Do Steam Mops Work? What They Clean, Where They Fall Short
Steam mops sanitize and lift light grime on sealed hard floors, but they struggle with heavy dirt and can damage some floors. Here is what to know.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: What Works, What Fails and When to Call a Pro
Bed bugs are hard to beat with a single product. Here is how to confirm them, what you can do yourself with heat, encasements and vacuuming, and why professional treatment is often needed.
How to Clean a Grill: Grates, Burners, Grease Trap and a Yearly Deep Clean
A quick routine after every cook, a proper deep clean once or twice a season, and why you should check your grates for loose wire bristles before the food goes on.
Appliances & Gear
All Appliances & Gear
Repair or Replace an Appliance? The 50 Percent Rule and Other Checks
A repair quote on an older appliance is a decision point. These checks help you avoid sinking money into a machine near the end, or replacing one that just needs a cheap part.
How to Descale a Coffee Maker: Drip, Single-Serve and Espresso Machines
Scale from hard water slows brewing and affects taste. The right descaler depends on the machine, and the manual matters most with espresso makers.
How to Choose a Dehumidifier: Capacity, Room Size, Drainage and ENERGY STAR
Dehumidifier capacity ratings changed in 2019, which confuses a lot of shoppers. Here's how to read the specs, size one for a damp room and pick the right drainage.
Car Care
All Car Care
How to Clean Car Seats: Fabric, Leather, Vinyl and Child Seat Covers
Each seat material needs a different approach, and child car seats have rules of their own. Here is how to clean them without soaking the foam or weakening a harness.
How to Wax a Car: Wax vs Sealant vs Ceramic Spray, and How Often
Paint protection products differ mainly in how long they last and how much prep they need. Here is how to choose one and apply it without streaks or residue on trim.
Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs: Causes, Fixes and When to Get Help
A rotten egg smell in your car often points to the catalytic converter, fuel system or battery. Learn how to tell which one it is and what to do next.
Stains & Odors
All Stains & Odors
How to Get Red Wine Out of Clothes and a Couch, Fresh or Dried
Act fast with blotting and cold water for fresh red wine spills, then use gentle stain removers for dried marks on clothes and couch fabric. Steps by material.
How to Get Cranberry Sauce Stains Out of Clothes, Tablecloths and Carpet
Act fast, blot, rinse from the back with cold water, then treat with detergent. Step-by-step fixes for cranberry sauce on clothes, tablecloths and carpet.
How to Get Rid of Shoe Odor in Sneakers, Leather Shoes, Boots and Insoles
Shoe odor comes from moisture and bacteria. Here is how to clean and deodorize sneakers, leather shoes, boots and insoles safely, and how to keep the smell away.
Laundry
All Laundry
How to Get Candle Wax Out of Clothes and Fabric Step by Step
Harden the wax with ice, scrape off the bulk, then lift the rest with an iron and paper towels. Here is how to get candle wax out of clothes, plus dye and grease fixes.
How to Wash a Tablecloth: Cotton, Linen, Polyester and Vinyl
Wash tablecloths by fabric: cotton and polyester in the machine, linen gently, vinyl by hand. Learn how to treat stains first and avoid setting them with heat.
How to Wash a Baseball Cap by Hand or in the Dishwasher
Wash a baseball cap by hand or on the dishwasher's top rack, and learn why the washing machine can crush the brim and shrink or fade the crown.
Kitchen
All Kitchen
How to Wash Fruit and Vegetables: Plain Water, Baking Soda and What Not to Use
Running water and a little friction clean most produce. Learn when a baking soda soak is optional, how to handle greens and melons, and why soap and bleach are out.
How to Clean a Dishwasher: Filter, Spray Arms, Door Seal and Smells
Most dishwasher problems, from dirty dishes to a sour smell, trace back to a clogged filter. Here is a monthly routine that takes about 20 minutes, plus what to know before running vinegar.
How to Clean Oven Racks: The Bathtub Soak, Baking Soda and What Scratches
Greasy oven racks come clean with a long hot-water soak, a little dish soap and a baking soda scrub. Here is the method, the dryer sheet question, and how to keep racks sliding smoothly.
Mold & Air
All Mold & Air
How to Prevent Mold in Winter: Condensation, Laundry and Cold Walls
Winter mold is mostly a moisture problem: warm, damp indoor air meets cold windows and walls. Control humidity and ventilation and most of it never starts.
How to Clean a Humidifier: Daily, Every Third Day and End of Season
A dirty humidifier tank can grow mold and bacteria, and hard water leaves white dust everywhere. Here's the simple cleaning routine the EPA recommends.
How to Get Rid of Mold on a Bathroom Ceiling (and Keep It Off)
Bathroom ceiling mold is usually shower steam with nowhere to go. Clean it safely overhead, then fix the ventilation so you're not doing this every month.