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My grandmother Jewel accumulated many things throughout her life. Some of the things were nice antique pieces, and some of the things were purchased at the Dollar Tree, but all of the things were mixed together throughout her home, making it hard to tell (at a glance, at least) which was which.Read more...

Humidifiers can make breathing and sleeping more comfortable in the winter, giving off a gentle mist that can help with everything from dry sinuses and bloody noses to cracked lips and skin. But if you’re not cleaning your humidifier regularly, it can breed mold or bacteria, and make you feel worse—especially if you…Read more...

Our homes have been through a lot in 2020. From constant sanitizing, to higher energy bills, to all the dirty dishes, we’ve spent so much more time cleaning, maintaining, and improving everything around us. To help with all the time spent at home, here are our best household hacks of 2020—the tips that made cleaning…Read more...

Most substances wipe off tile pretty easily, but getting the surrounding grout back to its original pearly white state is much harder. Because it is so narrow and coarse, scrubbing grout lines clean can be a hassle (unless you like spending hours hunched over with a toothbrush). Luckily, we have three methods to make…Read more...

Cast iron radiators have been around since the 1860s, using steam to heat the accordion-shaped coils and keep rooms warm during the winter. A central boiler heats water, creating steam that rises through the pipes and into the radiators, and the tightly folded coils retain heat for longer, staying hot even once the…Read more...

Our esteemed editor-in-chief slacked me one day saying that many of her friends swear that a steam cleaner is the best cleaning tool. They claim that the steamer will clean basically everything—floors, walls, appliances, mattresses, toilets, windows—the list goes on and on.Read more...

Ovens tend to get a lot of use during the holidays, and between drips, drops, and turkey basting spills, they can get fairly dirty. And they may not get cleaned very often—in a survey by the American Cleaning Institute, 69% of participants agreed there are areas of the home they do not clean, but should, and I would…Read more...

During the pandemic, video games are more vital than ever to our mental health (and we aren’t just saying that). And as more people are playing video games than ever, controllers are a focal point at many parties and family gatherings—which is why it’s important to regularly clean your controllers and other shared…Read more...

Of all the things that need to be cleaned in your home, your mattress is probably the one you think about the least. As long as you use a mattress cover and change the sheets regularly you should be fine right? Maybe not. Outside of sweat, skin flakes, and other bodily fluids, the EHSO says states there could be…Read more...

The first makeup tip I was taught as a child was to never share mascara or lipstick. Despite their harmlessness, the microorganisms that live inside of our eyelashes and on our faces were enough to scare me towards hygiene. Now that fear over coronavirus—a much more appropriate fear—has refocused our collective…Read more...

All our kitchens have become filthy from heavy use over the past six months. If you’re like me, you’ve noticed all your pots and pans have baked-on stains, your appliances are coated in gunk, and your silverware is rusting.Read more...

Winter is coming, as they say. And as the pandemic continues to rage, we’re all preparing (or we should be) to hunker down at home even more so for the next few months. This creates both a need for basic winterization as well as an opportunity to tackle DIY projects while you’re stuck inside.Read more...

“I know a lot of people think you’re quirky,” my dad told me, “but I need you to know that you’re just a redneck.” This comment came shortly after I sent him a picture of the newest addition to my taxidermy collection, a mule deer mount my boyfriend gave me for my 32nd birthday.Read more...

Our pets may be domesticated, but sometimes we’re reminded that they’re descended from wild animals. Like when their instinctive habits cause them to wreck our couch or pee on that new rug. It’s maddening, sure—but with some effort and understanding, we can accommodate their natural needs and still maintain a…Read more...

As former Lifehacker writer Nick Douglas once proclaimed: Every sponge is bad. He wasn’t wrong then, and he isn’t wrong now. But his passionate stance made me think more deeply about my kitchen sponge than I ever had before, and I came to a somewhat disturbing realization. My sponge? Was basically always dirty.Read more...

Now is the time to deal with the built-up grime and burnt-on grease in your oven. You are home more often, so you have the extra time it takes to clean it properly. And since you’re cooking every meal at home, you can benefit more from the energy savings of not burning extra grease.Read more...

One of the perks of living in a desert climate is that you don’t necessarily need air conditioning—in many cases, evaporative cooling will do the trick. Since so-called swamp coolers work best with good air circulation, we can leave our windows (and sometimes our doors) cracked all summer long. The downside? Flies…Read more...

Do you have a routine on garbage night? My husband likes to make the rounds, collecting every bit of garbage in the house; I just wheel the bins to the curb and call the chore done. Whichever your approach, I’d like you to add one step: take a peek in the fridge while you’re at it. Read more...