Does Vinegar Kill Flies? We Asked Pro Cleaners and They Said to Try This Instead

Vinegaris among many versatile solutions that can be used for everything from removing stains to reviving cut flowers. But when it comes to killing pests, is vinegar the ideal tool? Plus, these pest control pros share their go-to methods forgetting rid of flies in your home. Photo by Katkami / Getty Images Meet the Expert Does Vinegar Kill Flies? While vinegar can kill flies, it doesn’t do so in the way you might expect....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 184 words · Jessica Ruiz

Does Vinegar Kill Mold? (DIY Spray Instructions)

Mold vs. Mildew Mildew refers to specific types of fungus, including some types of mold. Warning Never mix bleach and vinegarwhen cleaning. Combined, bleach and vinegar form a potentially lethal chlorine gas with a pungent smell. The Spruce / Cristina Tudor Immediately leave the area, go outside, and breathe fresh air. Apply the Vinegar Pour undiluted vinegar into a spray bottle and label it. Spray the moldy surface. The Spruce / Cristina Tudor...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 356 words · Natalie Baker

Does Your Hydrangea Have Brown Spots? 3 Tips to Try for a Quick Fix

Brown spots on hydrangea leaves and flowers are rarely fatal to hydrangea plants. The good news is that hydrangea spots can usually be fixed. But first, youll need to identify exactly whats causing those spots to begin with. Spurekar / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Leaf spot is particularly common in hydrangeas. When this occurs, hydrangea roots start to die and the plants leaves may wilt and develop dark splotches....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 142 words · James Stark

Does Your Jade Plant Flower? Here's How to Make It Bloom

The tropical succulent is slow-growing and easy to care foras long as it isn’t exposed to cold temperatures. Getting them to bloom isn’t always easy, however. Here’s what you gotta know about how to get a jade plant to bloom indoors. Andrey Nikitin / Getty Images Do Jade Plants Flower? Jade plants, sometimes called money plants, can grow for many years without ever flowering. If you want your jade plant to produce flowers, you should probably neglect it a bit....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 188 words · Raymond Jones

Dog Repellents: The Best Methods to Keep Dogs Out of Your Yard

Dog urine can damage grass and other plants. You may have some plants in your landscape that are toxic to dogs. The right product for you depends on your budget and the time you want to spend on it. The Spruce / Almar Creative A good DIY dog repellent spray is one that is safe for the dogs and low cost for you. Dogs don’t like the strong smell of vinegar and thus will be deterred by it....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 531 words · Kristina Torres

Doing a Lot of Baking This Holiday Season? 6 Ways to Reuse Leftover Eggshells

But if you’re starting with raw eggs, you’ll want to sanitize those shells before proceeding. She has used it with great success to remove stains from coffee mugs. Its good for getting grease and gunk off a metal pan without scratching the surface, Holguin says. Tim Grist Photography / Getty Images Ensure you do a spot test first to check that you won’t harm the surface by doing so. Want more cleaning and organizing tips?...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 133 words · Kimberly Chen

Don't Break the Bank—We Asked Designers Where to Save or Splurge in Your First Home

Interior Impressions Decorating your first home is an exciting time, but it can also be expensive. But how to know whats best? Mosher suggests choosing something fun and bold in a small detail like a doormat. Interior Impressions But Mosher suggests pausing, assessing, and starting small. Think:shoe racks, sideboards, and coat hooks. Want more design inspiration? Amy Leferink atInterior Impressions/ Photo by Mackenzie Merrill Photography Of course, laying new floors can be incredibly costly....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 262 words · Jeffrey Smith

Don't Buy the Wrong Showerhead Again—10 Types You Should Know

It’s also an opportunity to tailor your shower experience to your exact preferences. Since you could’t take showerheads for a test drive, we’ve broken down 10 showerhead options for you. Want more home reno project tips and inspiration? Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images Fixed Showerheads Fixed showerheads are what you likely picture when you imagine a traditional showerhead. They’re mounted on the wall in a fixed position (hence the name) approximately 80 inches high....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 221 words · William Montoya

Don't Call a Pro Yet—You Can Actually Fix These Home Problems Yourself, We Promise

To learn more tips for settling into a new space,check out our full guide here. Its never a good idea to DIY something youre not confident about. There areseveral easy hacks to usewhen hanging pictures. The Spruce / Margot Cavin Want more home reno project tips and inspiration? She knows this from experience and shared her tips. Much like weeding, mulching also falls under Singletons too-easy-to-outsource umbrella. Photo byCalimia Home/ Photo by Jeanne Canto...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 189 words · David Flynn

Don't Carve Pumpkins Before This Date If You Want Them to Look Good on Halloween

Meet the Expert Mary Jane Dufordis a master gardener and the founder of Home for the Harvest. When Should You Carve Pumpkins for Halloween? Want more gardening tips? Melanie DeFazio/ Stocksy Knowing your climate is especially important if you keep jack-o'-lanterns on the porch or backyard. Duford suggests the following: Danil Akhvatkin / Unsplash Carving a pumpkin is fun, but be sure to keep your wits about you. Don’t ruin Halloween by getting careless safety-wise....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 80 words · Jonathan Hernandez

Don't Demo Your '90s Wood Kitchen—It Might Be Back in Style, According to Designers

Design byEmily Henderson/ Photo By Kaitlin Green After years ofall-white kitchensand minimalist spaces, weve noticed a surprising trend. If this sounds like your kitchen, this is great news. We connected with a few design pros who know kitchens to ask for their advice. Design byEmily Henderson/ Photo By Kaitlin Green Are Wooden Cabinets Really Back? They’re also sturdy, largely temperature-resistant, andeasy to clean, she adds. Want more design inspiration? @amberpiercedesigns/ Instagram...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 226 words · Joseph Watson

Don't Fall for a Fake Antique—Pros Share 6 Smart Ways to Spot Real From Fake

Know for certain it’s the real deal every time. To learn more expert-backed tips for scoring amazing finds,check out our full guide here. Here, we share the six best tips you should use on your next shopping trip. The Spruce / Ashley Poskin Meet the Expert What Is an Antique? Antiques are items (furniture, decor, art paintings, etc.) that are over 100 years old. The Spruce / Grace Canaan They are often confused with vintage pieces, which are items that are less than 100 years old....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 202 words · Casey Warren

Don't Forget About Your Summer Garden Yet—9 Tips to Keep It Thriving Into Fall

you could fertilize lightly, but it’s best to not use a full software. Want more gardening tips? In doing so, you could make room for your fall crops! mikroman6 / Getty Images Prune It’s essential to prune off any dead or diseased plants from your garden. Dig up any bulbs using a shovel and be extra careful not to damage them in the process. Then simply trim the stems and store them over the wintertime....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 103 words · Thomas Cox