Caring for cushions is one of those chores that are sometimes overlooked. But throw pillows likely get a lot of use and can accumulate the dirt, dust, and stains that come with a busy household. Fortunately, they can be cleaned—some even machine washed. Use this guide to freshen up your prettiest pillows and pick up some tips for keeping them cleaner longer. The Best Ways to Clean Your Throw Pillows Machine-washing, washing by hand, spot-treating, and dry cleaning are the main ways of restoring the good looks and fresh feel of your favorite throw pillows....

Tom used Clear Gorilla Glue to hold the railing pieces together, which can be found at home centers. Tools and Materials

Porcelain is a durable material, but it’s relatively soft as far as tiles go. This means it’s susceptible to cracks or chips, and they’re often eyesores. Luckily, it’s possible to hide the damage with a bit of touch-up glaze. Here’s how to fix cracked and chipped tiles. How to Fix a Chipped Bathtub How To Fix Cracked and Chipped Porcelain Tile Resources Mauro shows Kevin ways that homeowners can patch small porcelain scratches and chips....

Yet most say they don’t feel they’re necessarily doing it right or doing enough. Some 56 percent admit they’ve either never cleaned their washing machine or can’t recall doing so, and 41 percent don’t remember the last time they gave the inside of their refrigerator a good wipe-down. Kitchen garbage and recycling bins didn’t get much love either: Only 13 percent of those surveyed said they pay special attention to the germ-ridden receptacles....

Steps for Installing a Chimney Liner and Damper

Learn Where the Fittings Are If you’re operating equipment commercially (even if that’s just a weekend lawn route), it is in your best interest to learn where all the fittings are on your machine(s) and to make sure they’re properly lubed. It’s minutes and pennies pro-action now versus a dollars, days, and downtime reaction later. Once you locate all the fittings (called Zerk or Amelite) you’ll need to know how to load a grease gun then operate it safely and effectively....

Shown: 56-inch red oak newel posts, 10½-inch decorative whitewood corbels, and poplar interior stairpart railing; Lowe’s. Paint: Valspar’s Deep Earth. Build a Trestle Table Dining tables are typically 28 to 32 inches high. Make yours lower (or higher) by cutting more (or less) off the ends of the newel posts. Cut List Newel posts: 2 @ 27¼ to 31¼ inches, depending on desired tabletop height ¾-inch birch-veneer plywood tabletop: 1 @ 36 by 72 inches ¾-inch birch-veneer plywood leg plates: 2 @ 12 by 12 inches Handrail stretcher: 1, cut to distance between the legs ¾-inch quarter-round trim: 2 @ 36 inches, mitered (from short point to short point) ¾-inch quarter-round trim: 2 @ 72 inches, mitered (from short point to short point) ⅝-inch dowels: 2 @ 2 inches 1x2s: 12 @ 8 inches 1x4s: 2 @ 30 inches, beveled (from short point to short point) 1x4s: 2 @ 66 inches, beveled (from short point to short point) 2x4s: 2 @ 30 inches Download the diagram and cut list to build a trestle table....

Can You Paint Over Cabinets Without Sanding? Skipping the sanding step is OK if you’re making a change from one newly painted surface to another, or painting raw, unvarnished wood cabinets. If your cabinets are damaged or have peeling paint or really shiny surfaces, either from the material or a shiny coating, you’ll probably need to lightly sand ­to help the new paint bond better. But if the doors are smooth (not slick) to the touch, you can likely skip the sanding step, as long as you do a few bits of prep first!...

How Often Should You Replace Your Roof Shingles? Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problem—even what appears to be a small one—will accelerate the need to reroof and can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new roof. If your roof is more than 20 years old and most of the shingles are damaged or badly worn, it’s time to replace it....

You could call a professional and spend a couple hundred dollars for the repair, in addition to the replacement parts. Or you could do it yourself. If you decide to go that route, you’ll first need to know that there are two types of garage door springs—extension and torsion. Types of Garage Door Springs Extension springs Extension springs are located just above the door tracks that parallel the ceiling, perpendicular to the doors....

The other tools for this project, including the hand valve, pipe wrenches, and a spud wrench can be purchased from a plumbing supply store. Tools

Steps: Tools

Tools

How Long Does it Take to Sealcoat a Driveway? Sealing a driveway should be no more than a weekend affair—with dry weather and temperatures above 50 degrees required. Steps for Sealcoating a Driveway Park in the street before starting this job, because you’ll have to wait a period of time while the sealant sets up, whether that’s an hour for foot traffic on a quick-dry or up to 48-hours with two coat system....

Not long ago, a table saw or a conventional circular saw was the only option for ripping large sheet goods, making a long bevel cut on a thick piece of oak, or cutting a straight edge on the rough-sawn stock. Introduced by Festool in 1980, the track saw has since become a go-to tool for carpenters and woodworkers for these tasks and more. How to Build a Homemade Track Saw Consisting of a plunge-style saw with a shrouded blade that’s guided by a companion track, a track saw can make rip cuts, crosscuts, and bevel cuts with the accuracy of a table saw....

Carpet Stretching Tools The two main tools are the aptly named power stretcher and the knee kicker. Both have flat, aluminum heads that are fitted with rows of adjustable steel teeth, angled forward so they can better bite into the carpet. Knee Kicker A knee kicker is about 20 inches long, with a square toothy head on one end and an equally-sized knee pad at the opposite end. Power Stretcher...

Rows of thickly planted shrubs can be a handsome way to define borders and boundary lines, keep children and pets in (or out), and give birds shelter and even food. But like all shrubs, hedges need regular watering, feeding, and pruning to look their best. Though folks may forget to give roots a good drink in hot weather or to fertilize in early spring with a good 10-10-10 formula, the last area is where most of us really lose it....

Steps for Using a Compost Bin

Find information about the specific products used in this video. Steps: Tap out the hinge pins and remove the door from the opening. Pull the old weather stripping from the bottom of the door. Use a router to cut a groove in bottom edge of door. Seal the bottom end of the door and the routed groove with tung oil. Insert mechanical weather stripping into the routed groove, then secure the weather stripping with screws....