How To Keep Woodpeckers Away, According To Experts

Heres what to do if a woodpecker starts pecking on your house. Some types migrate but many are year-round residents in the Southeast. Credit:Getty Images / Carlos Carreno Credit:Getty Images/ Stan Tekiela Author / Naturalist / Wildlife Photographer

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 38 words · Jason Bennett

How to Keep Your Bundt Cake from Sticking to the Pan

If life (or a long day in the kitchen) gives you torn cake, don’t despair. You may be one of those lucky bakers who have perfect success with every cake. Sadly, I am not one of those bakers. Credit: Greg DuPree Is it the pan? Am I greasing it wrong? Is the cake sitting in the pan too long? When deciding on a pan, choose one that is metal and not too dark....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 140 words · Leroy Gomez

How To Keep Your Carpets Looking New

Cleaning and maintenance tips from a carpet pro. Household grime is unavoidable. While no carpet can completely escape mess, every home is going to face unique situations. Credit:scyther5/Getty Consider your common mess-makers, amount of carpet you have and frequency with which you oughta clean. If you have carpeted rooms or largearea rugs, we recommend an upright deep cleaner, Karll says. Keep in mind, the larger the machine, the greater the suction power and tank capacity....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 91 words · Whitney Johnson

How To Keep Your Coffee Warm Without Ruining The Flavor, According To Experts

Experts share their top tips for keeping your cup of joe at the perfect tempwith the perfect tastefor longer. For coffee drinkers, there’s absolutely nothing like that first steaming sip, especially on a brisk morning. But unlike most coffee commercials, many real-life mornings don’t involve decadently long and lingering sit-down breakfast sessions. Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox And while life is happening, coffee tends to get cold, compromising the whole drinking experience....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 99 words · Tiffany Joseph

How To Kill Bamboo

Some people love bamboo, but far more people loathe it. Then in about two weeks, they can’t see themselves either. Well, it’s easier than you might think. Photo: room-decoratingideas.com. But to understand why, you gotta know a little more about it. Bamboos are giant, woody grasses. Some are clumping and cause no problems. emBamboo rhizome. Photo: bamboocraft.net/em. From the rhizomes grow canes, calledculms. Giant bamboos are the fastest growing plants on Earth, even faster than kudzu....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 185 words · Tyler Ritter

How To Mail a Homemade Cake

Nothing says, “I love you,” like a homemade cake. Plus, your baked goods will arrive just like they left your kitchen delicious! To ensure fresh-from-the-oven quality baked goods, prepare your package (and treats) by following these steps. Credit: lisafx / Getty Images Here are some rules of thumb for the most popular types of cake. Layer Cakes Freeze yourlayer cakebefore shipping. Stiffer icing is preferable where possible. Securely wrapped in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 181 words · Joel Graham

How To Maintain Healthy Zoysia Grass In Your Yard, According To The Grumpy Gardener

About This Episode What happens when Zoysia grass is taken over by Bermuda grass? Plus, Grumpys gripe of the week on dogwoods. Is there a way to get rid of it without killing the Zoysia?" Credit: Claire Takacs/Getty Images If you spray that to kill the Bermuda, you’ll kill your Zoysia, too. Gripe of the Week Okay, this is a very personal experience. They filled the woods behind our house with blossoms every spring, but no more....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 108 words · Linda Pratt

How To Maintain Your Home's Siding, According To Experts

How to keep your home’s siding looking its best for years to come. Youre going to notice any deficiencies a lot more readily, he says of a clean house. Water is the most common cause of siding damage. Credit:Larisa Sviridova/Getty Images Exterior plugs are also notorious for leaking. Choose a high-quality exterior paint and promptly repair any areas of cracked or peeling paint to prevent water incursion. An annual bath will prevent mold and mildew buildup....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 113 words · Sharon Carter

How To Make A Well-Worn Enameled Dutch Oven Look (And Cook) As Good As New

It couldn’t be easier to make heirloom pieces look fresh. This will help avoid streaks on the surface of your enamel. If the enamel is chipped or scratched, dont use the Dutch oven. Credit:Getty Images But when dealing with a secondhand Dutch oven, its always better to play it safe. If you spot a scratch, then dont bring the Dutch oven home with you. Thats why its not a good idea to use abrasive scrubbers when cleaning your Dutch oven....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 119 words · Mary Johnson DDS

How To Make Black Food Coloring

Take your decorating to the next level. It is the most efficient way to lend true black to buttercream, icing, or fondant. It’s also important to use food coloring gel or paste and not the food coloring liquid. Credit: Westend61 / Getty Images There are pros and cons to each, which we’ll discuss below. This will not work for every recipe as some components influence taste and texture. Here are some ingredients that will dye food black when added to recipes:

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 81 words · Larry Bailey

How To Make Clothes Dry Faster

Get fully-dried clothes in 5 steps. The towel absorbs excess moisture from your clothes and into its own fibers to speed up your load. The sun will act as the “dryer” and the high temperatures will help your clothes dry quickly. Credit:Heuzing Hu / Getty Images High heat tweaks are another way to make clothes dry faster since it speeds up the evaporation. However, this setting can cause clothes to shrink....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 89 words · Jason Glover

How To Make Dirty Garden Gloves Look Brand-New Again

In short, they take all the abuse that we’d rather not. Garden gloves tend to need frequent replacing, but cleaning and washing gloves can make them last longer. If you use gloves frequently, cleaning once a week is usually adequate. Credit:Petra Richli / Getty Images Gloves made from synthetic material may be sensitive to the high heat of a dryer. If your gloves have acare tag, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on using a washer or dryer....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 106 words · Zoe Smith

How To Make Food Less Salty: 6 Easy Ways

Here’s what to do if you oversalted your dish. If its a soup or liquid dish, use a spoon to gently remove excess salt. This doesn’t reduce the sodium intake, but it does reduce the perception of the salty flavor. Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster It helps by reducing the immediate salt flavor you would get by redistributing itthrough the potato, explains Edwards. Sprinkle In Sugar...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 100 words · Marcus Evans