How to Get Gravy and Butter Stains Out of Clothes and Carpet
Gravy and butter stains are grease stains with color. Here is how to blot, absorb, pretreat and wash them out of clothes and carpet without setting them.
How to Organize a Small Apartment: Vertical Storage, Multi-Use Furniture and Renter Tricks
Small spaces work when you own less and use height and hidden spots. Here are practical, mostly no-drill ways to organize a studio or one-bedroom.
How to Clean Silver and Brass at Home Safely, Step by Step
Clean silver and brass with mild soap, baking soda paste or a gentle polish. Learn what to avoid, how to protect antiques and plated items, and how to slow tarnish.
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.
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.
Car Care
All Car Care
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.
How to Clean a Car Interior: The Top-to-Bottom Order That Saves Time
Clean in the right order and you only do each job once. Here is a practical routine for dash, vents, cupholders, seats, carpets and glass, plus the products to keep off screens and leather.
How to Clean Car Floor Mats: Rubber, Carpet and Winter Salt Stains
Floor mats take the worst of the mud, salt and spills. Here is how to clean both types properly, remove white salt marks, and put them back safely.
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.