“Over time, your home won’t look as bright as it used to be if these spots are neglected,” says Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of the American Cleaning Institute. “Remove the screens and use a soft brush to clean with water and mild dish soap. Then rinse and air dry before replacing.” Try something like the MyLifeUNIT Mesh Screen Cleaner ($14.99; amazon.com). For the windowpanes themselves, use your preferred glass cleaner with a clean cloth or paper towel....

Extra Holidays Look for more reasons to celebrate in December and January—with a few new holidays from around the world. Hannukkah - Hanukkah changes dates every year, but runs from November 28 through December 6 this year, providing eight days to celebrate with small gifts, candle lighting, and special Hannukkah-inspired treats. St. Nicholas Day - St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6 in many countries, but on December 19 in places that follow the Julian calendar, such as Ukraine....

“Chinese Lantern” linen fabric from Lee Jofa and “Abigail” side chairs with draped backs from Hickory Chair establish the palette for the dinner’s design. Mercury glass hurricanes from The Mine and a formal arrangement of flowers in reds and pinks from Ariston Flowers march down the middle of the table. Alexa with designers, from left: Eddie Ross, Thom Filicia, Nick Olsen, Ashley Whittaker, and New York School of Interior Design President David Sprouls....

SUNNY&TED, named after Williams’s children, went to market with the mugs she created two years later in November 2020. Since then, the online shop has grown to include products like ornaments, plates, partyware, pillows, and more. “The inspiration just came from wanting something whimsical and beautiful and classic that represents the Black community,” Williams says. “So our mug has curly hair, eyelashes, and I went through Pantone colors to pick the three shades of brown....

To build an entry arbor yourself, you’ll need a fairly well-equipped toolbox, including a circular saw or a small handsaw and a miter box for making precise cuts. Brush up on some basic carpentry skills before you begin, then follow the instructions below to construct a simple arbor for your front yard. How to Build a Simple Entry Arbor Follow these steps to build an arbor for your home’s front entryway....

While the process of changing a door lock is relatively simple, there are few tips and tricks that will ensure your new front door lock works like a charm for years to come. We’ve laid out a step-by-step guide to changing your door lock, with all the tools and materials you’ll need to get the job done right. How to Choose Your New Door Lock When purchasing a replacement lock, make sure you choose one that matches the specifications of your current lock....

Not sure how to clean an oven or where to even begin? It may seem overwhelming, but the reward of a sparkly clean oven—and the promise of better-tasting food—makes it worth the effort. Luckily, deep cleaning an oven isn’t as scary as you might think. From the simple press of a button to concoctions that melt grease away, here’s everything you need to know about how to clean an oven....

What Is Co-Washing? Co-washing is short for “conditioner-only washing.” It means skipping shampoo and relying solely on conditioner, whether you’re a daily or a weekly washer. Most conditioners contain trace amounts of detergents called cationic surfactants, or “quats” for short. (Some common types that you can find on your conditioner’s ingredient list are cetrimonium and behentrimonium chloride.) When mixed with water, the quats pick up tiny amounts of dirt, leaving unshampooed hair feeling clean, but not too clean (a common beauty mistake to avoid)....

Step 1: Slice Around and Twist Apart Wash your avocado. No, we don’t eat the skin, but according to the FDA, one in five avocado skins can carry harmful bacteria like listeria or salmonella, so go ahead and give them a good rinse before you prep them. Use a knife to make a lengthwise cut around the seed, cutting through the skin and fruit. Holding the avocado in your hands, gently twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate them....

What You Need Branches (real or artificial)Vase (preferably wide-mouthed)Spray paint in a color of your choice Follow These Steps Related Video

Although the arrangement looks free-form, Tanya carefully planned each cubby’s size and position. She built each kitchen cabinet cubby a different size for variety but kept them to either 12 or 16 inches deep to best fit the pieces in her collection. “If one cubby was slightly too big or too small, it would throw off everything,” she says. The entire project took about four days, and Tanya kept costs to $250 by using materials she had....

Stovetop Popcorn Math: ½ cup popcorn kernels will make about 10 cups of popped popcorn. Cover the pan and cook over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally and partially lifting the lid to let steam escape.When the popping slows, remove the pan from the heat and transfer the popcorn to a serving bowl. Add salt and butter, seasoning blends, and/or candy toppers to your popcorn as desired....

Updating doors with all-new hardware can get expensive. But that’s not the only way to change the finish for a more modern look. You can quickly refresh dated brass or basic nickel hardware with just a few coats of spray paint, which typically costs less than $10 a can. By painting instead of replacing your door hardware, you can achieve the exact look you want for a fraction of the cost....

What You Need FurnitureDrop cloth220-grit sandpaper or flexible foam sanding spongePrimerLatex paintRoller frame and rollersPaintbrushesFoam paintbrushes Follow These Steps Related Video

What many people think of as the blooms of bougainvillea aren’t actually blooms at all. The showy paper-like structures are a modified leaf called a bract. These bracts hide the actual flowers inside, which are small and trumpet-shaped in whites and yellows. The showy bracts are typically found on new growth, with the showiest display following their winter dormancy. Normally, you’ll see the best blooms following a dry winter....

Where to Plant Periwinkle It seems like every garden has a tricky dark corner where no grass will grow and perennials fizzle out. Enter periwinkle. This tough-as-nails shade lover seems to look increasingly lush year after year without needing much care. With its vigorous sprawling habit, periwinkle can easily colonize any area. As periwinkle plants grow, they have a knack for laying down roots wherever their stems come in contact with soil....

How to Set a Thanksgiving Table Supplies Needed You’ll need one of every item below for each guest you plan to have at dinner. Placemats or chargersPlatesNapkinsNapkin ringsSilverwareWine glassesWater glassesBowlsBread plates Step-by-Step Directions With a few supplies and these how-to instructions, you can set a beautiful Thanksgiving table. Customize your Thanksgiving table setting with your favorite dishes and decor. Step 1: Plates and Napkins Before even setting down a plate on your Thanksgiving dinner table, consider chargers or placemats....

“Muscle soreness is caused by micro-tears and inflammation in the muscle and is a response to physical stress from exercise,” says Kyle Gonzalez, NSCA, CSCS, CES, FMS level 1, a performance coach at Future, an app that pairs users with a remote fitness coach. “The micro-tears, increased blood flow, and inflammation cause mild swelling, which makes pain receptors more sensitive to movement. Soreness is a natural process, but without the right guidance it can be debilitating and lead to injury....

Before you begin, read through the steps and ensure you have all of the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. We used common household supplies, like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll also want to double-check what cabinet material you’re working with. The difference between wood and laminate, for example, can sometimes be tricky to spot. Consult your cabinet owner’s manual or speak with a cabinet professional if you’re unsure. When to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets We recommend a two-part cabinet cleaning method that incorporates both weekly and seasonal touch-ups to save time and energy....

One or Two Days Store bananas in a paper bag, says Lori Taylor, a produce expert and the founder of theproducemoms.com. As bananas mature, they emit ethylene, a gaseous hormone that quickens ripening. When you contain them in a bag, they’re exposed to more ethylene, so the process goes quicker. Overnight Ripening Add a piece of fruit, like an apple, avocado, or pear, to the bag. These fruits also emit ethylene and will hasten the process....