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However, all good things must come to an end, especially when you consider that this study found that a kitchen sponge is better for growing bacteria than a Petri dish. Keep reading to learn what problems can arise from a sponge past its prime, how to extend its lifespan, and when to toss it for good. Understanding the Sponge Most household sponges available on supermarket shelves are made from either polyurethane (a petroleum-based product) or cellulose (a natural material derived from wood pulp)....

Roger Cook replies: Compost tea is a natural liquid fertilizer loaded with beneficial bacteria and nutrients that reach the roots faster than traditional compost. A lawn treated with the tea grows slower, needs less mowing, and uses less water because of its deep roots. My compost recipe is 2 parts carbon-rich “browns,” such as dead leaves, to 1 part nitrogen-rich “greens,” like rotted grass clippings. I put 7 pounds of it in a mesh sack and suspend the sack inside a rain barrel filled with water and fitted with an aerator....

—Susan Bankhead, Meridian, Idaho A: The Editors of This Old House reply: Not necessarily. If the scratches don’t go all the way through to the wood, you can scuff-sand your floors with a buffer and apply a fresh coat or two of finish. The hardwood floor refinishing process is easier and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood and takes less time. In a few hours, your floors will look as good as new....

What is Sandstone? Sandstone is known for its rustic look and earthy color palette. It can be used for walls, fireplaces, and flooring and is used in indoor and outdoor spaces. Sandstone is not only affordable, but it is also very durable. How To Repair Sandstone Steps Resources To repair the stone steps Mark removes old mortar and loose stones, using a hammer and chisel. To apply mortar to smaller areas between stones, Mark uses a 5x2 margin trowel....

How Do You Fix a Squeaky Floor Under Carpet? Tools How to Repair Squeaky Floors Through Carpeting

How to Replace a Common Door Lock Material Lockset Tool How to Rekey a Lock

To get started, I visited my local Sherwin-Williams paint store where the painting expert suggested Extreme Bond Primer so I don’t have to worry about scuff-sanding the headboard’s glossy surface. For my finish coat, I wanted a rich, dark tone in a matte finish. Typically, if I want a durable coating, I turn to a glossier finish, but Sherwin-Williams offers a paint called Emerald® that will give me the true color (Dard Hunter Green SW 0041) I’m after, while remaining durable and washable in a matte finish....

The kitchen island is the perfect place to balance congregation and separation, ensuring that hosts can cook and clean while they socialize with their guests. And they can be a great place for kids to do homework under the parents’ watchful eyes. “Why would you want to prep food with a wall or a cabinet door a few inches from your nose, or eyes for that matter?” says Johnny Grey, renowned Bristish kitchen designer....

These hidden fixtures, which are fairly easy to retrofit beneath upper wall cabinets, bathe the countertop in bright white light—a boon for everything from dicing veggies to reading recipes. Connect the fixtures to a dimmer switch, as shown here, and you also have the key to dramatic accent lighting or a night light for midnight snackers. If you’re a bit tentative about working with electricity, don’t worry. This installation is simple and shock-free, as long as you cut the juice at the breaker box first....

That’s where laundry stripping might help. An old-school practice that’s gotten renewed attention lately, laundry stripping refers to a soaking treatment that can banish hidden gunk and grime that regular machine washing may not rinse out entirely. Stripping isn’t appropriate for all fabrics, nor should you be overly gung-ho about doing it. Read on to learn the pros and cons of the process, plus a formula for safely bringing a brighter, cleaner, better-feeling quality to your sheets, towels, and garments....

Where do your plants come from? Flowers, shrubs, and trees can come from down the street, from across the world, and everywhere in between. But like most things, there are benefits from buying local. Jenn meets with Bruce Vanicek of Rhode Island Nurseries. The nursery is spread out across 325 acres on an island in the middle of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. The island provides an ideal growing climate for holly, boxwoods, arborvitae, viburnum, and the nursery’s specialty—yews....

Torpedo For: Small jobs like hanging pictures and shelves, or working in tight spaces, as when doing plumbing installations. How it works: Vials, visible from front or top, can show both level and plumb. Some models have magnets for sticking to metal pipes; this one has a built-in light to make reading the bubble easier. Shown: Stanley magnetic torpedo level; about $9; homedepot.com Bull’s-Eye For: Leveling an appliance or piece of furniture....

Take a look at the work done so far, and be sure to watch new episodes every Thursday on PBS. Check your local listings. An Elaborate Front Gable The original front gable of the house, as well as the windows, will be retained and completely restored to its original glory. The bargeboard runs below the roofline, showcasing the elaborate sunburst pattern clapboards, staggered shingles, and fish scale design. Left: Kevin Barker from Sweenor Builders works on the new addition, adding decorative bargeboard to form the new gable....

Nathan was selected as one of three in the first class of Generation NEXT apprentices and spent the summer of 2017 working alongside the TOH team on the Newton Generation NEXT project. During his time as an apprentice, Nathan helped shine a spotlight on the skilled trades gap in the construction industry in high profile ways—speaking on Capitol Hill before senators and congressmen and appearing at the opening ceremony of the International Builder’s Show in 2018....

Fiber-cement face-lift: Hardie Architectural Collection Panels Fiber-cement siding, which holds paint well, resists rot, and has a high fire rating, now comes in textured panels, one of which mimics the look of stucco. In fine sand, grooved fine sand, mounded sand, or brushed seagrass finishes, the 48-inch-wide panels come in lengths from 96 to 144 inches, to be installed horizontally or vertically. From about $3.50 per square foot; jameshardie.com Cordless snow cannon: Power+ Auger- Propelled Snow Blower Leery of battery-powered snow throwers?...

Inspecting the electrical work is an opportunity to get a sense of what you’ll have to work with and the things you’ll need to be mindful of when making improvements down the line. Heath walks you through what he would be looking at during a home inspection, so you can be better prepared for your own. 10 Electrical Wiring Problems Solved Steps for an Electrical Inspection: Step 1: Check the electrical box outside A bad connection here could explain any issues inside....

What’s really pet-safe? There’s no independent oversight of “pet-safe” claims made on ice-melts, so before you buy, go online and read the product’s material safety data sheet (MSDS). Avoid any with chloride salts, urea (can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets and burn plant roots), ethylene glycol (deadly to pets if swallowed), and propylene glycol (damages cats’ red blood cells).

How to Find the Best Mattress for a Guest Room Should You Flip Your Mattress? When the top and bottom layers are the same, a mattress can be flipped, extending its life. Some traditional companies, like Shifman, still make them this way. But most mattresses today have only one comfort layer, so flipping won’t work. Be sure to ask what the maker recommends. Mattress Store Smarts It’s always a good idea to try before you buy....