Just about every brand of laundry detergent in all forms (liquid, powder, gel, or pod) has the HE symbol on the packaging and is now formulated to be safely used in high-efficiency or standard washers. Read on to learn more about if you can use HE detergent in your non-high-efficiency standard top-load washing machine, the differences between HE detergent vs. regular detergent, and whether HE detergent will get your clothes clean....
Many orchid cultivars can grow in a one-ingredient medium and some varieties prefer only certain materials. You can make your own custom orchid mix, but you first need to become familiar with the needs of your particular plant. Orchids are usually grown in a combination of perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and shredded bark. More soil ingredients may be necessary to keep your orchid healthy based on its specific variety. Many high-quality orchid growing mixes offer a variety of benefits, depending on the media included....
One of the details that varies between homes is the method of flashing the valley areas of the roof. There are two common methods for completing the flashing of a valley in a shingle roof system: closed valleys or open valleys. To understand what makes a valley either closed or open, it is important to understand how a valley is constructed. What Is a Closed Valley Roof? Before the installation of a shingle roof assembly, the roofing contractor installs an underlayment over the entire roof deck....
Let’s be clear here. My feelings of regret are not because of the number of plants I have—my indoor jungle is one of my favorite things. The regret stems from the fact that I’ve acquired a few of them just because. Because the price was “too good to pass up!” Because I got caught up in an Instagram trend. Because having one more on that shelf would balance it out— can’t be having an even number of plants on a shelf!...
Common Damage Found on Outlet Receptacles Here’s a look at the hazards you can be exposed to if some of those plastic parts are cracked or missing. Cracked Receptacle Faces Quite commonly, the plastic right around the outlet slots can crack, and pieces can even chip away. Eventually, this piece of plastic can fall out completely and expose the metal contact points inside the outlet. Cracked faces also can expose the user to loose terminals and loose slots for the cords that plug into them....
In some cases, many landlords today are happy to foot the bill for approved property improvements. The catch? You usually do the labor yourself (for free), and you cannot take the improvements with you when you move. However, if you plan to stay put for a while, it may be worth it to you to invest a little time into the property. Some landlords may even be willing to negotiate a smaller rent in exchange for some free sweat equity....
OCPDs—Breakers and Fuses Circuit breakers and fuses are two types of overcurrent protection devices or OCPDs. Every electrical circuit in a home must be protected by its own OCPD that is properly rated for the circuit wiring. Most homes today have circuit breakers, located in the home’s main service panel, or “breaker box.” Older homes that haven’t been updated may have service panels with fuses instead of breakers. Fuses work just as well as breakers, but like breakers, they must be properly sized for each circuit to protect against overcurrent....
Owner California-based Interior Designer (and A-list celeb favorite) Chris Barrett of Chris Barrett Design. Chris describes her design aesthetic as “fresh, understated elegance,” inspired by the beauty of California. She loves to play with natural Mediterranean light, spaces that morph easily between indoor and outdoor living, and “refined palettes electrified by the occasional jolt of strong color.” “I don’t do heavy” is her design mantra. Location Del Rey, Los Angeles, CA “I fell in love as soon as I walked in the door....
Too Hot for Hand-Washing While it is possible to kill some bacteria with hot water alone, the water has to be at a temperature well above what your skin can tolerate. Most people can tolerate a temperature of 110 degrees for a short time, but that’s about it. Specific water temperatures for killing germs are difficult to pinpoint, but drinking water provides a good reference. To sanitize water for drinking, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends boiling the water for at least 1 minute, at altitudes up to 5,000 feet....
Long popular in Europe, this staple of budget kitchen remodels, apartments, condos, and other diminutive homes has made a comeback in recent years, and for good reason. Drainboard sinks, with their built-in tilted draining areas, do a fantastic job at keeping countertops dry and clean. Drainboard Sink Basics Drop-In vs. Undermount Most drainboard sinks are drop-in or self-rimming. The reason is that drainboard sinks are inherently self-rimming. In order to create the drainboard or apron section, it must extend above counter level....
Controlling Behavior It is virtually impossible to train cats, even the gentlest pets, to avoid the hunting instinct that can injure or kill wild birds. While some training methods may be effective, it is often easier to control a cat’s behavior to minimize interaction with wild birds and to prevent an overpopulation of feral cats that will prey on birds. Keep pet cats indoors at all times. If they must go outdoors, do not leave them unsupervised, and do not allow them outside during early morning or other peak bird feeding times....
Yes, there is. Many easy backsplash treatments are attractive and relatively long-lasting. Plus, a number of these backsplashes won’t break your budget. Rolls range from 15 to 30 feet long. Even though they are made of PVC plastic, this product has a metallic finish and is available in look-alike copper, aluminum, tin, brass, and other metal-style finishes. Because this is not real metal, you can easily cut it to size with a pair of scissors....
One of the most versatile pieces to hack is anything from IKEA’s Kallax cube storage series. The different sizes, shapes and storage spaces are just waiting for you to put your own unique spin on them. We scoured the Internet for our favorites that’ll get you inspired to DIY yourself. With 1” x 2” pieces of pine cut to size, 4” x 4” offcuts for the legs, burlap, primer, latex paint, and magnets, she turned her store-bought storage unit into a cane console fit for a magazine spread....
Considering quartz kitchen countertops for your home? Here are some facts to know about this material, as well as some quartz kitchen countertops pros and cons. Yes, there’s some actual quartz—sometimes a lot of it. All of this rock material mixed together and held together with binders is what gives a so-called quartz countertop the look and feel of stone. More accurately, a quartz countertop should probably be called engineered stone or compound stone—terms that more accurately describe the way these products are created....
Part of the appeal of flagstone is its versatility: it can be cut into uniform rectangular shapes or more random, irregular pieces that can be arranged like a puzzle. Unlike other stones, a roughened surface texture offers good, safe traction—especially when wet—making them an ideal choice for outdoor flooring. Flagstone Characteristics Landscape architects, builders, and masons describe stone by geological type, trade names, size, or shapes. Flagstones are large, flat slabs of stone milled in thicknesses of 1 to 3 inches....
Being so small, they can enter your home or greenhouse through the slightest of openings. More often they come in as eggs, either in the soil of plants that have been outdoors for the summer or in damp bags of potting soil. It only takes only a few fungus gnats to cause a major problem because they reproduce so quickly. Fungus Gnat Damage Adult fungus gnats are mostly an annoyance, but the larvae can do damage to young plants and seedlings by feeding on the new, tender roots....
The flower stalks (inflorescence) are produced in mid to late summer and really are not very showy. The plant is grown for its striking foliage, which turns orange or bronze in fall. Japanese forest grass will drop its leaves in colder climates and die back to the ground during winter. It can be slow to reappear in the spring. In more moderate climates, the old leaves will brown and rot slightly....
Native to Europe and Asia, grape hyacinths are workhorses that can light up the early spring flower garden for years with little to no care. Best planted in fall, grape hyacinths will grow slowly, emerging and blooming the following April or May, and lasting for about three weeks. Many varieties of grape hyacinths display that rare crystal blue color so many gardeners covet, but they have none of the fussiness that some other blue flowers possess....
Sparkleberry Facts The sparkleberry can be either be a large shrub or a small tree. It is the largest species of Vaccinium in the United States. Designation and Latin Name The designation for this shrub is Vaccinium arboreum and it belongs to the Ericaceae (heath) family. In addition to the Vaccinium shrubs and subshrubs like blueberries and cranberries, this family also includes members like the bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), common heather (Calluna vulgaris) and azaleas (Rhododendron spp....
