35-Year Study Links Acorn Crops to Tick Surges Two Years Later
A 35-year Cary Institute study finds mice and acorn crops predict nymphal tick numbers better than deer do. See what the Lyme disease findings show.
How to Clean a Phone Charging Port Safely: Tools, Steps and Mistakes
Clean a phone charging port with the phone off, a light and a wooden or plastic pick. See the safe steps, what never to use and when to get a repair.
How to Remove Deodorant Marks From Shirts, Including Dark Clothes
Fresh deodorant marks rub off with a dry cloth or a damp sponge. Built-up residue needs a vinegar soak or enzyme detergent. Steps for whites, colors and darks.
Appliances & Gear
All Appliances & Gear
Vacuum for Pet Hair: Features That Matter in Uprights, Cordless and Robots
The best vacuum for pet hair has strong suction, a tangle-resistant brush roll and a sealed filter. Compare upright, cordless and robot models here.
How to Clean a Garbage Disposal: Splash Guard, Ice and What Not to Put In
A clean disposal starts with the rubber splash guard most people never scrub. Here's a safe routine, a reality check on popular hacks, and a list of what to keep out.
How to Clean a Range Hood Filter: Mesh, Baffle and Charcoal Filters
Greasy hood filters slow your vent and can drip grease. Here's how to tell which filter you have, how to degrease metal ones and when to replace charcoal filters.
Stains & Odors
All Stains & Odors
How to Get Hair Dye Out of Clothes, Skin, the Tub and the Sink
Hair dye comes out best while it is wet: rinse cold, then treat with dish soap, rubbing alcohol or a baking soda paste. Steps for fabric, skin, tubs and sinks.
Old Urine Smell in Carpet and Padding: How to Remove It for Good
Old urine smell in carpet comes from dried salts and bacteria in the padding. An enzyme cleaner that soaks as deep as the urine went is the fix; here is how.
How to Get Slime Out of Clothes, Carpet and Hair: Step-by-Step Fixes
Scrape off the excess, then soften slime with white vinegar or warm soapy water. See the steps for clothes, carpet and hair, plus how to handle dye stains.
Laundry
All Laundry
How to Get Paint Out of Clothes: Latex, Acrylic and Oil, Wet or Dry
Wet water-based paint rinses out with cold water and dish soap; dried or oil paint needs alcohol or a solvent. Steps for each paint type and fabric.
How to Get Ink Out of Clothes After the Dryer: Set-In Stain Fixes
Dried, heat-set ink often lifts with rubbing alcohol, blotting from the back and a cool rewash. See which solvent fits each ink type and fabric.
How to Get Stains Out of White Clothes Without Ruining Them
Treat stains early, match the method to the stain type, and avoid heat and chlorine bleach on some fabrics. A step-by-step guide to brighter white clothes.
Car Care
All Car Care
Car AC Smells Like Vinegar or Old Socks: Evaporator and Filter Fixes
A sour or dirty-sock smell from car AC usually means mold on the evaporator. How to replace the cabin filter, clean the coil and keep it from returning.
Musty Smell in Car After Rain: Find the Leak and Dry It Out
A musty smell in the car after rain usually means water is getting in. How to find the leak, dry carpet and padding, and keep mildew from coming back.
How to Winterize Your Car: Salt Protection, Wax, Wipers and Washer Fluid
Winter is hard on paint, metal and rubber. A few cleaning and maintenance jobs in the fall make the next few months easier on you and the car.
Kitchen
All Kitchen
How to Defrost a Freezer: 2 Methods, With or Without Unplugging
To defrost a freezer, unplug it, move food to a cooler and let warm water and towels melt the ice. Also covers quick scraping and frost-free freezers.
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.
Mold & Air
All Mold & Air
Crawl Space Dehumidifier and Encapsulation: When They Help and Costs
A crawl space dehumidifier keeps humidity below about 60% to slow mold and rot; encapsulation seals the space. When each helps and what drives the cost.
Mold Inspection: When You Need One and What Testing Tells You
A mold inspection is worth paying for when you smell mold but cannot find it or after water damage. See what tests show, what drives the cost and how to hire.
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.