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Follow our instructions on how to clean a fireplace to clear away harmful buildup and ensure you’re ready for cozy nights around the fire. We’ll also walk you through how to inspect a fireplace for damage, tips for removing creosote buildup, and what to know about cleaning a chimney. A bit of fireplace maintenance can help keep your home safe and tidy all season long. Before Getting Started Wait 24 hours after your last fire before cleaning a fireplace to ensure it’s completely cool....

By dividing your chore list into quick, efficient tasks, you can cover all your bedroom bases, including surfaces, linens, and even your floors. This bedroom cleaning checklist helps you get the job done quickly and efficiently, meaning you can spend more time relaxing and less time stressing about the mess. Use this deep-cleaning checklist to create a schedule that works for you. As a general rule of thumb, aim to complete this list of cleaning tasks about once a week....

Many tropical container plants or bulbs can be brought inside during the winter if you want to save them. To make tropical planters easier to relocate, plant them in lightweight resin containers or pots with casters on the bottom. The tubers of cannas, caladiums, dahlias, and sweet potato vines can be dug up in the fall and stored indoors in a cool, dry place until spring. Tips For Planting Fail-Proof Combos Be sure to choose the right combination of flowers and pair them with a container in an appropriate size....

The holiday begins at midnight on October 31 and painted pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns have become a popular way to display the iconic design. If carving a sugar skull pumpkin stencil seems like a daunting task, you can create part of the design with paint instead. Traditionally, bright colors are used because it’s believed that they symbolize an individual’s vibrant life. Use our free stencil to transform a faux pumpkin into a gorgeous decor piece for your celebration—we’ll show you which basic shapes to carve and show you how to detail the rest with dramatic paint colors....

Editor’s Tip: Always call your local utility companies and get your yard marked before you start digging.

How to Dye Easter Eggs with Food Coloring Supplies Needed WaterVinegarSmall bowlsMetal spoonHard-boiled eggsRubber gloves Step-by-Step Directions Follow these simple how-to instructions to make homemade Easter egg dye. You should be able to color a dozen eggs in under 15 minutes. Step 1: Hard-Boil Eggs Before you can dye Easter eggs, you’ll have to cook them. Learn how to hard-boil eggs in a pan on a stove, or you can steam your eggs instead (it’s faster!...

A 6-foot-wide closet opening is the most common, but you can install closet doors in an opening of just about any width. Sets of bifolds are available in a variety of widths (in multiples of 2 inches) and bypass doors can be cut to any width desired. The standard height is 80 inches (the same as for an entry door). If you have an older home with 9- or 10-foot ceilings, this can leave you with unusable space above the doors....

Select the straightest studs you can find for framing; you will avoid problems later. Check each stud for a crown—a slight curve along its length—and install all the studs with the crowns facing the same direction. Build the wall with a bottom plate running across the doorway. This keeps the entire wall in one plane as you install it. Then you can cut the bottom plate out after the wall is installed....

How to Control Creeping Charlie If you’ve spotted creeping charlie early, repeated hand-weeding is an option, but you must remove and destroy every bit of the roots. Don’t add this plant to the compost bin because it could very well take root there. It’s better to bag it for a yard waste pick up. If creeping charlie has spread throughout a large area, it can be difficult to control through hand weeding alone....

In other words, having healthy habits and stress management practices will be your best bet in boosting immunity. “We can really boost our immunity through diet alone. Consistent intake of the micronutrients that help our bodies fight disease, is a natural solution to infection prevention,” says Cassie Majestic, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California. “Micronutrients, or vitamins and minerals, are vital to disease-prevention and health development....

“Weighted blankets can create a sense of comfort and possibly facilitate deeper sleep in people who like the feeling–often compared to being swaddled,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, owner of SiliconPsych and BrainFoodMD. When shopping for weighted blankets, look at the weight, material, fill, and care as these factors can impact the comfort and durability. To create this list of the best weighted blankets, we researched the category and tested 35 blankets for two days....

Buy It: Wilton Ultra Bake Professional 24 Cup Nonstick Mini Muffin Pan ($13, Target) Buy It: NutriBullet Blender Combo ($150, NutriBullet)

1. Employ Natural Elements as Living Room Decor Plants add a sculptural element to a room, and you can often find low-maintenance varieties for fairly affordable prices. Look for interesting leaf shapes or colorful foliage to bring a little extra life to your living room. Try placing a potted plant on your coffee table to serve as a centerpiece, or fill an empty corner with a hanging plant. If your living room lacks natural light or you’re not confident with your plant care abilities, go for realistic-looking faux plants instead....

Of course, even though trick-or-treating is back, you don’t have to participate if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. That might not be a popular decision with the little ones, but fortunately, we’ve got tons of alternative ideas that are just as fun—and still, involve plenty of candy! Our biggest recommendation is to keep things as normal as possible: Let the kids decide what they want to be and make a big deal about dressing up on Halloween....

Here’s a hint: Site your garden where you can easily access it. Harvesting fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs is less burdensome if you can quickly dash out and grab what you need (especially while you’re cooking) instead of having to trek across the yard.

Buy It: Loaf Pan Set of 2 ($35, Williams Sonoma) Buy It: Wilton 9x13-Inch Baking Pan ($13, Walmart) Test Kitchen Tip: Can’t find fresh figs? Use dried figs and rehydrate them in apple juice or brandy before using them as directed in the recipe. Buy It: Lodge Dutch Oven ($100, Target)

For a delightfully scary look, hang a wreath covered in creepy crawly faux bugs, or opt for a pretty farmhouse-style wreath decorated with orange flowers and a seasonal phrase. Whether your holiday decorating style is scary or sophisticated, we have plenty of Halloween door decoration ideas that will easily make your home the most festive on the block.

Bear in mind that a hot tub full of water could weigh 2 tons, so it will need a foundation independent of the deck’s foundation.

“Keep it real: Staging is the intersection of dreaming and livability,” says Misty Soldwisch, broker and owner at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Innovations in Indianola, Iowa. “The goal is to be aspirational, but in a way where potential buyers feel comfortable.” Take it from the experts—follow these top tips for successful home staging to help your home shine to potential buyers. 1. Start with Curb Appeal Selling your home begins with listing photos, but once a potential buyer arrives, you want the entrance and exterior of your home to invite them in....