The 8 Types of Light Switches and Dimmers (and Which One You Need) Before You Begin: Develop Safe Habits Pretend it’s live Professional electricians have this simple rule: Even after shutting off power, always act as if the wires are live. That way if someone accidentally turns on the power or a tester gives the wrong reading, you’re still protected. Pretending each wire is live means you should never touch two wires at once....
How to Hang Wallpaper Like a Pro How to Apply Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper for Long-Lasting Results Everything You Need to Know About Wallpaper Basics
Below, master how to cook oatmeal, plus score bonus oatmeal directions for toppings and mix-ins so that you can dress up your bowl a new way each day of the month. Those hotcakes and fast-food sandwiches officially have some serious competition. Types of Oats for Oatmeal Making oatmeal starts with choosing the type of oats for your time available and desired consistency. Quick-cooking rolled oats: These speedy oats are cut into pieces and rolled thinner so they cook in about one minute on the stove top....
How to Cut Spaghetti Squash Before making roasted spaghetti squash, you’ll need to prep it. Rinse the squash with cool, clear tap water and scrub with a clean produce brush. Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. To begin cutting your squash, lay it on its side. Using a large, sharp chef’s knife ($45, Target), trim the top and bottom to remove the stem. Stand the squash upright, then cut straight down lengthwise through the middle....
Determine Size and Space If all books were the same size and shape, shelf-planning would be simple. But as anyone with a personal library knows, that’s hardly the case. Standard books are 9-½ inches tall and 7 inches wide (though pocket paperbacks can be much smaller). Art books can be as large as 15 inches tall by 11 inches deep. Make sure you measure the biggest books you want to include, considering their dimensions in your design....
Solution: Avoid zigzag organizing. Scattering your efforts over multiple rooms prevents you from seeing progress. For visible, dramatic results, work one room at a time, suggests Julie Morgenstern, author of Organizing from the Inside Out. As you tackle each room, restrict yourself to one section at a time, completing that area before moving on to the next. Solution: Slip a slim step stool inside the linen closet so you can easily access the top shelves, suggests Jamie Novak, a decluttering expert and author of Stop Throwing Money Away....
Where to Plant Asparagus Fern Asparagus fern is grown as an annual or houseplant in most areas of the U.S., but it is a perennial in USDA Zones 9-11. Asparagus Fern Care Tips Asparagus ferns are easy-to-care-for plants that grow as houseplants and in shady gardens. Light When asparagus ferns are planted outside, they prefer a location with dappled shade. For best results as potted houseplants, asparagus ferns should be placed in indirect or filtered light....
If you’re going to grow multiple plants in one container, keep in mind that they’ll need similar sun, water, and soil requirements to thrive. Best Soil to Grow Potted Plants Container plants should be grown in a special potting mix that doesn’t contain soil. Garden soil is too heavy and can compact roots, cutting off oxygen. It also often contains weed seeds. Instead, buy or make a soilless mix; look for one composed of coconut fiber (coir) or peat moss, vermiculite or perlite, and other ingredients....
What is a tomato hornworm? A tomato hornworm is the larva of a hawk moth, also called a hummingbird moth. The moths emerge from the soil in late spring or early summer, then lay their eggs singly on the undersides of a host plant’s leaves. The tiny caterpillars hatch in about a week and quickly grow as they feed. They reach full size in three to four weeks. Fully grown hornworm larvae will drop to the ground, where they burrow in and form a cocoon to turn into a moth....
Note: If the wall is covered with drywall or plaster, most of the work consists of running cable and perhaps patching the wall afterwards. Safety tip: Before starting, shut off power to the circuit. Editor’s tip: If power runs to the receptacle, use two-wire cable to make a switch loop. Mark the white wire black to indicate that it is hot. Editor’s tip: If two cables originally entered the receptacle box, connect the grounds and mark the white switch wire black....
What You Need Broom or vacuumLevelLeveling compoundVinyl planksTransition strips, if necessarySafety glassesDrillMeasuring tapeOscillating sawTable saw, shear cutter, or chop saw1/4-inch spacersSquareCircular sawUtility knifeRubber malletPull barTapping blockJigsaw Step 1: Prep the Floor Gather materials. The materials should be available at any hardware store. Prep the floor by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming up all dust and particles. Step 2: Level Floor Using a level, determine if the floor is mostly even. If not, apply leveling compound to uneven spots, following the manufacturer’s directions....
The kits are designed to work with standard 1 ⅜-inch-thick interior doors. If you use thicker doors, they may interfere with each other as they slide. Thinner doors may have a wide gap between them. The combined width of the doors should equal the width of the opening plus at least 1 inch. This provides ½ inch of overlap between the two doors when they are closed. Some minor variations exist among bypass door kits from different manufacturers, but they are all easy to install....
Now that fall is here and Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the food you’ll want to serve. For a delicious starter, we highly recommend making this adorable Halloween charcuterie board (or charbooterie, if you will). With a little imagination (and next to no cooking), meats, cheeses, and creatures become delightfully spirited creatures. Learn exactly how to make each tasty little monster, mummy, and ghoul below....
Prep your succulents at least a day before you start this project—the succulent cuttings will need to develop scabs where the stem is cut. To prepare, remove the succulent plants from their pots and wipe away any excess soil. Clip the succulents, leaving a stem to insert into the form. You can also order succulent cuttings online. Check Etsy or other online sellers to find all types of unique succulent cuttings you may never find near you....
Starting at the soil line, clip off all the leaves on the bottom two-thirds of the stem. Use a pruning tool rather than just pulling off the leaves to avoid damaging the stem. Carefully insert the bamboo stake next to the plant stem, pushing it to the bottom of the pot. Starting about 2 inches above the soil line, wrap one twist tie around the stake, then gently around the stem....
Buy It: Hamilton Beach Stack and Snap 12 Cup Food Processor ($59, Target)
Test Kitchen Tip: Feeling fancy? Scoop this sorbet into tall glasses and top with sparkling wine for a fruity float. Buy It: KitchenAid Blender, $100, KitchenAid
Before you set out on the hunt for salvaged treasures, there are a few things you should know, including what to look for when shopping and how to tell if the material is safe to use in your home. Use these tips on shopping for and reusing architectural salvage to make the most of your reclaimed finds. 1. Know where to shop for architectural salvage. To find antique treasures and reclaimed wood, hunt architectural salvage or building supply stores, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and reclaimed-lumber dealers....
Test Kitchen Tip: Be careful cutting those peppers, as they contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them.
