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Maybe it’s because I live in the great Pacific Northwest, where a love of mother nature and all her creatures reigns supreme, but my home seems to be under constant assault from critters of all kinds. So, when moths began appearing on the top floor of my house, I wasn’t surprised, but let’s just say I wasn’t happy. However, the situation did present the perfect opportunity to try out Household Essentials CedarFresh Clothes Protector (model number 35704-1)....

Predictably, the places where you should focus your inspection checklist are those rooms where there are many plumbing fixtures—the bathroom and kitchen. But don’t forget to check around the house for the other appliances and fixtures, ranging from the hose spigots outside the house to the water heater in the basement or utility area. Bathroom Bathrooms get lots of use by every member of the family, and it’s no surprise that this is the room most likely to see plumbing problems....

Central air conditioners are favored for homes that require cooling throughout all their spaces; however, it is costlier in most cases. Window units effectively cool a room, provided they are sized correctly for the room. The energy to use a window unit versus a sizeable central air compressor varies dramatically, so if you only need one room cooled versus the whole house, it makes sense to use more localized units to save on energy usage and costs....

Indigenous plants are sometimes allowed to co-exist with lawn grass, ground covers, or garden vegetables, especially if they are not aggressive growers. Indeed, some homeowners favor them, growing native specimens in their landscapes either as a matter of principle or for practical reasons, as when, for example, they are drought-resistant plants. Some gardeners include indigenous plants in a woodland garden. And, because some types of wildflowers grow under the forest canopy in their natural habitats, they can be fitting candidates for shade gardens in your landscaping....

In a perfect world, you would be able to magically place insulation behind the closed drywall panels and be done with it. Reality dictates that permanently attached wallboard must be hacked away; drywall screws or nails individually removed; R-13 or greater roll insulation inserted; and new drywall hung, finished, and painted. It’s a mess, time-consuming, and expensive. Is there a way to install insulation behind closed walls? Injection foam and blown-in cellulose can both be installed without removing the drywall....

Displaying a set of three picture frames is a popular design tactic, but if you’re a bit unsure as to how you should hang a trio of pieces in your own home, note that there are many possibilities at play. Read on as designers share their tried and true tips for making three pieces of artwork shine. Opt for a Stack or Row Hang a set of three picture frames in either a vertical stack or a horizontal row depending on the size of your wall, says Stephanie Purzycki of The Finish....

Before You Buy Bamboo Floor You take a look at the flooring in your house, and you’re ready for a change. A new look and a freshening up are in order. You decide you want a wood or wood-looking type of floor for your home, so the first thing you do is start looking at the options that are available. There are many different selections, and it can be absolutely mind-boggling; then you notice…bamboo floors....

Still, there are four tasks that most gardeners will do in one form or another to resurrect hybrid roses and prepare them for summer blooms. Roses have a reputation for being challenging to grow, but the reality is that most will keep growing and blooming even when a gardener neglects them. But, proper early season steps can ensure that you’ll have fewer problems to navigate during the growing season. These spring rose care efforts should get your roses off to a good, healthy start for the season....

Identifying Plantain Weeds Plantains are perennial weeds. They have a shallow, thick taproot that keeps them alive over the winter. They sprout in mid-spring, then send up a flower stalk in early to mid-summer. The flower blooms and its seeds are dispersed by the wind, thus spreading the plant quickly in your yard and garden. Plantains have medium-green, oval or lance shaped leaves that form flat rosettes. There are two types, broadleaf and narrow leaf plantain....