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To re-stain a wooden tray, you will need the following supplies: Cleaning solutionHigh-grit sandpaperLiquid sandpaper/deglosserPre-stain conditionerStainPolyurethane (or other desired protectant)Foam brushesRagsGloves Before you begin prepping and staining your wood tray, set up a workspace in a well-ventilated area. Since the liquid sandpaper/deglosser, pre-stain conditioner, and stain can emit fumes, make sure you work in an area with proper airflow, such as a patio or porch area. To protect your work area, lay down newspapers or a drop cloth; to protect your skin, wear gloves....

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you may have recently re-tiled or regrouted your tub but forgot to mask off the tub itself, and now you have dried, rock-hard blobs of grout or tile mortar stuck to the tub surface. The good news is that all of these things will come up eventually. It just takes some elbow grease—and some care—to prevent scratches. How to Remove Drywall Compound From a Tub Drywall compound, or mud, is water-soluble....

Electric water heaters look similar to their gas-fueled cousins. They both use an insulated storage tank jacket made of steel, with insulation between the storage tank and the tank jacket to reduce heat loss of the heated water. The main difference between electric and gas water heaters is the heat source. In an electric water heater, the water is heated by electric upper and lower heating elements that extend into the water tank....

Should You Buy an Orchid in Bloom? Most people like to buy blooming orchids because of the instant gratification that comes with bringing home such a beautiful plant. The orchid can be set out on the table and enjoyed immediately. This choice, however, can have its downside. Flowering takes a tremendous amount of energy for the orchid plant. Many experienced growers know that phalaenopsis, in particular, can bloom themselves to death, meaning they will have spectacular blooms for a few years in a row, then fade and die....

Factors That Effect Tankless Water Tank Performance Take a look at any tankless water heater ad and you’ll probably see a promoted feature like “Provides up to 4GPM.” Well, that rating is likely the BEST CASE situation for that product and may not be the level of performance you can expect. Why? Because sizing a tankless water heater is based on 3 things: The temperature of water entering the unit (groundwater temp), The desired temperature of water exiting the unit (together these 2 items determine the temperature rise required for the tankless water heater) and; the required hot water flow rate (based on shower heads and faucets)....

When their blooms have died, well-tended bulbs can produce more flowers for many years. Continue reading to learn all about amaryllis bulb storage and general care. Amaryllis Bulb Storage Instructions Amaryllis bulbs have particular needs while they rest and recover. Depending on the schedule you’ve trained them on, flowers will usually die by late winter. Follow these five simple steps for successful amaryllis bulb storage: When to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs and Induce Flowering After at least eight weeks of storage, bring your amaryllis bulbs back out....

1. Consider Your Color Palette First things first: You’ll want your bean bag to blend in so that it enhances your space. “Opt for a bean bag chair that goes with your home and decor,” advised Karina Lameraner, senior creative stylist at Modsy. “Otherwise, no matter how you style it, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb.” Fortunately, this process is pretty straightforward and simple. Stated Lameraner, “Try opting for a bean bag that is in your home’s color palette and compliments the textiles already in your space....

Circuit breakers vary from brand to brand but have the same amperage ratings. In any case, turning a circuit breaker on is so easy that, as the Geico commercial touts, a caveman could do it. Circuit Breakers and Electrical Safety Electrical safety always begins with turning a circuit breaker off before performing any electrical work on a circuit or device connected to it. You may say it ends when the project is completed and the circuit breaker is once again re-energized by turning the circuit breaker back on....

22 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide Around the Home

All concentrations of acetic acid, including household vinegar, should cause treated leaves to brown within 24 hours. Young, tender weeds and annual weeds like crabgrass are susceptible to treatment with household vinegar. However, the roots are often not killed entirely and the weeds may reappear within a few weeks. Repeated applications, usually three, are more effective and stronger concentrations of acetic acid work even faster and longer. Acetic Acid vs....

If you find a stash of old textiles at a garage sale or a flea market, however, they’ll probably need some TLC when you get them home. All it takes is learning the right way to care for these fabrics since some of them can be rather delicate. This includes the steps to take before you get started with cleaning. What to Do Before You Clean The older the linens are, the more delicate they will likely be....

The avocados and tomatoes have to be stacked very carefully on top of the harder things or else they get bruised or squished. The garlic gets lost somewhere at the bottom. The bananas have to be kept apart from each other like moody siblings in the backseat of a car, unless I want all of them to turn brown at once. And god forbid something goes rotten in there that I didn’t notice, because then I have to fight off the fruit flies....

Life Cycle and Identification of Chinch Bugs Chinch bugs develop through three different stages in life: the egg, nymphal, and adult stages: Egg stage: The tiny (1/32 inch) eggs start out white before becoming orange.Nymphal stage: There are five different developmental periods within the nymphal stage, alone. In the earliest stages the nymphs have a lot of orange in them and are extremely small. But in the final stage, they become more black, about 1/8 long, and develop wing pads....