Hardwood flooring3/4-inch-thick boards of solid hardwood cut from a treeis undoubtedly a quality material. But this does not mean that you should automatically discount laminate flooring. Even that similarity comes with its own difference: Both materials look like wood when viewed from a distance. The Spruce / Margot Cavin Solid hardwood looks like wood at any distance, far or near. But laminate flooring’s wood-like appearance degrades the closer you view it....

Tip A good landscape design includeshardscapeand softscape elements. Hardscape elements are non-living items such as rocks, walls,patios, arbors, or water features. Softscape refers to the living elements, such as gardens, lawns, shrubs, and trees. Elenathewise / Getty Images There should be a transition of taller trees between the house and the wall, creating gradual change. For instance, small trees flanking a driveway or an entrance should have the same form to create unity....

But, you’ll want to carefully choose the plants thatwill go near a swimming poolor hot tub. Many succulents don’t have spines, or if they do, they can be small. Larger succulents with spines can be planted at the back of a border or raised bed. Jeremy Samuelson / Image Bank / Getty Images One perfect choice: afruitless olive tree. Plant a few near the pool, patio, along a path, or where you dine outdoors....

Or, you’ve got the option to make DIY container gardens as raised planting beds. Plant Groundcover Groundcover plants are cost-effective because you only need to plant a few. They spread on their own, so fewer plants need to be purchased. The Spruce / Almar Creative Though many make a run at eliminatewild violetsandwhite clover, both are good groundcovers andlawn alternatives. Many perennials, such ashostas, also grow well in the shade....

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault Lath and plaster walls grace many traditional homes. They tend only to be repaired, not built from scratch. Drywall is the wall covering of choice now. The Spruce / Adrienne Legault What Is a Lath and Plaster Wall? The plasterer embeds the lath with three layers of wet plaster. Plaster and lath wall systems are rarely used except to repair existing walls or refurbish historic buildings....

The eye perceives the nearly undetectable amount of blue and sees the fabric as whiter. Commercial bluing products are highly concentrated and must be diluted before use toprevent permanent stainingand streaking. What Is Laundry Bluing? The Spruce / Michele Lee Bluing products in higher concentrations can darken jeans and other blue fabrics. How Do Bluing Products Work? Liquid bluing is a colloidal suspension of a very fine blue iron powder and water....

Today, both natural and synthetic detergent options will keep your laundry looking and smelling fresh. Learn more about basic laundry detergent ingredients and the chemistry that goes into making them work. Basic Detergent Formulas Every detergent manufacturer has secret ingredients and mixtures to produce their specific brands. The Spruce / Michelle Becker Many of these ingredients can be manufactured from plants; others are petroleum-based. The amount of each ingredient and how they are combined affects a detergent’s cleaning ability....

Meet the Expert Want more cleaning and organizing tips? “Warmer temperatures help break down the soap more effectively,” Joun says. It’s always best to under-dose your laundry than to overdo it. Anastasiia Krivenok / Getty Images Joun also advises separating fabrics by density and colors to minimize friction. “If water and detergent cant circulate effectively, your clothes wont get as clean.” He recommends opting forwool dryer ballsdue to their natural softening properties....

blades, or a worn-out spark plug. It’s also one of the most common reasons why lawn mowers start to quickly die. How to Fix It Troubleshooting this error requirescleaning the carburetor. Elena Medoks / Getty Images Sometimes, old fuel can cause a blockage that keeps your mower from staying power. This solution is the easiest: simply drain the tank and refill it with fresh gas. you’re able to identify this cause by either smelling or looking at the gas....

The Lawn Mower Needs a Tune-Up Your lawn mower has been sitting in the garage all winter. Maybe you didn’twinterize your mowerproperly at the end of the fall mowing season. Now it’s spring and you oughta mow, but your mower won’t start up. jsmith / Getty Images It will run for a while, then conk out. This might mean you oughta wipe the fuel cap vent. This feature releases pressure, allowing gas to flow smoothly from the gas tank to the carburetor....

The practice started in Europe to maintain the vast lawns of great estate homes before modern tools were available. Today, advanced knowledge about managing soil and turfgrass provides alternatives for maintaining an attractive lawn. Rolling is still commonly used to level high maintenance, professional playing surfaces like golf greens and soccer fields. Paul Mansfield Photography/Getty Images But whether it’s good for your lawn depends on several factors. What Is Lawn Rolling?...

This year, I’m reframing the season as a time of peak coziness, and you know what? I’m actually something to look forward to more chilly winter days. The Spruce / Kailey Whitman Arbor & Co

A double bed measures 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. A queen-size bed measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Queen beds are the most popular size pick, but double beds are also preferred. The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto A double bed is very comfortable for one adult. Variations of queen mattresses include the split queen and Olympic queen bed. A split queen mattress is a bed of two mattresses, each 30 inches wide by 80 inches long....