The Spruce / Jacob Fox Your desire to entertain is there, but not the money. While you don’t always need a theme, creating one is fun and can be an ice breaker. Borrow decorations from a friend or family member. The Spruce / Jacob Fox Remember who loaned you which items and return them in good condition soon after the party is over. Replace anything that gets damaged. You don’t have to get super-fancy or be the best designer to add some dazzle to your party....

RHJ / Getty Images Cockroaches are common household pests. While they are notoriously unwelcomed guests, several other insects share similar features. It is easy to be confused, as their doppelgangers are equally unpleasant. RHJ / Getty Images Yet, to get rid of them for good, proper identification is critical to exterminate any infestations. There are some of the most common bugs that look like cockroaches but actually aren’t. Heres how to differentiate them and keep your home pest-free....

Because curling is often a gradual process, the quicker you take corrective action, the better. It usually starts with the lower leaves curling upwards, then rolling inwards lengthwise. The leaves also become thick and leathery but typically remain green. JJGouin / Getty Images Regardless of your climate, alwayskeep tomato plants well-watered. Once outdoors, tomato plants will need at least 1 inch of water each week from rainfall or watering. Watering should be done slowly and deeply, so the plants form deep roots....

Meet the Expert Justin Hancockis a horticulturist with Costa Farms. Want more gardening tips? And like most citrus, it has delightfully fragrant flowers. Kilito Chan / Getty Images Varieties like Owari Satsuma and Tango are particularly prized for indoor growing. Not to mention, these plants are also self-fertile, so youll only need one tree to grow fruit. This is easily prevented by placing a humidifier near your plant and raising humidity levels to around 50-70%....

That’s wherecleaning hackscome inthey’re genius, thinking-outside-the-box ways to get things done efficiently. And who better to teach us about cleaning hacks than the people whoteach us everything: our parents. We asked oureditors for the top cleaning hacksthey learned from their parents and still use today. The Spruce / Jason Donnelly The Spruce / Tessa Cooper The Spruce / Sanja Kostic The Spruce / Ana Cadena The Spruce / Sarah Crowley...

Below, they speak to best practices that will ensure your home stays as fresh and hygienic as possible. In case you weren’t aware, sponges are not meant to be used for weeks on end. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Polina Lebed / Getty Images However, this practice is definitely not advised. “Your toilet brush might be spreading more germs than its cleaning,” Ford says. For the most hygienic approach, be sure toreplace your toilet brushonce every six months, Ford suggests....

Maite Granda Minimalism and maximalism can feel like complete strangers on the style spectrum. The thought of punchy prints and loud colors might make minimalists cringe, and vice versa for maximalists. However, theres more middle ground between the two schools of design than you would think. Maite Granda And the same goes for maximalists. Here are the design rules they agree on. This is a principle Beitler uses in her own living space....

Want more design inspiration? “The wallpaper ended up being the perfect pop of color and pattern,” Cousin says. “I focused my decoration planning mainly on trying to hide the boring grey walls,” Sapp shares. Unsplash “I love butterflies because my late grandmother also loved them. Adding them to the walls helped me remember her but also covered up the mundane wall color.” @victorcaastel/ Instagram @jocelyn.kreis/ Instagram @miriamjoycousin/ Instagram @designsbyadds/ Instagram...

He notes that this technique is especially helpful when addressing the outside and bottom of pans. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Before running an empty cycle with hot water, add a cup of Epsom salt to your machine. inewsistock / Getty Images Allow your machine to fill up with water and then add a cup of white vinegar, Taylor says. Then, rinse it thoroughly which will make your mug sparkling clean....

/ Getty Images Despite beinga low-maintenance flowering houseplant, the Christmas cactus can face plenty of problems. But identifying these issues is one thing, treating them is another. Solution To fix this problem, check the soil. Евгения Матвеец / Getty Images If its dry, water your Christmas cacti thoroughly, allowing excess water to drain. But remember, your cactus is still a desert plant, so you dont want to overwater it. Next, avoid drafts or abrupt changes in temperature to perk up the plants leaves once more....

However, dry cloths actually arent all that effective. Instead, a little bit of moisture can go a long way. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? The Spruce / Brie Goldman But its not actually neededand can cause unwelcome side effects. I never use it. This buildup prevents soap and water from penetrating fabrics, trapping dirt and oils. Westend61 / Getty Images Duarte notes that fabric softener can also make clothing retain odorsand become more flammable....

But some rules are made to be broken. The idea is to create a sense of cohesion, but often, this approach just leads to boredom. Want more design inspiration? Design byEmily Henderson Design/ Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp for EHD This can create an intimate, dramatic effect, making small spaces feel cozy rather than cramped. But they say this is one rule they love to break by following the trends. We change up our home constantly, the duo says....

However, adhering to such myths may be ruining your gardening experience. Learn about seven common gardening myths to kick this year. Want more gardening tips? beekeepx / Getty Images Indeed, vegetables such as winter squashdotake up a lot of space. In each case, one answer is toinstall a raised bed. But these animals are unlikely to cause you problems. David Q. Cavagnaro / Getty Images Let experience guide you and make adjustments along the way....