Candles — Choosing and caring for them
When we had a mantle (of sorts) in our last home, I’d usher in each season with a swap of candle colors. Spring tapers were the colors of pastel eggs, …
How to store medicines and supplements
Did you know that the bathroom is a terrible place to store your medicines and supplements? So much for medicine cabinets! Heat and moisture in the bathroom can quickly deteriorate …
How to clean grout
Cleaning grout on a tile floor — or backsplash or wall — isn’t something most of us look forward to. But it’s a task that can transform a space! Why …
Buying used furniture — How to decide if you should purchase a piece of used furniture
My favorite pieces of furniture over the years have been those I “discovered” used, with plenty of miles on them before my adoption. A comfy, down-filled chair. An antique cabinet …
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Wicker — How to clean and care for wicker items
Have any wicker in your home? Baskets, tables, indoor furniture or out? Maybe yours is a brand-new purchase, or maybe it’s been around since the seventies — wicker is long-lasting …
How to store Christmas decorations
How do you feel when it’s time to put away your holiday décor? Does it make you a little sad, or are you eager to get everything back to “normal?” …
How to clean a lampshade
Some things look fine — better even — with a little patina on them. Lampshades aren’t one of them. Dusty or stained lampshades look dingy and sad. Yet they’re not …
How to take good care of scissors
I love good scissors! Big shiny shears, tiny thread cutters, embroidery snips that look like storks. I like having just-the-right kind handy, so I currently have scissors in my purse, …
Product warranties and guarantees — What we need to know
“Guarantee” sounds stronger than “warranty,” doesn’t it? (I always thought it was. I mean, we say we “guarantee” we’ll do something, right? We never warranty it.) When it comes to …
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How to take care of a wood cutting board
Cutting boards may just be the hardest-working equipment in my kitchen. I have a large cutting board for rolling out dough, a medium board for chopping most vegetables, a small …