Because she purchased her condo on short sale and was now selling in a strong market, Missy went into the home buying process in a good position, offering a large cash down payment that would make her stand out against other buyers. After tackling some lending issues related to being a small business owner, she secured a broker and got a mortgage pre-approval amount, helping her establish a budget and a new-home wishlist....

Some people may not be bothered by the rattling sound a loose ceiling fan can make. Even if you’re one of them, you should still figure out why the fan isn’t working properly and try to repair it. If the issue is left unresolved, it can cause premature wear on the ceiling fan motor, tear out electrical connections, or loosen light fixtures and coverings to the point that they fall....

Where to Plant Viburnum Viburnum enliven gardens in central and eastern states, where they offer colorful fall foliage, spring blooms and winter interest in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2–9. The shrubs are useful for privacy and controlling erosion on slopes. Viburnum Flowers and Foliage Viburnum bloom time can fall anywhere from early spring to late summer, depending on the species. Flower shapes and sizes also vary. Some varieties—like doublefile viburnum—have layered blooms....

How Often to Clean Glass Shower Doors Hard water spots form when drops of water dry on the glass, and mold and mildew can grow in damp environments. To keep glass shower doors clean and grime-free, prevention is key. “The best thing you can do is squeegee the door after each use,” Koenig says. Keep one hanging in your shower to make it easy, and remind family members to do it after each time they shower....

How to Clean a Humidifier Use our tested process and tips for cleaning and disinfecting a humidifier to keep your home healthy. What You Need White distilled vinegarSoft-bristled brush or toothbrushLiquid chlorine bleachWater Step 1: Disassemble Humidifier You’ll need to take apart your humidifier to make sure each piece gets a thorough cleaning. Unplug the machine, empty the water tank, and detach any removable parts. If your humidifier has an air filter, remove that as well....

A Halloween tree is exactly what you’d expect: A faux Christmas tree decorated in festive Halloween shades like orange and black rather than the traditional Christmas red and green. Instead of beads and ornaments, these trees are decorated with all kinds of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. More than 54,000 posts on Instagram are tagged under #halloweentree, and the images are incredible. We’ve rounded up our favorite Halloween trees to inspire you with ideas for how to decorate a Halloween tree, whether with skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, or witches....

Which rooms should I disinfect first? A whole-house cleaning spree may not be necessary, according to Mary Gagliardi, also known as Dr. Laundry, a cleaning expert at The Clorox Company. “Most people who have the flu tend to lay low, so you can skip cleaning your home from top to bottom,” she says. “Instead, focus on the bathroom and the kitchen, and any shared surfaces in the bedroom.” Clean each space where the sick person has spent time and try to retrace his or her steps as you clean....

Inside corners are more difficult. They require taping and mudding. The hard part is smoothing the mud on one side of the corner without messing up the mud on the other side. Resist the temptation to try to get these inside joints perfect on the first, or even second, coat. Accept that there will be ridges you’ll need to sand or knock off in the first two coats. To avoid ridges on the third coat, think of it as a filler coat; press hard on the knife so you fill imperfections instead of leaving behind a thick layer of joint compound....

Most grass stains can be easily removed through regular laundering by using a stain pretreatment product in concert with laundry detergent. However, there are times when a more intensive stain removal process is required—we’ll walk you through how to do it. General Grass Stain Removal Tips It is always best to treat grass stains as soon as possible—the longer a stain is left untreated, the more set in it will become, and the more difficult it will be to eventually remove....

Three-tab shingles are usually 36 inches long; each tab is 12 inches. They are designed to be installed with a 5-inch reveal. Some roofers install shingles so the cutout lines describe a slight angle as you look from the bottom to the top of the roof. However, most people prefer the cutout lines to be aligned so they make straight vertical lines. This step-by-step tutorial shows how to install 3-tab roof shingles using the racking method....

See Pastry for Double-Crust Pie recipe Step 2: Moisten the flour mixture Sprinkle ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, over part of the flour mixture.Toss gently with a fork.Push to one side of the bowl.Repeat until all of the flour mixture is evenly moistened. Step 3: Form dough into a ball After all the flour is moistened, use your hands to gently press and form the dough into a ball....

One of the best things about this orange tulip carrot wreath project is that you can make it whatever size you want. Start with our basic instructions and add or subtract rows of tulips until it’s the right size for your space. Make a small version of this tulip carrot wreath to hang indoors above your mantel or go all-out with this large front door wreath for spring.

How to Make Apple Pie Spice Use our instructions to substitute a single teaspoon of apple pie spice in your recipes or make a bigger batch to keep on hand for all your fall baking adventures. For 1 teaspoon homemade apple pie spice: stir together ½ tsp. ground cinnamon plus ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg, ⅛ tsp. ground allspice, and dash ground cloves or ginger.To make a larger batch of apple pie spice (2½ Tbsp....

“This color just screams happiness to me. It’s cheerful, warm, and inviting,” says Brittni Mehlhoff, Designer and DIYer at Paper and Stitch. “I have a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and drawing, so I’ve always loved experimenting with different materials and supplies. When I saw BHG’s 2023 Color of the Year, Canyon Ridge, I immediately wanted to play with the tonal range for an art piece.” “Canyon Ridge is one of those colors that can work in nearly any home,” says Brittni....

Ideal for topping a wide variety of coffee shop favorites, our DIY cold foam can hold its own atop your go-to coffee drink or tea; slowly seeping down to infuse it with just enough richness and vanilla flavor. Prepare to save time and money by skipping the drive-through or coffee shop line. Ahead, we’re spilling all of the details about how to make DIY cold foam right in your own kitchen....

Natural Dye Chart Leftover fruit and vegetable materials, such as peels and skins, are ideal for creating natural fabric dyes in a variety of colors. The intensity and shade may vary from plant to plant, but you can generally expect the following colors. Use this list of natural dye ingredients, but don’t hesitate to experiment with other items to create your own colors. Blue natural dyes: blueberries and blackberriesRed natural dyes: raspberries and beetsYellow and ochre dyes: lemon and orange peels, turmericGreen natural dye:spinach leavesOrange natural dye: onion skinsPurple natural dye: red cabbage leaves...

How to Make Potato Salad Follow these simple steps to learn how to make potato salad. We’re using our classic recipe complete with eggs and mayonnaise for a fan-favorite side. Once you’ve mastered the original homemade potato salad recipe, try one of the recipe twists below. 1. Cook the Potatoes In a medium saucepan, place potatoes, ¼ teaspoon salt, and enough water to cover. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Wondering how long to boil potatoes for potato salad?...

The main difference between stovetop and baked versions is that baked versions set up more firmly and densely. Stovetop versions are looser and creamier in texture. Baked versions also develop an appealing (and irresistible) toasted-cheese crust on top. Since each of these types are popular, we’re going to show you how to make macaroni and cheese on the stovetop and in the oven. How to Make Macaroni and Cheese in the Oven It would be nice if you could just mix cooked macaroni with shredded cheese and bake it....

We’re guessing that most of those tens of thousands of cookies are from a bakery or store-bought, but it’s totally doable to master making homemade chocolate chip cookies right in your own kitchen. Ahead, our Test Kitchen’s tips, tricks, variations, and more so you can learn how to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch that are the best ever. How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch Our classic chocolate chip cookie recipe holds its shape and has a slight chewiness from the combo of butter (for flavor) and shortening (to keep the cookies from spreading too much while baking)....