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Some older dishwashers have self-cleaning filters, which are similar to garbage disposals. However, the majority of modern dishwashers, including the most common models from Whirlpool, GE, KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Samsung, Bosch, Kenmore, and LG, have manual dishwasher filters that you have to remove and clean yourself. If you’re unsure of your dishwasher filter type, check your owner’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website. Cleaning your dishwasher filter is an easy maintenance task that will help your appliance’s performance....

Daniel McCurry, owner of Father Nature Landscapes in Birmingham, Alabama, says you should discard the nectar and clean the feeder anytime the liquid in it appears cloudy or milky. “The higher the humidity, the faster [the nectar] goes bad for them,” McCurry explains. “When it becomes milky, it makes it taste funky for the birds, and they’ll move on to someone else’s garden.” Plus, “the mold that can grow in the hummingbird’s water can cause them to get a fungal infection,” he adds....

The most important thing to know is that the best way to clean a pizza stone does not involve soap and water. Common pizza stone materials, like ceramics and cordierite stone, are naturally porous, meaning soap could become a permanent part of your pizza flavoring if absorbed into the pizza stone. Similarly, you shouldn’t soak a pizza stone in water; the porous material will absorb the moisture, ultimately negating the crust-crisping characteristics of the pizza stone....

How to Clean and Disinfect a Kitchen Sponge Here are five ways to clean a kitchen sponge, including high heat, natural ingredients, and more. How to Clean a Sponge with Vinegar If you’re looking for an inexpensive, non-harmful, and biodegradable disinfectant, turn to vinegar. It can be used to clean your microwave, sink drains, showerhead, and, you guessed it, your grimy kitchen sponge. What You Need VinegarWarm water Step 1: Soak Sponge Soak sponge in full-strength vinegar for 5 minutes....

The best way to clean shoes varies depending on the material. Most footwear can be cleaned using a solution of mild dish soap and water, but certain types of shoes, including mesh sneakers and suede shoes, require special care to avoid damaging the material. We’ll walk you through how to use simple household items, such as baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and a toothbrush, to remove grime and discoloration from your footwear....

How to Clean Painted Walls The first thing you should consider when washing painted walls is the finish. If needed, reference our handy guide to paint finishes. Whether the finish is glossy or flat will determine how scrubbing will affect the look of the wall. How to Clean Walls with Flat Paint Duller paint finishes, including flat, satin, and eggshell finishes, are less durable when it comes to cleaning. Do not use harsh chemicals or degreasers when cleaning flat painted walls....

Skillet-Cooked Steak, Step-by-Step First, be sure you’re using a proper skillet. Use one that’s heavy and the right size for the amount of steak you’re cooking. A skillet that’s too large will cause the pan juices to burn. (These directions also apply to how to cook steak in a cast-iron skillet.) Add the steaks to the hot skillet and reduce the heat to medium.Do not add any liquid and do not cover the skillet—you don’t want to steam the steaks....

How to Cook Steak in the Oven Before we start cooking, you’ll need to choose the cut of steak to suit your recipe. Seek out these cuts when broiling steak in the oven: FlankStripTop sirloinTri-tip (bottom sirloin)TenderloinPorterhouseT-boneRibeye Test Kitchen Tip: For melt-in-your-mouth texture, look for steaks with a fresh pink/red color with abundant marbling (stripes of fat in the meat). Some fat around the exterior of beef cuts is good, but trim any large pieces surrounding the meat....

The process is easy: Grab a cyanotype kit (which typically comes with sun-sensitive paper) and place objects on top of the paper in a decorative pattern. Once exposed to sunlight, the paper will change colors only where the sun hits it—leaving you with a monochromatic art print after you remove the objects on the paper. Plants, shells, rocks, and pinecones are all good sun print candidates. Only the shadows cast by objects will appear, so opacity, size, and shape are key....

Put your fence on a regular maintenance schedule and check the support structure first, repairing or replacing any damaged posts and rails. Grab each post at the top and put pressure on it from all sides. If it’s properly seated in the ground, it should move little or not at all. Movement may signify rot at the base and the need for replacement. Do the same for the rails, and repair them if necessary....

Before you get started, it’s important to determine whether the peeling paint contains lead. If your home was built prior to 1978, it could have lead-based paint, which can pose serious health risks, especially for children. You can find testing kits at hardware stores, but to be sure, hire a certified company to collect chips and send them to a lab for testing. If you think your home has lead-based paint, do not try to fix the peeling paint yourself....

How to Freeze Tofu Yes, freezing tofu is an extra step you’ll need to plan for, but I promise it’s worth it. Since tofu is stored in water, ice crystals form, making porous, sponge-like holes in the block (see photo above). This allows for a chewier texture and the pockets can now absorb more flavor from your tofu marinade or seasonings added. There are a few different ways to freeze tofu, but here are the most popular methods:...

Hallmarks of Handcraft With this style, understand that it’s all about imperfection. Be prepared to embrace the irregular — the handcrafted world is not polished or matchy-matchy. Dye lots may differ and colors or patterns might not quite align, even among like items in a set. And that is perfectly OK, in fact it is to be desired, to help foster that feeling of uniqueness. Materials That Matter Wood, stone, metal, leather, clay, glass and other authentic materials that yield and transform through the work of human hands are at the heart of handcrafted style....

Editor’s tip: Make these ornaments without hanging loops (as shown) to use as package decorations. Draw a mitten shape onto a piece of paper; cut out. Use the pattern to cut the top mitten layer from wool felt.

Goldilocks Potatoes

Whichever style you prefer, we’ll show you how to use items from around the house, natural elements, and simple DIY projects to create beautiful fall mantel decor that won’t strain your budget. 1. Colorful Fall Fireplace Decor Gather an assortment of accessories to create a colorful, layered display on your mantel. This arrangement includes mini pumpkins, gourds, branches with acorns, seasonal flowers, and taper candles in various colors. Varying the sizes and shapes of your fall mantel decor creates a more visually exciting effect....

Indoor Easter Games for Kids You don’t need a sunny day or a big backyard to play these fun Easter games. Gather the family around the kitchen table and start playing. Pin the Tail on the Bunny This Easter day game for kids is just like the classic pin the tail on the donkey, except you’ll use cotton balls with tape on them rather than a donkey tail. Egg Bowling This traditional Easter game for kids calls for one dyed hard-boiled egg and one white hard-boiled egg....

1. Overseed bermudagrass. There are several species of warm-season turf grasses but not all are good candidates for overseeding. Researchers have found that bermudagrass tolerates overseeding best and with the fewest long-term side effects. Resist overseeding a lawn made up of centipedgegrass, zoysiagrass, or St. Augustinegrass. These species don’t appreciate the extra irrigation and fertilization that the temporary grass will require. 2. Choose annual ryegrass. There are two types of ryegrass used for overseeding: annual and perennial....