Home Improvement Tips & Ideas
Make your kitchen beautiful and efficient with remodeling ideas for cabinets, countertops, lighting, appliances, decor and more!
We live in a New York City condo with a kitchen that is the size of most suburbanites’ master bedroom closet. We are constantly battling a shortage of kitchen cabinet space. Can you suggest some ideas for freeing up some space in our overcrowded kitchen cabinets?
Kitchen and bath remodeling ideas for your home from the winners of the NKBA Design Trends Competition. Kitchen and bath remodeling is always a good idea for the future value of your home, returning up to 75% of its cost when the home is sold.
Dishwasher energy costs can be cut by one-third by turing off the power dry switch. Power dry switches speed up the drying process but are rarely needed and add up to 30% to the cost of electricity needed to power your dishwasher.
Sometimes your hot water dispenser isn’t hot enough for you. Fortunately, there is an easy way to fix hot water dispensers.
Air drying the dishes in your dishwasher can reduce dishwasher costs on your energy bill. To reduce dishwasher costs, do not use the power dry switch on the dishwasher. Air drying your dishes can reduce dishwasher costs by abut 1/3.Â
By keeping your oven door closed, you ensure consistent cooking times and save energy. Opening the oven door to check the progress of your meal, results in the oven having to use extra energy to reheat back to it’s set temperature.
Cleaning your refrigerator will make it run better, and keep you and your family healthier.
Find out why you should never put pumpkin guts down the kitchen sink or attempt to flush them down your toilet!
To prevent burns and scalds, microwave ovens should be placed no higher than 48 inches above the floor; countertops are ideal.
A few key kitchen appliances can help save time and make life easier.
Sanding cabinets before painting ensures that new paint will stick. Sanding cabinets is a sure fire way to get rid of any blemishes or dings. Sanding cabinets after the grime has been washed away will also make your cabinets look like new, even before you apply paint.
Learn how living room furniture can add warmth to your kitchen and a cozy space for entertaining guests.
Okay — you’ve fished the spoon out of the garbage disposal, but now the disposal won’t turn on. Don’t grind your teeth yet. When your disposal jams, it often automatically shuts off, and may not re-start by using the wall switch. Many homeowners don’t know there is a reset button, located at the bottom of …
Learn a fast and simple way to remove unwanted odors from your refrigerator.
Learn how adding an kitchen island can enhance the functionality of your kitchen.
If your dishwasher isn’t cleaning as good as it used to, changing the filter may restore the cleaning power of your dishwasher at a fraction of the cost. Replacing the filter will give you cleaner dishes.
Laminate countertops that have cracks, burns, or knife scars can be repaired with a plastic filler. To repair the laminate countertop, prepare the laminate countertop surface according to manufacturer’s instructions. After prepping the laminate countertop, sand the countertop, then add a special topcoat to make your newly repaired laminate countertop look new again.
Does your garbage disposal smell like last night’s dinner? Here’s a recipe to kill odors and keep your disposal fresh. Flush your disposal with a mixture of water and ½ cup baking soda once a week. You can also grind citrus peels for a clean, fresh scent. NEVER use harsh commercial drain cleaners – they’ll …
Want to get cold, hard cash for your old refrigerator? Before tossing your old unit, call your area’s utility company and ask about rebate programs. By federal law, utility companies must offer programs to encourage energy efficiency, and trading your old ice box for an energy efficient model may just help you unfreeze some cash …
Is your ‘fridge on the fritz? If so, you should check out your washing machine, too. If you are calling a professional to repair an appliance, take time to check out all of your appliances so any repairs can be handled in one visit. This will save you time and money. Pay attention to appliance …
A simple test will show if your refigerator is cool enough. The temperature dials in your refrigerator and freezer are probably labeled 1 through 9, instead of with actual temperatures, so it can be hard to know the exact temperature. 37F is ideal. Check yours with a thermometer.
The only thing worse than a broken appliance is discovering the repair is not covered by the warranty. When you buy an appliance, be sure to get all of the factory warranty details, including the length of the warranty and exactly what is covered. Will only parts be replaced what about labor and where are …
Some natural materials make great countertops, and some don’t. Wood adds warmth and natural beauty to a kitchen, but is not a great counter choice because it dents easily and requires regular sealing. Keep wood in mind for counter edging and trim, but look to stone, granite, or marble as your natural surface options.
Food particles and other debris can raise a stink in your refrigerator’s drain. To keep debris from clogging the drain and settling in the drain pan, clean the system regularly. Start by removing the drain stopper, and use a pipe cleaner to push debris through the drain to the drain pan. Follow with a solution …
