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In addition to providing visual interest, the mantel plays a key role in the overall fireplace aesthetic. It’s a place to hold accessories, such as precious family mementos, framed art, or a collection of pillar candles. Many DIY mantels are pretty budget-friendly, so you can give your living space a new look without a significant investment. Before you begin, consider these essential tips for making and mounting a DIY fireplace mantel....

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1. Clean Every Corner Cobwebs are usually built in undisturbed places, such as corners and behind furniture. “Continually cleaning and decluttering will discourage spiders from establishing webs,” says Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist at Mosquito Squad. arachnids. Seal any cracks and crevices with caulking to block spiders from making their home inside your house. 2. Remove Food Sources Kari Warberg Block, CEO of EarthKind, a company that develops plant-based solutions to keep pests away without killing them, says spiders “won’t live somewhere without an adequate food source, so keeping other household pest problems under control will also control spiders....

To carve: Start with a pumpkin hollowed out from the bottom. Level the cut-out pumpkin bottom with a knife; you’ll set a candle on it later. Place the downloadable pattern on the pumpkin, taping it to the pumpkin’s prettiest side. Use a large pin to prick holes through the paper and into the pumpkin skin. Prick along all stencil lines, keeping pin pricks closely spaced. Remove the taped pattern, but keep it nearby....

Buy It: OXO Tongs ($14, Bed Bath & Beyond) Buy It: OXO Hand-Held Mandoline ($19, OXO) Buy It: OXO 3-Piece Peeler Set ($17, OXO) Buy It: Nordic Ware Muffin Pan ($23, Target) Related Video

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If your air conditioner hasn’t been used in several months or you keep smelling a musty scent when it’s turned on, it’s a good idea to inspect it to determine if mold is growing in the unit. Use this guide to learn common signs of mold growth, how to check for mold, and what to do if you find mold growing in your air conditioner. Common Signs of Mold in Your Air Conditioner There are several common signs to look for when it comes to mold growth in an air conditioner....

The award-winning British interior design writer, blogger, and content creator expresses her innate creativity through her resourceful approach to living. She uses vintage and repurposed pieces to create sustainable and functional spaces. She shares her insight into the vintage Halloween decor craze, where to look, and what for, to create a boo-tiful retro backdrop to your Halloween festivities. Why is Vintage Halloween Decor So Popular? With increasingly more vintage Halloween decor popping up, it’s hard not to wonder what sparked its grand revival....

When water gets behind a bathtub, it creates a warm, damp environment ideal for mold and mildew growth. Soon, you might find that the bathroom has a musty odor that you can’t get rid of no matter how much you clean. When water gets into these narrow cracks, it can also cause damage to the wood, drywall, and insulation. Fully removing the mold and mildew or repairing any damages is difficult because the problem is located behind the tiled wall or under the tub....

4 Steps to Clarifying Stock Whether you need to know how to clarify beef stock, chicken stock, fish stock, or broth use these directions. You’ll need a colander or sieve, cheesecloth, and egg whites. Be sure to use 100% cotton cheesecloth when clarifying stock. You can find cheesecloth in the kitchen supplies section of most grocery stores or it is available online. Step 1: Strain Stock Strain your stock or broth....

How to Clean a Tower Fan Before you start cleaning, read the manufacturer’s instructions. Unplug the fan from its power source, so it isn’t accidentally turned on during cleaning. This prevents accidents and stops dust from traveling further into the machine during the cleaning. Some tower fans, like those made by Lasko and Vornado, are not designed to be opened for cleaning, and doing so may void the warranty. Before you begin cleaning, it’s important to determine whether your fan’s make and model is designed to be opened....

How to Prepare Carrots for Cooking The first step in learning how to cook carrots in the oven, stove top, or slow cooker is knowing how to prep them. For four servings of carrots, start with 1 pound of fresh carrots. Wash carrots thoroughly under cool running water. Scrub or peel the carrots using a vegetable peeler ($12, Bed Bath & Beyond). Trim the stem and root ends. Test Kitchen Tip: If your recipe calls for cooking carrots whole, you can leave some of the stems intact for a pretty presentation....

We’ll show you how to create the look without creating a mess. Each method can be touched up, year after year, for a flawless finish. Method 1: How to Flock a Christmas Tree With Powder Supplies Needed Plastic sheeting or drop clothChristmas Tree flocking powderMesh wire colander sifterSpray bottleWater Step 1: Prep Work Space For easy cleanup, prepare your work surface with plastic sheeting or a drop cloth. You’ll be dusting your Christmas tree or wreath with flocking powder, so do this in a well-ventilated space cleared of keepsakes....

How to Make Raspberry Puree There is no raspberry puree recipe per se, it’s simply raspberries that have been blended until smooth. Add either fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries that have been thawed, to your blender or food processor ($100, Bed Bath & Beyond) and blend until smooth. Now comes the part where we eliminate those obnoxious seeds. How to Strain Raspberry Puree to Remove Seeds For a seedless raspberry puree, place your pureed raspberries in a fine-mesh sieve ($12, Target) over a bowl....

However, MDF can be difficult to paint, especially if you approach it like any other painting project. This material can have a smooth, ready-to-paint face, but the edges are typically rough and porous, which can lead to an uneven finish. Some manufactured pieces of MDF can also have a thin protective layer that prevents paint from adhering properly. Use this detailed guide to learn how to prepare and paint MDF for a high-quality finish....

Where Should You Store Cleaning Supplies? How you store cleaning products can be a matter of organizational preference, but where you store them is a safety concern. It’s important to always read the label on any bottle for specific warnings or instructions. Across the board, cleaning supplies should be stored in a cool, dry area with good ventilation. You’ll want to keep bottles away from anything hot or potentially flammable. They should never be kept where pets or kids can grab them....

Seeds from Heirloom vs. Hybrid Tomatoes Not all tomatoes have seeds that will grow into plants that look (or taste) like their parent. Modern hybrids, such as ‘Big Boy’ and ‘Celebrity,’ are created from two unique parent plants. The seeds that a hybrid tomato plant produces will not result in another ‘Celebrity’ tomato plant, for example. Instead, the seed will likely yield a small, inferior fruit on a rangy plant. Avoid disappointment and don’t save seed from hybrid tomatoes....

Easy Seeds to Start Indoors If it’s your first time starting seeds indoors in winter, it’s best to go small. Pick just one or two types that are easy to grow from seed like these favorite flowering annuals: Container Options Plastic seed trays ($16, The Home Depot) and seed-starter kits ($16, Etsy) are super easy for growing seeds indoors. But you can dig through your recycling bin, too. Just remember to punch a drainage hole in each container before planting....

Also called weed barrier or weed control fabric, landscape fabric is usually used to discourage weeds while allowing for movement of moisture both in and out of the soil. However, it isn’t a permanent solution to controlling weeds (nature will find a way). Even when using landscape fabric, you’ll still need to do some weeding. Where to Use Landscape Fabric It’s best to use landscape fabric under inorganic materials such as rock, gravel, or sand....