison? Equally important, would you know what not to do? WARNING: Call 911 if the person you suspect has been poisoned is drowsy or unconscious, having difficulty breathing, or having seizures. Step 1: Know the signs Know the si ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to stain a concrete floor. To start, you will need to prepare your floor by cleaning it vigorously. Remove all dirt from the floor, then use detergent and water to wash, when finished dry with a shop vac. You will have to use a hand brush to scru ...more
If you want to renovate a kitchen easily, one of the best options is to keep your existing cabinets and either paint or stain them. This can save you a ton of money. But of course in order to do this, you'll have to remove the cabinet doors. So in this tutorial, you'll find o ...more
Liv Hansen with Betty Crocker TV demonstrates how to make pancakes in fun shapes that kids will love. Make sure to pour your pancake batter into a squeeze bottle for better control when creating your pancake shapes. Grease a cool griddle and then turn up the heat. Make your d ...more
All ballet shoes eventually get dirty. In this video, learn from one expert how canvas ballet shoes can be cleaned using calamine lotion that is dabbed onto the surface until stains are removed. Keep ballet shoes looking like new with this video conducted by an expert: Nene Or ...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
Has your car recently had a leak and left your garage floor looking stained and grubby? Get your garage or driveway sparkling clean with this video from Danny Lipford. Who knew you could clean with cat litter? Danny shows us how to get oil, petrol or even paint spills off the ...more
If you want to make a beautiful fake stained glass window, in order to decorate the bathroom, kid’s room or any other room, without much fuss and money involved, here are some tips. First you need an old window on the desired dimensions and then you need some resin from local ...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
Have you ever seen ads or a movie where the film goes on rewind, bring you back through time for whatever reason the director intended? This happens a lot in paper towel commercials, where you see a coffee stain get removed as the coffee pours itself back into a cup while the ...more