Tag: Home Maintenance
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At Home: Odors be gone! Air purifiers help clear the air
Until recently, I was blissfully breathing, unaware of the microscopic particles — the dust mites, dander, pollen, mold, viruses, pet smells, germs, cooking odors, twelfth-hand smoke and who knows what else — lurking under my nose. Then, as I was researching last week’s column, in which I dusted up a fuss about pet fur and…
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At Home: Want the next generation to embrace old furniture? Try paint
At every talk I give on downsizing, the subject of handing furniture off to grown kids comes up. And every time I deliver the bad news: The kids don’t want your stuff. Invariably, parents moan and adult children cheer. “Don’t believe me?” I ask. “Just walk through any secondhand furniture store or visit Facebook Marketplace.…
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At Home: Best-selling novelist’s homes are the stuff of fiction
Walking into Breeze Inn or Ebbtide, two vacation rental cottages on Georgia’s Tybee Island, is like stepping into one of Mary Kay Andrews’ popular beach reads. And that is exactly what the New York Times bestselling author of 32 books intends. Literally the stuff of fiction, Breeze Inn is named after a hotel in her…
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At Home: Expert offers tips for how to choose a faucet
Every home has one. Many have several. You touch it every day. It promotes hygiene and hydration. Yet how many know what goes into making and, more important, choosing a bathroom faucet? Curious, I decided to get a better handle on these hardworking household fixtures and called Noah Taft, co-owner of California Faucets, the company…
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Around the House: If garage door spring breaks, it’s best to spring for a professional
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: One of the springs on my garage door is broken. Is this something I can fix? — Mitch Answer: I wouldn’t. Those springs are wound to a high degree of tension so they…
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Around the House: Sump pump a good idea for all finished basements
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: The builder put in a sump pump pit in the basement, but there isn’t a pump inside. Do you think I need one? It’s about a third full now. — Frank Answer: Generally,…
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Around the House: Pesky pigeon problem not easy to solve
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: I have pigeons nesting under my porch roof overhang. Help! How can I send them someplace else? — Debbie Answer: It’s a mystery why pigeons pick out one house in a neighborhood and ignore the others. But, once they do, they are very…
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Around the House: Solving one stinky situation in the bathroom
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: We can’t get our bathroom lavatories to stop smelling. We’ve tried Liquid-Plumr, baking soda and vinegar, even bleach. Can you help? — Roger Answer: Did you remember the overflow? That’s the hole in the front of the sink that drains water if you…
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Around the House: Opt for clear stain to let redwood deck shine
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: I love my new deck, and I want to keep that pretty redwood color. Can I use a clear stain? — Brad Answer: The reddish-blond color of new redwood is gorgeous. The color components in most tinted deck stains help to reflect UV…
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At Home: What moms really want for Mother’s Day (hint: it’s complicated)
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save “When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” — Erma Bombeck I have had a mother, been a mother, been a stepmother and…