Maintenance and home security
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Air fryers have been growing in popularity to the point they seem to have sprung up everywhere. Not since the microwave has a kitchen appliance been so widely accepted and enjoyed. Comparing air fryers and microwaves is also appropriate because they provide similar benefits. Specifically, they make cooking...
Water is a vital liquid, indispensable for life itself and for maintaining health. However, water is also a scarce resource, and in many places around the world it is not easy to have. More than 2,000 million people live in countries with water scarcity, and climate change means the outlook for water resources...
Although clothes dryers are becoming more common, many people still have questions about how to use them properly. Clothes dryers are especially beneficial in humid regions and in winter when it rains frequently and clothes cannot be dried outside. However, even though dryers are very convenient, some clothes...
Nothing's more frustrating than finding the apartment of your dreams only to discover that you can't paint over the nasty lime green walls or swap the avocado carpet for something a little more current. If your lease won't let you paint, update or even hammer in a nail, have no fear. With our quick-fix...
While it may be obvious to some, many people don't think of the importance of cleaning their washing machine. As it is a machine which cleans clothes, they think that it is essentially self-cleaning. However, a washing machine can collect dirt and grime easily. Even if such dirt is not obviously visible...
The freezer is one of the most useful appliances in the home. It allows us to keep food in good condition for months and even more than a year. However, this will only be the case if the freezer works properly. This requires regular maintenance and general care. If not, the freezer will accumulate ice and...
The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in a home. Preserving food depends fundamentally on its proper functioning, since if you do not carry out the refrigeration process correctly, many products will be spoiled. For this reason, it is very important to carry out basic actions for the...
Enduring the winter without being cold and saving on heating can be tricky, but thankfully it's not impossible. In this oneHOWTO article we're going to explain how to save money on heating, especially during winter.
Keep reading this article to learn effective methods to help you save on your heating...
Having radiators ready for the winter requires maintenance throughout the year, this implies certain adjustments and cleaning. In this oneHOWTO article we're going to explain how to clean the dust out of your radiator. We'll go step by step so you can clean your radiator completely, inside and out. Keep...
high difficulty
high difficulty
All of us are afraid of that last week of the month when we are left with a pocketful of cash and start counting those pennies. Is this a time when you reconsider if your budgeting skills are as good as you may have previously thought? This is a common problem which a lot of people experience, so you are...
Did you know that vinegar is one of the best products used to repel mosquitoes? That’s right, mosquitoes hate the smell of vinegar, and therefore, by using it correctly, you can deter mosquitoes from infesting your home and biting you at night. In this oneHOWTO article, we aim to show you different natural...
Mosquitoes are perhaps the most irritating insects on this earth. They are ectoparasites which means they feed on the outside of a host (unlike tapeworms which do their work inside). Only the female mosquitoes bite, the males preferring to feed on nectar and water. The females search for blood so that they...
The arrival of a new home appliance usually gets us excited, but it is very important to be clear on how to perform the first installation and use in order to ensure its correct operation and maximum duration over time. With refrigerators, it is important to let them rest a while before turning them on...
Air humidity is very important for reasons we can both see and not see. Most of them, however, we can feel. If you have too high humidity in your house, then you will see condensation against the windows. A little bit of wetness around your frames might not seem like a bother, but it will mean your home...
The market of light bulbs has gone through a drastic change over the last few years. The age old incandescent bulbs have been completely removed from the market, and they have been replaced by the energy-saving, more luminescent LED bulbs. These bulbs not only consume less energy and give out more light,...
medium difficulty
In addition to lights, electronics and air conditioners, most appliances in our household run on electricity. As our use of electrical appliances increases, so do our utility bills. Besides that, just as there is increased awareness about saving water, electricity is a non-renewable source of energy too,...
Neem oil repels mosquitoes because of its azadirachtin content, whose smell and taste deters mosquitoes from biting. Neem oil can be either applied on skin or used in a neem oil lamp for mosquitoes.
If you are looking for natural ways to prevent mosquitoes bites, neem oil might be your best ally. According...
Humidity at its most simple is the amount of moisture in the air. The humidity inside your home should be somewhere between 30% and 50%. As humidity increases, it starts getting uncomfortable for humans. High humidity is the best condition for mites and mold to grow and survive, and they are significant...
low difficulty
low difficulty
Summer attracts some of the worst household pests: insects. Although some may be beneficial for the garden, they can also be annoying and leave painful bites. So preventing these animals from sneaking into our homes can be important and extremely useful. Note that not all recommendations are the same for...
low difficulty
low difficulty
A dishwasher greatly facilitates housework and saves us time when cleaning the dishes and all kitchen tools we use regularly. However, many find that their dishwasher develops a funky odour and leaves residue on the dishes as well as a horrible pong. If this has also happened to you, and are asking...
If you are living in a high sediment area, then you must be aware of one of the most common household pest that just won’t go away, which is hard water scale. Water is ‘hard’ when it has high content of dissolved minerals in it. When this water evaporates, it leaves some mineral deposits behind on the...
medium difficulty
medium difficulty
Although most people relate moths with clothing, the truth is that you can find these insects in your food pantries and cabinets. There are three types, the dried fruit moth, the grain moth or the Indianmeal moth (plodia interpunctella). The adult insect has bronze colored wings or brown bands on its...
low difficulty
low difficulty
Not only have phones become smartphones taking over the way we communicate; but thermostats for the house are often referred as smart thermostats. Smart thermostats are technological savvy systems that enable you to remotely control your home’s central heating system through your phone, tablet or computer....
low difficulty
low difficulty
No matter what type of home you live in, installing an electric heater is a good idea to ensure that you always have hot water. Quick, convenient and simple. It will help you keep the water hot so that you can use it whenever you want. It is not hard to make an electric water heater work. Hoever, you need...
Coconut oil is an awesome natural oil made from the abundantly available coconuts all around the world. Coconut oil is widely used as a deodorant, anti-acne treatment, after-shave lotion and skin ointment, and a fantastic agent to improve skin and hair health. But recently, we found another good use of this...
medium difficulty
Tornadoes and hurricanes are deadly natural incidents related to extreme weather conditions. Understanding the way to adequately stay prepared for such devastating acts of nature is critical. Staying prepared for a tornado or hurricane can be extremely helpful in preventing loss of life, and sometimes...
Recently, asbestos has been identified as a highly toxic mineral that may be responsible for mesothelioma cancer. These news has prompted many countries form banning asbestos from home building practices. Nonetheless, asbestos was once applauded for being a highly heat resistant material found in chimney...
low difficulty
low difficulty
If spiders regularly appear in your home, it's time to take steps to prevent the presence of these insects and their feared bites. If you do not want to use a commercial product, you can make your own repellent solution to get rid of them and that will be safe for the family. In spider legs there is...
Have you ever wondered when to use the oven fan? Mostly known for its functionality, make sure you have it on when you roast or bake your food in the oven. The advantage is that it can give your dishes a very good finish. Its symbol on most ovens corresponds to a black circle with three little fan blades...
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Humans have invaded natural spaces to such an extent that some species now live among us, which at times can become a problem, as in the case of swallow's nests. A swallow's nest on our balcony, terrace or window of our room can be very annoying for us. However, when thinking about removing them, the...
medium difficulty
medium difficulty
Before filling your house with pleasant scents, you need to neutralize bad odors. Some parts of the house can smell really unpleasant, such as the toilet or the sink. Do you need some help? In that case, don't miss our OneHowTo tips on how to clean a smelly sink.
You may have noticed how in some places tap water tastes sour or bitter and perhaps how you may need more soap to clean your clothes in some countries. An easy pH level test can be employed to test if water is soft or hard. It is important to know the pH level of your drinking water as it isn’t optimal...
low difficulty
low difficulty
Fleas are parasites that feed on human and animal blood in order to live. Having fleas at home causes discomfort for the entire family, because fleas bite humans and pets. Fleas bites cause much despair because most people don't know how to get rid of them. You might be wondering 'why are there fleas in...
medium difficulty
Fleas are a problem in many households, especially those with gardens and in cases where our pets live with us. We must be cautious and prevent our home from becoming infested with fleas that can attack us with their annoying bites and hidden diseases.
There are several solutions to prevent this from happening...
Keep insects away from your home by exploiting the properties of some of the products you already have around the house. Whether you want to take care of your garden and prevent plagues of pests on your plants or you want to deter them from coming into the house, the options we show you next will help...
Tired of pigeons perching on your roof and leaving a mess everywhere? These animals are popularly known as "rats with wings" because they may carry parasites that can infect humans. It is therefore advisable that you keep them away from your home.
There are some tactics that may help prevent these birds...
low difficulty
low difficulty
If you live in a house in the countryside you may find yourself with the constant presence of lizards on the walls, both inside and outside the house. While they are necessary and useful to eliminate mosquitoes, as they feed on them, they can also cause a lot trouble should their numbers increase and...
medium difficulty
If you have a convection oven but you are not sure how to use it you must know that it has several differences from a traditional oven. For example, the traditional kitchen oven cooks our dishes from bottom to top, as it has heaters located on both the top and bottom and this causes some areas to remain...
No one wants mosquitoes in their surroundings, and there is a plethora of store-bought products that you can use to get rid of mosquitoes. But most of them are chemical based, and are harmful for the environment too. So, instead of using these chemical based mosquito repellents in your house, plant some...
low difficulty
The Asian tiger mosquito is an insect that acts as a disease transmitter. They are native to tropical areas of Southeast Asia, but in recent years have spread to parts of southern Europe - especially areas of the Iberian Peninsula since 2004. To prevent their proliferation, it is important that you take...
low difficulty
Power cuts don't happen on a daily basis but you should feel prepared so you can avoid problems at home in any case. Everyone has endured this temporary inconvenience at home at some point. Are you clear as to how you should deal with a possible power cut? OneHowTo offers you some tips to help you solve...
low difficulty
One of the most frequent pests to invade the home are cockroaches, insects that slip in through the pipes and tubes and can live in areas such as walls. Although they are hard to kill and control, the truth is that there are some ways to stop them from sneaking into your home and end up in the most unwanted...
low difficulty
Ants can end up destroying your beautiful garden as they are small insects that have such a high degree of mobility and agility that they can completely destroy your plants. This is done through the constructing of internal tunnels around their roots, which prevents water and nutrients from properly reaching...
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Do you have an electric oven but do not know how to use it? Some advantages of this appliance which is smaller than a traditional oven is that it preheats quickly and can reach a temperature of 260°C (500°F). Also, this oven is cheaper than a conventional one and so will help you save some money. Furthermore,...
A washing machine is a basic appliance in any modern home. Its utility and regularity save us all time thus making it essential to improve our quality of life, so it is convenient to care for this machine. However, we are not always aware of the vulnerability of this device and do not treat it the right...
Don’t treat your refrigerator as a closet for keeping food. In reality, it is a high-tech device in which you can keep your snacks, meals and condiments in optimum conditions. Your fridge has different compartments, and each one is designed to serve some specific purpose. Each compartment has a different...
medium difficulty
Kitchen professionals adore using gas ovens when preparing their dishes. This is because they work at high temperatures and cook food quickly. On the other hand, they tend to behave in a more uneven and imprecise manner, which sometimes makes them difficult to use if you're not a great cook. What's more,...
Although 70% of our Earth is water, only a minor percentage of it can be applied for household use. Governments are continuously dealing with water shortage issues to serve the masses. Cutting back on the use of water is important to conserve water, but there can be ways with which you can collect water...
low difficulty
Ants are industrious and fascinating creatures. With rare exception (such as carpenter ants), they will not cause structural damage to your house. Some can infest food, but not always. Unfortunately, they are a pest, taking food, infesting parts of your home and even attracting other pests. They are...
low difficulty
The freezer is a place where we store food for a very long time. Therefore, it is easy to forget what you've stored inside and these foods can leak or leave food debris in the drawers. It is important to clean the freezer, to ensure that the space in which we store our food is in the best state possible....
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