How To Restore An Acrylic Shower Pan
Without routine maintenance, a shower pan just looks dull and lifeless. Bring it back to life with some dish soap, a little elbow grease and some car polish.
Read MoreApril Dowling
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As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By April Dowling
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How To Determine If The Cracks In Walls Are Serious
If your home has a cracked wall, it is probably nothing to worry about, but you should still do a little investigation to ensure whether or not the crack is serious. If you discover a plaster, drywall or concrete wall has a serious crack, call a structural engineer to evaluate the damage.
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How To Remove Rust From The Outside Of A Barbecue Grill
Barbecue grills take a lot of abuse, especially if they're left outside to battle the elements. When it’s time to uncover your grill after its winter slumber, you might find an accumulation of rust. The good news is that rust doesn’t have to be the end of your grill. With a little scrubbing, you can remove the rust so your grill looks as good as new. Types of Barbecue Grill Exteriors Not all barbecue grill exteriors are the same.
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How To Keep Hardwood Floors From Showing Footprints
Household broom Dustpan Vacuum without beater bar Bleach-free dishwashing liquid 2 mop pails Stirring utensil Soft, clean mop Clean microfiber towels Rubber-free floor mats Take your shoes off before walking on the hardwood to prevent footprints. Excessive water or moisture warps hardwood floors. Always abide by your hardwood floor manufacturer or installer’s maintenance instructions to prevent damage.
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How To Get Hard-Water Stains Off My Flat-Top Stove
Flat-top stoves, commonly known as “ceramic stove tops,” feature smooth glass finishes that complement any kitchen. Like all stove tops, flat-top ranges experience stains that mar their beauty. Exposure to wet cookware typically causes hard-water stains on flat-top stovetops.
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How To Clean A Coke Spill Off A Sofa
A Coke spill can quickly permeate sofa upholstery and blemish the fabric with dark stains that become more insoluble the longer they set. Like all beverages, Coke requires prompt removal from sofas to ensure full recovery of the fabric upholstery.
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How To Remove Blue Jean Dye From Upholstery
New blue jean fabric contains fresh blue dyes that require several washing cycles to completely bleed out. Draping new, freshly washed blue jeans over sofas to dry leaves upholstery susceptible to blue dye stains, which are extremely distinct.
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How To Get The Gas Spill Out Of The Driveway
Gas spills on driveways generally occur when refilling a vehicle or lawnmower with gasoline. Made of crude oil, gasoline mars driveways with strong odors and unsightly stains. Although gasoline quickly evaporates, it leaves flammable chemicals in driveways.
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Easy Way To Remove Super Glue From Your Fingers
Super Glue’s strong, fast-curing bond sets it apart from most ordinary types of glue. Since practically all materials bond to Super Glue, it is widely used in numerous craft projects and repairs. Super Glue is extremely sticky, however, and it often smears onto people’s fingers during application.
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How To Whiten Polyester
Polyester is a durable, synthetic fabric known for its wrinkle resistance. Like all fabrics, polyester is prone to discoloration from grime buildup and stains. White polyester garments are especially likely to develop a dingy tinge, which is distinctly aesthetically unappealing.
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How To Get Apart Two Plastic Cups That Are Stuck Together
Stacking plastic cups within other plastic cups may seem convenient, but this space-saving storage method doesn’t necessarily save time. Using your bare hands to force apart two plastic cups that are stuck together can become a time-consuming and frustrating experience.
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How To Remove A Water Mark On Satin
Although water is recognized as a stain remover, it can actually generate stains on some delicate fabrics, including satin. Water contains traces of minerals that remain on satin after it dries. These mineral deposits generally produce unsightly spots known as water marks.
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How To Dissolve Ivy Roots From A Wall
Distinguished by its slender stalks and dark green leaves, Boston ivy is the most prevalent type of climbing ivy. Boston ivy uses its gripping tendrils to climb the exterior walls of buildings. Although climbing ivy can beautify home exteriors, its roots eventually damage bricks, mortar and other masonry.
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How To Clean Stiff Washcloths
Washcloths are supposed to feel soft and soothing upon skin, not coarse and irritating. Laundering washcloths with excessive detergent, however, causes their fibers to collect detergent residue and become stiff and rough.
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How To Clean Bronze Without Removing Patina
Distinguished by its yellowish-brown color, bronze is a mixture of copper and tin and sometimes other elements. Household fixtures, jewelry, statues, and medals are often made of bronze. Since bronze objects contain large amounts of copper, their finish naturally changes color from exposure to oxygen.
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How To Refresh Cedar Blocks
Favored for compact size and versatility, cedar blocks infuse linen cabinets, closets, suitcases and other storage spaces with the forest-fresh aroma of natural cedar wood. Cedar blocks also prevent insect larvae from infesting and devouring wool, linen, cotton and many other fabrics.
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How To Remove White Leaching From Bricks
White, powdery stains leaching from brick walls are actually crystalline salt deposits. Newly constructed brick walls often contain excessive moisture, which eventually evaporates and transfers salt deposits known as efflorescence onto brick surfaces.
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How To Use TSP To Clean Wood
Distinguished for its architectural diversity, aesthetically pleasing hues and durability, wood is prevalent in home interiors and exteriors. Whether indoors or outdoors, wood inevitably becomes dingy with dust and grime.
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How To Clean Rubber Products
Distinguished for its resiliency and dimensional stability, rubber is a versatile material used in applications such as flooring, roofing and kitchen appliances. Rubber products are recyclable, hypoallergenic and water-resistant. Although rubber is a low-maintenance material, it acquires filth and stains nonetheless.
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How To Repair Masonite Siding With Putty
Recognized for its density, strength and traditional wood appearance, Masonite hardboard is a partially synthetic alternative to solid wood. Masonite siding is primarily composed of wood fibers, glue resins and wax. Unlike natural wood, Masonite hardboard does not shrink, blister or swell.
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How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Brick
Hard water from sprinklers and garden hoses can cause unsightly mineral stains to form on exterior brick surfaces. These chalky, white stains ruin the appearance of bricks and make home exteriors appear dingy. Hard water stains become more difficult to clean off the longer they persist on bricks.
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How To Clean Porous Floor Tiles
Floor tiles are recognized for their versatility, durability and diverse style options. They are available glazed or unglazed to accommodate individual preferences. Glazed tiles are more resistant to dirt and moisture than unglazed tiles.
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How To Repair Scratched Concrete
Concrete is recognized for its design versatility, fire resistance and long lasting durability. Although concrete surfaces are extremely sturdy, they are not impervious to scratches from sharp objects, abrasive cleaning supplies and constant foot traffic.
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How To Acid-Wash Ceramic Tile To Remove Dried Grout
Ceramic tiles are recognized for their durability, resistance and numerous designs. Tiles are adhered and sealed with cement grout during installation to provide stability and seal joints. Failure to properly clean tile surfaces after grouting causes them to become marred with unsightly grout residue and haze.
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How To Remove White Calcium Deposits On Cast Iron Pans
Cast iron cookware is recognized for its even heat distribution, versatility and long-lasting durability, but it is porous and prone to stains. Exposure to minerals in hard water can cause calcium deposits to accumulate on cast iron pans.
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How To Remove Adhesive From A Fiberglass Shower
Fiberglass showers are recognized for their durability, glossy appearance and simple maintenance. However, shower surfaces can become marred with sticky adhesive from non-slip appliqués and stickers.
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How To Remove Heavy Concrete Calcium Deposits
Calcium deposits, or efflorescence, form when excess moisture within cement rises to the surface. These white, powdery deposits are common on basement walls, floors and other cement surfaces. Although efflorescence is not harmful to cement, excessive amounts of it may cause mold or insect problems.
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