The popularity of solar power has grown in recent years, thanks to plummeting equipment costs, climbing electricity rates, and the looming climate crisis. And with thousands of do-it-yourself guides and videos online, the DIY culture continues to attract more people. So, it’s no surprise that DIY solar power systems are garnering a lot of interest. As with any DIY project, […]
The image of grandma’s perfectly clean house became even more attractive after a year of staying home. But chances are, your grandma never taught you how she did it. And when it comes to all those DIYs on the internet, well, you can’t believe everything you read. When you’re dealing with dust or dirty dishes, a little elbow grease can […]
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a study showing how America could decarbonize its power grid using solar energy and power 40% of the nation’s electricity by 2035. They predict the transition won’t result in higher electricity prices. This is good news for the environment. Solar prices have dropped so far it is actually profitable to install solar pretty […]
Did you know that you can make your own mouthwash at home? It’s just one of many personal care products that you can easily make using ingredients that you may even already have in the pantry. Making products at home gives you control over the ingredients so you can avoid harsh chemicals that you may not want on or in […]
One of the best parts of sustainable living is learning to create things for yourself instead of buying them. It allows you to avoid materials and ingredients that are harmful to your family or the planet — and it’s also very satisfying personally. One of my favorite creations of the past few years has been this body lotion. Why Homemade […]
This time of year is prime time for chapped lips — you know those dried-out kissers are just dying to be smothered in moisture. As we see it, you really have three choices. First, you could just leave them be (but honestly, who really wants to have white, dry, flaky lips?). You could opt for one of those little plastic […]
It’s frustrating to find your clothes still damp after your clothes dryer completes the cycle. This can even happen with a dryer that’s less than two years old. Does this mean you need to throw away your clothes dryer and buy a new one? No, it doesn’t. Of all home appliances, clothes dryers are the easiest and least expensive to […]
After 30 years of being an appliance technician, I have found three quick and easy home appliance fixes that anyone can do in under five minutes. They require very few tools and will save you hundreds of dollars and extend the life of your appliances. 1. Gas Stove Burner That Clicks but Won’t Light On a gas stove, it’s very […]
One of my saddest duties as an appliance repair tech is breaking the news to a customer that it will cost over $500 to repair their front-load washer. I know that most likely they will buy a new machine and the broken washer will end up in the landfill. But some of the most common problems are easy to prevent. These […]
Over 30 years as an appliance repair technician, the repair I’ve seen the most is a washer that won’t spin. Let’s learn how to quickly diagnose and fix your washing machine. Every repair begins with understanding the problem. The first thing to do is listen. When your washer is supposed to spin, do you hear anything? Is there any mechanical sound […]