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DIY Home Improvement Projects – Do It Yourself Home Repair Guides - Family Handyman. Transform Your Digs into a Home of the Future, DIY-Style. For door locks, I went with the medium-tech approach: electronic keypad locks.

Transform Your Digs into a Home of the Future, DIY-Style

Schlage, for example, makes a line of electronic keypad locks that can generally fit into existing door lock holes. For me, it was a simple matter of unscrew/remove old lock, screw in/install new lock, and program new lock. However, possible downsides include (this is for the Schlage electronic deadbolt that I use): * The visible parts of the locks are a bit big/wide.

In my case, whereas the visible parts of the old lock fit completely on a flat part of the door, the visible part of the new lock would slightly overhang past the end of the flat part, onto a beveled part of the door. . * It's a keypad: if someone sees you enter your combination, you're screwed. . * Unlocking with a key is slightly funky: insert key while holding handle, turn key 90 degrees without turning handle, push key in, turn handle to lock/unlock. Simple Test to Determine If You're Using Too Much Laundry Detergent. When it comes to laundry detergent, the phrase "Too much of a good thing" rings ever so true. If you use too much, you'll shorten the life of your laundry. It can make your laundry look dull and dingy, and feel stiff and rough. Use too much laundry detergent and the residue will accumulate over time and damage your washing machine. The accumulation can also cause mold and mildew to form in the machine.

Here is a simple test to determine if you're using too much laundry detergent: First- Place 4 to 6 laundered bath towels in a front-loading washing machine. Second- Start the machine on a regular wash cycle. Third- To remove excess detergent from your laundry, you'll need to wash it 1 or 2 times in water alone. How to Put a Movie Theater in Your Home on the Cheap. Great Post! I did a setup in 2009 in my largish garage for about $1000 Aussie. That included ... 1. A $400 xga projector from ebay, (like the article says, resolution isn't everything) 2. 3. 4. $ 150 on three big couches from ebay 5. $65 on a massive old window airconditioner from ebay - total bargain but a licence to spend money on electricity!

6. I had an old amp and some nice old studio monitor speakers with really long cables. So, I had the computer and amp on shelves beside the main couch and could have the KB in my lap and the mouse sitting on the right hand arm rest - simple but comfortable and effective. For a lot of people (including several who were laughing at me as I made the screen), until you've seen something like this in action you don't realise how awesome it is ...

How I Built the Media Center of My Dreams for Under $500. Clean a Jetted Bathtub. Protect Wall and Door Fixtures from Paint with Aluminum Foil. Paint a Room Overview. 10 Quick Home Maintenance Tips. Home maintenance isn't restricted to repairs. In fact, certain tasks--when performed regularly--may actually prevent things from breaking in the first place. But when things do go wrong (and it's inevitable that they do), we have some backup plans that you can try before you grab the phone to call for pro. Appliances and plumbing are the most frequent offenders, but they also often can be the simplest to care for. From the gutters to the living room carpet, there's a reliable method for keeping every part of your home clean, safe, and well maintained.

The quickest fix is to not have the problem in the first place. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Cleaning your gutters is the chore you abhor. THE QUICK FIX Make gutter cleaning easier--and safer (no ladder required)--with a long spray wand made from a 1/2-in. How To Clean Your Dishwasher. Previous image Next image It might sound unnecessary to clean the actual dishwasher, but it is a necessary evil if you want your dishwasher to run efficiently. Not to mention, your dishes will be cleaner and your dishwasher will smell fresher, too! What You Need Distilled white vinegarBaking SodaMicrofiber cloths or soft ragsToothbrushStainless steel or multipurpose cleaner Instructions.

How to Know the Finish of My Hardwood Floors. How to Clean and Refinish a Wood Deck. Then this is the tutorial you want. A beautifully refinished wood deck not only looks great, protects and extends the life of the wood but it may also help improve the resale value of your home and allow it to sell faster (if that is a goal). Refinishing a wood deck involves some basic steps such as: Deck InspectionDeck CleaningPower Washing (deep cleaning)SandingStaining and SealingWaste Disposal In this tutorial I'll walk you through the steps involved in a professional looking deck refinishing job that you will be able to complete yourself.

In a weekend or two you can transform a drab tired old wood deck into a vibrant beautiful entertainment area ready for a celebration barbecue! Ten Tips for Painting Your Home.