When it comes to wood furniture maintenance, there are a number of terms that get tossed around, such as dusting, cleaning, waxing, and polishing. To keep wood furniture looking its best, you’ll likely have to tackle all four of these cleaning tasks every now and then. While experts have varying opinions on wood furniture care, the technique you use will depend on the finish of the piece. You should always seek out specific care and cleaning guidelines when purchasing new or old furnishings....

Step 1: Outline Garden Bed Once you’ve decided where to build a new garden bed, mark the plot’s perimeter with spray paint or a sprinkling of flour. Removing the top layer of sod speeds up the process so you could be planting a little sooner, but it’s not necessary. You can just start adding your layers right on top of the grass. Step 2: Build Your Layers Spread a layer of newspaper six sheets thick so that the entire outlined space is covered....

Here’s what to consider as you’re planning your backyard shade, and the shelter options you can choose from to create your perfect space. Determining Your Backyard Shade Needs There’s no one-size-fits all option for creating backyard shade. Depending on your backyard setup and your needs, you may opt for multiple shade options, from planting trees to umbrellas to permanent shady structures. Consider these questions before you shop. Why do you want shade?...

Keep reading to learn our advice for how to cut watermelon confidently and safely for all the summer salads, granitas, and agua frescas your heart desires. Spoiler: it’s a lot easier than you think to cut watermelon slices, cubes, and more! Just make sure you have a big, sturdy cutting board and a sharp chef’s knife, and you’re good to go. How to Cut Watermelon Slices With built-in watermelon rind handles, classic triangular slices are a perfect picnic snack....

Because it’s fast, healthy, and easy, grilling is one of our go-to methods for cooking meat when the weather cooperates. When the weather prohibits outdoor cooking, you can use the same cooking times for expert results indoors on a grill pan. There’s no stopping your grilling endeavors—no matter the season or weather. Direct-Heat Grilling Guide Before we go any further, be sure you know how to control grill temperature for direct heat grilling....

What is Chest Acne? As defined by Papri Sarkar, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Newton, Mass., chest acne is often called ‘folliculitis’ because it’s just that: an inflammatory process around the hair follicle. Much like breakouts on your face, there are several types and causes of chest acne. One type is caused by a higher concentration of sweat glands in the skin that become clogged. Another cause can be hair growth, particularly for men....

Christmas Cactus Care Tips With a little TLC, you can easily get a Christmas cactus to thrive and bloom year after year indoors. Light and Temperature Bright but indirect light is best for a Christmas cactus. It can tolerate a little direct light, but avoid direct light during the summer, when the sun’s rays are stronger and can burn the fleshy leaves. “If the stems begin to turn a reddish-purple color, this is an indication that it is receiving too much sun,” says Alfred Palomares, Resident Plant Dad for 1-800-Flowers....

Plant Lavender in Well-Drained Alkaline Soil Most herbs grow best in well-drained soil that easily allows water to pass through it. Lavender might be the most particular in its need for good drainage! Lavender roots need many spaces between soil particles to breathe and grow, so it is well suited to sandy or rocky soil. If your garden has heavy clay soil that retains moisture, lavender roots simply rot and die....

Although there are rabbit-resistant plants, you don’t have to exclusively fill your garden with plants they’ll ignore. Read on to learn how to protect plants from rabbits and send your long-eared visitors (whether jackrabbits or cottontails) looking elsewhere for lunch. Fencing The most reliable way to protect your vegetable garden from rabbits is with fencing. Putting up a fence takes some time and effort, but once it’s done, you’ll have a permanent barrier....

How to Make a Papier-Mâché Pendant Supplies Needed Thin cardboard cereal box Scissors Hot glue gun and hot-glue Bamboo skewers Masking tape Thick cardboard Pendant socket and cord set (we used this one from Color Cord Company) Crafts knife Paintbrush White primer Chalk paint Leafing adhesive Sponge paintbrush Copper leaf Step-by-Step Directions Copper leaf dresses up the inside of these pendant shades. Use a LED bulb for safety. Step 1: Make the Papier-Mâché Paste Heat 2 cups of water and 1 Tbsp....

How to Make a Crispy Pizza Crust The pizza police will not come after you for using store-bought dough. Well, they might…to give you an award for brilliance! The fresh stuff in the refrigerated section and the frozen balls in the freezer aisle are very good and super-convenient. Your favorite pizzeria may also sell dough—just ask. Whatever kind you use, let the dough (thawed if frozen) sit at room temperature for up to an hour before you stretch it into shape, to give the gluten time to relax....

In the end, it comes down to making emotional and financial decisions. Whether you think you know or you need help deciding, these retirement planning and lifestyle experts have a few tips on how to arrive at your decision for where to retire, while factoring everything from the cost of living to local nightlife. And that’s a good starting point, says Dave Hughes, retiree and author of three books on engineering your best retirement lifestyle....

“Overeating during a single meal is not uncommon, especially around the holidays,” says Matthew Bechtold, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Missouri. While eating a giant meal until you’re stuffed can make you feel pretty unpleasant, the good news is that it’s not irreversibly harmful or dangerous. While it’s better to eat in moderation, the body can handle both small and large meals. What’s more, you can trust that the side effects of eating a giant meal will go away in just a few hours....

Fortunately, removing salt stains from shoes is an easy task that doesn’t require specialty cleaning products. It is, however, best not to delay the job of removing road salt from shoes, as long-term exposure can lead to permanent damage to the shoes. Ahead, you’ll find instructions for removing salt stains from leather, suede, and rubber shoes. How to Remove Salt Stains from Leather Shoes Removing salt stains from leather shoes is a simple task, and one that shouldn’t be put off....

Can You Substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar? The answer is not exactly a simple yes or no (apologies!), but more of a “yes, but”… In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So if your recipe calls for one cup white sugar, swap one cup brown sugar. The sweetness level will be exactly the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods....

How to Substitute Whole Wheat Flour for All-Purpose Flour You can replace some but not all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour when baking. Swapping equal amounts results in baked goods that are too dense with an off-putting flavor. Blending whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour will lighten the finished product while adding the nutritional benefits of whole wheat. Try it the next time you make breading for a chicken breast recipe, or thicken a sauce....

To get started, pick up a gallon of whitewash stain and two quarts of gray paint. The stain will be the floor’s core color; the paint adds texture and depth. Check out our easy-to-follow steps below to see how it’s done. This weekend project is worth the effort—and when you see the dramatic results, we’re confident you’ll agree. Related Video

Just like the name suggests, a skincare diary is a place where you keep track of how your skin looks and feels, along with what products you are using on a daily basis. It’s a simple yet brilliant idea—if we invest so much money and energy in our beauty routine, shouldn’t we take the time to reflect on what is and isn’t working? Why You Should Keep a Diary Julie Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Russak Dermatology in New York City, says she encourages her patients to keep a diary, especially if they suffer from conditions like acne or rosacea that can be caused by various reasons....

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