There are three main types of vinyl tile that can be purchased. Each has its own particular characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks. The colors found in these tiles are homogenous, which means that they penetrate completely through the material. This helps to prevent and obscure damage that can be caused by scratching or gouging the floor. These tiles can have almost any image imprinted on them, providing the widest range of colors and textures available....
Aside from saving on energy bills, there is the greater issue of doing your part to combat global warming. Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy and a Nobel prize-winning scientist said that painting roofs white or another light color would help reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight into space. This would be like removing every vehicle from the planet for 11 years. Other than in commercial applications, it’s not as common for homeowners to paint roofs white....
As we gear up for summer, they gave us their top tip for any homeowner with a backyard or garden that will require watering all season long. What item made your work life easier this week/month/lately? Kate Anne Gross and Ryan Gross: Smart irrigation controllers/timers, like the Rachio 3. Where/how do you use this item most? KAG & RG: We install this system for many of our residential clients, and we’ve found they really enjoy the convenience and extra care it allows their gardener to provide....
If cost is not an issue, then consider hiring professionals for both packing and unpacking. There are many services that provide everything from packing up your household to unpacking and setting up your new home, but before you hire or even decide to hire, you’ll need to weigh your time and energy versus the cost involved in hiring professionals to pack and unpack your home. Home Assessment First, the company will send out a surveyor to assess the details of your move....
Selecting a Planting Site The ideal planting site for spinach is fairly sunny with good soil drainage. Container growth is also an option. As the weather warms, spinach plants will bolt, or send up a flower spike and go to seed. You can slightly delay this by planting in the partial shade of taller plants. Spacing, Depth, and Support Seeds can be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep in rows spaced 12 to 18 inches apart....
Native to Asia, star jasmine is a liana plant—one that strives to climb vertical supports or other plants in order to reach sunlight. It is considered to be a member of the Apocynaceae family, which also includes natal plum, frangipani, and oleander. Star jasmine is best planted in the spring and will grow quickly, often adding between 3 and 6 feet a year. However, the first year the plant is getting established, it expends much of its energy establishing a strong root system and may not appear to grow much (if at all) above ground....
The tamarack is in used ornamental horticulture to add four-season interest to a landscape in colder regions. The species turns a dazzling yellow in the fall before dropping its needles to reveal attractive flaking bark in the winter months to have its needles re-emerge a blue-green hue for the spring and summer. Every year those lovely falling needles create a fine mulch that is pleasing to the eye and completely sustainable....
Like other tea olives, fragrant tea olive is generally planted as a nursery-grown container plant in fall, which allows it to slowly develop a good root system over the cooler months of winter. Fragrant tea olive has a fairly slow growth rate, adding 4 to 12 inches per year, occasionally more in warm coastal regions. Once established, it is an extremely long-lived plant. This plant likes lots of sun, although some afternoon shade will help prevent leaf scorch in hot southern regions....
To find the best options, we’ve purchased over 20 car vacuums from a variety of brands and tested them in real-world conditions and in The Lab. During our testing, we time each product’s unboxing and setup process, evaluate its effectiveness on hard and soft surfaces using debris you might find in your own car (like cereal, sand, mulch, and hair), and rate how easy it is to empty the dust bin....
From pots and pans to Snapware and Tupperware lids, finding a place for each one has never been easier, thanks to dedicated lid organizers. Annie Kearns, organization expert from Clutter Keeper, says to take into account the number of lids you have, as well as the type and size of the lids, before purchasing a lid organizer. “For plastic or glass food storage containers, use a lid organizer that will keep the lids from falling down, like a vertical wire organizer....
Our top pick, the Open Spaces Medium Storage Bin - Set of 2, is a multi-use design that be used for everything from toys to toiletries. Plus, they’re made of a durable plastic for easy cleaning and there’s an option to choose between two lid designs for stacking. From functional bin trios to large embellished totes, here are the best storage baskets you can buy. Our favorite option is the Open Spaces Medium Storage Bins because they’re a functional, customizable solution that you can make work for you in just about any space....
Our top pick, the Weiman Heavy Duty Glass Cooktop Cleaner and Polish, is effective and easy to use. It won’t scratch your stovetop and actually creates a protective barrier that makes future spills even easier to clean up. Here are the best stovetop cleaners to keep your appliance looking brand new. Application does require a cloth or paper towel. To use this cleaner, you can apply it directly to the cooktop surface or a cloth....
To help find the best cooperative game for your group, we researched dozens of choices that range in varying age recommendations, themes, and duration. Our best overall pick, Asmodee’s Mysterium, takes players through a spooky mystery to solve a murder. With expansion packs available and a two-player option, It’s is the perfect versatile game to bring friends and family together. Here, the best cooperative board games that require teamwork to win....
When shopping around for necklaces, bracelets, and rings, professional organizer Laura Bostrom of Everyday Order recommends thinking about where you’ll keep it all. “Evaluate the space you have,” she says. “Do you have drawers, counter space, or wall space?” With two drawers and compartments, our top choice is the Jewelry Organization & Storage Box, a thoughtfully designed collaboration by KonMari and The Container Store. Here you’ll find the very best jewelry organizers, so you can keep your bling looking good....
One of the most important specs to consider when buying a leaf blower is airflow capacity, which is measured cubic feet per minute (CFM). According to Deane Biermeier, “For most residential uses, 500 CFM is a good middle-of-the-road power level. Small cordless models with 300 to 400 CFM airflow work just fine for small yards with few trees." We tested 27 leaf blowers in The Lab, evaluating their ease of assembly and use, battery life, noise levels, and effectiveness at clearing debris in various landscape conditions....
The beauty of macrame is that the designs are endless, coming in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Here are some of the best macrame plant hangers to help bring bohemian flair to your home. The beautiful macrame design forms a thickly knotted cord at the top and bottom, and it has an integrated metal ring for easy mounting. The hanger is 43 inches long, and it can hold planters between 5 and 8 inches in diameter....
We spoke with Jeffrey Silberman, former professor and chairperson of the Textile Development and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology about the different factors that go into finding the best throw blanket for you. “Your variables are fiber content, yarn type and size, weave type, finish, hand (how it feels) texture, and luster,” he says. To further help with your search, we researched and tested dozens of throw blankets, evaluating fabric type, softness, durability, and value....
While shopping for the holidays can be incredibly stressful, whether buying presents or the means to wrap them, it becomes important to remember why you are wrapping in the first place. As Andrea Loth, Owner, and CEO of Gift Six The Wrappery, a mobile gift-wrapping service in Minneapolis, Minnesota puts it, “Wrapping is an art, and you should enjoy it!” For impressive gifts this holiday season without the stress, we researched the best sites to shop for unique, personalized, and even sustainable wrapping paper....
There’s no doubt that creating a cozy, relaxing, and comfortable bedroom is important. From having the right comforter, to filling your room with relaxing scents, to adding ambience with accent lighting, these are all ways you can improve your bedtime routine—just take it from our editors.
