Buying a home is most people’s biggest investment. That’s why it’s important to keep it low-maintenance and budget-friendly.
Listen to this week’s Today’s Homeowner Podcast to learn about affordable solutions to humidity under a house, affordable ways to fix up a rental house, and low-maintenance replacements for front porch railings.
- [skipto time=2:08][2:08][/skipto] How to muffle a loud heat pump
- [skipto time=5:51][5:51][/skipto] Best New Product: Nexgrill 5-burner gas grill with side burner
- [skipto time=6:58][6:58][/skipto] Affordable solutions to humidity under a house
- [skipto time=11:20][11:20][/skipto] UV lights in A/C systems: do they work?
- [skipto time=15:02][15:02][/skipto] How to deal with smoking-related odors
- [skipto time=17:44][17:44][/skipto] A creative way to block the sun from a deck
- [skipto time=18:51][18:51][/skipto] Simple Solution: How to keep eyeglasses from fogging up while wearing a mask
- [skipto time=20:39][20:39][/skipto] Affordable ways to fix up a rental house
- [skipto time=22:57][22:57][/skipto] Low-maintenance replacements for front porch railings
- [skipto time=23:43][23:43][/skipto] Tips for raising a ceiling
- [skipto time=24:59][24:59][/skipto] Tips for DIY pest control
- [skipto time=29:07][29:07][/skipto] Question of the Week: How to keep weeds off a patio
Simple Solutions
No-Fog Glasses — Here’s a simple, yet effective, way to prevent eyeglasses or safety glasses from fogging up when they’re worn with a dust mask. Coat the insides and outsides of both lenses with shaving cream. Rub the cream onto the lenses for several seconds, then rinse with cold water under a sink faucet. Dry the lenses and they should remain fog-free for several hours.
Auto-Watering Houseplants — Be sure your houseplants don’t die of thirst by making a slow-drip irrigation bottle. Take an empty 1-liter soda bottle, fill it with water, then drill a 1/8-inch hole through the cap. Turn the bottle upside down and press it neck first into the soil. Water will very slowly drip out to hydrate the plant. You can also use a wine bottle, by drilling a hole through the cork.
Question of the Week
Q: We have a nice patio next to our house. Last year, we had some weeds in the paver joints. I scraped the weeds and soil out and then put poly sand on to fill the gaps. This year I am disappointed to see even more weeds. What is the best way to maintain our patio?
A: We hate to suggest using harsh chemicals, so one thing Chelsea does is pour hot tea on weeds in her driveaway. It kills them instantly and then you can easily pluck them.
There’s also a propane torch made for killing weeds. You also can sprinkle baking soda all over and wet the area.
Other Products and Links Mentioned
- Home Depot
- Kilz Restoration Primer
- Filtrete electrostatic / charcoal filters
- Trex Company Deck Railings
