Home Ideas

Calling all home renovation enthusiasts, weekend DIY-ers, and paint project-tacklers! Whether you’re taking on a full fixer upper or just making a small room upgrade, we know home reno projects are no easy feat. We have great news—we’re bringing in a crew of experts to help you along on your makeover journey. We’ve teamed up with our partners-in-design Country Living for a (FREE!) two-day celebration of all things DIY and home improvement, and you’re invited! 🎉 Join us May 12-13 for the first ever Makeover Takeover Renovation Summit, presented by Trex, PERGO, and Dutch Boy. The event features workshops and special appearances from familiar faces like Holly Williams, Brian Patrick Flynn, Max Humphrey, and The Property Brothers, who’ll answer all your reno questions and so much more. Registration is open NOW! Grab your toolkits and paintbrushes, and click the link below for alllll the nitty gritty details! 🛠️REGISTER HERE

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Cookout season is just a few short weeks away, and if your gas or charcoal grill is still covered with the remnants of last year’s cheeseburgers and Hawaiian chicken, now’s the perfect time to give it a refresh as part of your spring cleaning routine. These speedy tips from the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab come from years of testing outdoor grills as well as the cleaners and tools you need to keep them working well (and your food tasting great). Here are the three main steps: Remove and clean the grates Clean the grill’s interior Clean the grill’s exteriorStep 1: How to clean BBQ grill gratesThese are the workhorses of your cooker and because they come in direct contact with your food, they need to be clean. Start by removing the cool grates and wiping or brushing off as much of the big, loose debris as you can with a mesh or nylon scrub pad or a brush. In a sink or large bucket, mix up a sudsy solution of a grease-cutting dish liquid, like Dawn, and hot water and place the grates in to soak. If they don’t completely fit in, immerse one half, soak, then flip it over to get the other side. After soaking 15 to 30 minutes, put on some rubber gloves (like GH Seal holder, Playtex) and scrub the grates clean with a sturdy grill brush or scrubbing pad­. Take extra care with porcelain grates, because you don’t want to damage them.

Shop Grill Cleaning Products

Dawn Dish Soap

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Playtex Living Reuseable Rubber Gloves

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Sienna Appliances Grilltastic Steam Brush

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Carbona 2-In-1 Oven Rack And Grill Cleaner

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$20.03

If the grates are really dirty, soak them a second time to help soften and remove more gunk without expending extra elbow grease. Or, try the new Sienna Grilltastic Grill Steam Cleaning System. Fill this electric scrubber with water, plug it in and in seconds the combination of the dishwasher-safe stainless steel brush head and hot steam will be blasting grease from your grates. (It cleaned our GH Test Kitchen grill so well, our recipe testers asked if they could keep it.) Finally, rinse the grates well and let them dry.If scrubbing isn’t your thing, there’s Carbona’s 2-in-1 Oven Rack and Grill Cleaner. This kit contains a large zip-top bag and a 16 oz. bottle of cleaner. Simply place your grates in the bag, pour in the liquid, seal the bag and shake gently so the cleaner coats the racks. Let it sit (away from children and pets) eight hours, or even overnight. Afterward, remove the racks from the bag, lightly scrub away any stubborn residue and rinse them well. In our GH Institute Cleaning Lab tests, even grates from a charcoal smoker came out clean with virtually no effort, thanks to this product.

Step 2: How to clean the inside of a BBQ grillWith the grates removed, brush down the inside to clear out any loose particles that have collected in the bottom and around the sides. Scrape off any large peeling flakes of carbon and grease and if yours is a charcoal grill, empty the ash catcher. Don’t forget to clean the drip pan and grease cup in warm soapy water and line them with aluminum foil so they’ll be easier to clean next time.

Mr. Clean Clean Freak

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Step 3: How to clean the exterior of a BBQ grillMix up another bath of warm sudsy dish liquid and water and wipe down the exterior, handle, side trays and any bottom doors with a sponge or cloth or use a grease-cutting all-purpose cleaner, like Mr. Clean Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist. In our GH tests, it cut grease on contact, plus it cleans stainless steel without streaking. Rinse and wipe dry. Finally, light the grill to make sure that none of the burner holes are clogged and all the gas lines and tubes are well connected and in good condition. How to keep a BBQ grill clean all summerDuring grilling season, here’s our step-by-step instructions to keep your grill looking great: Go over the grates while they are still warm with a brush or pad or even a ball of aluminum foil to keep food residue from building up. Regularly clean grates and outside surfaces with a spray like Parker & Bailey BBQ Cleaner & Degreaser. In GH Institute Cleaning Lab tests, it dissolved stuck-on messes better and faster than others we tried. Keep wire brushes in good condition and replace them when worn so metal bristles don’t stick to the grates and get into your food.
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Say “air quality” to most people and they think of outdoor particles and pollutants, like ozone, pollen, and smoke-belching factories. But the truth is, indoor air is two to five times dirtier than the air outside, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, thanks to all the dust, dander, and air-borne bacteria floating through our homes. And that’s on a good day! [product contentProductId=’b1193040-831c-4e96-814a-5d8d68b450c5′ mediaId=’7f713903-b939-40b4-9e34-13d0f1f83c9b’ align=’right’ size=’medium’][/product]When high humidity allows mold spores to thrive, or during a major remodel—when off-gassing from building materials fills the air with toxic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—indoor pollution can be many times worse. Add in the fact that people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors (even without any stay-at-home pandemic orders in place), and you see why indoor air quality is such an important part of any home wellness strategy. To help you clear the air, we called on the home pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute, as well as industry partners at York Heating and Cooling—many of whose products are backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal—and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), to weigh in on the topic. Their advice includes steps you can take right away, plus things to consider with your next home improvement project.Get serious about vacuuming[image id=’140e83d5-2ebf-4008-84a5-2f7c537ac9e1′ mediaId=’802034f3-2e33-4596-95b0-265fec291d65′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]We know, it’s a drag. But vacuuming is one of the best ways to reduce airborne allergens, according to AAFA, especially if your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter, which captures even the finest contaminants (a sealed vacuum with a HEPA filter is even better). Once a week should do the trick in many homes, though pet owners probably need to vacuum every few days, especially during shedding season. PSA: Don’t forget to replace or wash HEPA filters, as recommended by the manufacturer, so they stay working as they should.To reduce how often you need to lug out the full-size vacuum, consider investing in a robot vacuum for supplemental removal of surface debris while you’re out doing other stuff. These options earned top marks in our tough pet hair test. Dr. John McKeon, a former ER doctor and CEO/Founder of Allergy Standards, an international standards and certification body, also stresses the importance of deep steam cleaning at least once a year. “A carpet’s weight can triple over its life from the build-up of allergens and debris,” he says. “Short of switching to hardwood floors, regular steam cleaning is the best treatment.” Quick Fix: Don’t forget the welcome mat. Encouraging family and guests to brush off their shoes will help keep pollutants from entering your home in the first place. Or go one better and instate a no-shoes policy.Allergen-proof your bedding When it comes to indoor air quality, chances are your bedroom needs some work. For starters, are you washing sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water (130°F if possible)? That’s critical for killing dust mites (a hot dryer cycle does this, too). Other bedding, like pillows and comforters, should be washed every one to two months or more often, if needed. While the bed is stripped, take a minute to vacuum the mattress. To remove odors, vacuum first, then sprinkle baking soda on it, work the product in with a soft brush, let it set for a few hours to deodorize, and vacuum again. Our pros also recommend using woven covers for the mattress and pillows to prevent dust mites and animal dander from accumulating.Quick Fix: If you are a severe allergy sufferer, make sure to regularly clean all of your bedding — not only the sheets and pillowcases, but pillows and comforters, too.Bring in fresh air[product contentProductId=’fc817d68-aa10-4170-98b1-9e09bd7b4603′ mediaId=’ab47ec06-73ca-4104-bffa-d401b9860056′ align=’right’ size=’medium’][/product]Homes in the U.S. are built pretty airtight, which is great for energy efficiency. But for indoor air quality, not so much, which makes exhaust fans essential. Every full bathroom in your home should be equipped with a bathroom fan; be sure to run it for at least 15 minutes after showering. In the kitchen, a vented range hood is best for sucking away smoke and fumes. If your home uses forced-air heating and/or cooling, you can integrate a whole-home air cleaner that can help capture harmful toxins as it circles through the system, like York’s Affinity Series Whole-Home Media Cleaner. Quick Fix: Regularly crack a window. It’s the easiest way to bring in fresh air, and it doesn’t cost a thing! Control the humidity Keeping your home’s humidity between 30 and 50 percent will minimize moisture-loving dust mites and mold. Obviously, outdoor humidity surges in the summer, so that’s the time to deploy dehumidifiers to dry out the air. This dehumidifier was a top pick in our latest tests, maintaining optimal humidity levels in large spaces. Quick Fix: Promote air flow throughout the home by leaving doors between rooms open. Cut out the toxins[image id=’0b953c07-41c7-443e-8b58-bfdc3c0cdddb’ mediaId=’1f7188b1-b4e4-4622-bb1c-5e250c1e72ba’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’original’][/image]A lot of people pollute the air in their home without even realizing it. Watch out for the “cozy culprits” as Dr. McKeon calls them, which refers to things like scented candles and air fresheners that may contain irritants, like fragrance compounds that are not necessarily listed on ingredient lists.Many home improvement materials, from paint to flooring to insulation, can also contain harmful pollutants, including formaldehyde and VOCs. AAFA has a certification process designed to help homeowners find products that meet minimum thresholds for airborne irritants.Quick Fix: Many surfaces can be cleaned — and many stains can be removed — with pantry staples like baking soda and vinegar. Look for cleaners with minimal ingredients and those labeled free of perfumes, dyes, and other irritants.

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There’s plenty of good advice available about how to stop procrastinating (and apps that can help too!) but you’ll probably never completely eradicate it from your life. Redirecting your energy into something positive can help that time from being a waste—and leave you feeling better overall. While procrastibaking has gotten a lot of attention recently, cleaning as procrastination is a classic way to channel time into productivity. In a 2011 study, Stanford researchers found that visual clutter made it significantly harder for subjects to complete tasks—so when you need a break, instead of doomscrolling the internet, clearing out the sink could be considered a step toward hitting your deadline. Cleaning can also be a stress reducer, putting you in a better state of mind to complete that spreadsheet or run your errands. But the last thing you need when escaping is a cleaning distraction that ends up being just as frustrating. Scotch-Brite™ products are designed to work quickly and effectively, so your cleaning goes smoothly. Here are some handy cleaning swaps to turn to the next time you hit a to-do list wall. Stop Posting and Start Sudsing Social media can be a fun way to keep up with friends, but anyone with an Instagram account knows it can also lead to anxiety. When you feel the urge to check your feed for the fifth time, put down your phone and reach for your dishwashing gloves. A recent Mindfulness study discovered that washing dishes with intention resulted in a decrease in nerves and overall more positive outlook for participants—plus, you’ll have one less chore to tackle when dinnertime comes around. Task TipsPre-soak pans in hot water to help unstick big messes.Dry glassware with a soft, clean cloth to avoid those annoying streaks. Use Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non Scratch Scrubbers, which make quick work of things like eggs and cheese, and rinse clean afterwards.

Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch

Swap News-Bingeing for De-ClutteringIt’s important to stay informed, but once you’ve checked into current events for the day, constantly refreshing your favorite news site is one of the most stress-inducing midday breaks you can take. Instead, give your eyes a screen break, get on your feet, and do a living room sweep.Task TipsPut obviously out-of-place items where they belong—books go on the shelf, throw pillows get placed back on the couch, and clothing should go in the closet or laundry room.Wipe down surfaces like mantels, windowsills, and shelves that tend to collect dust.Don’t worry about breaking out the vacuum. A quick pass of the Scotch-Brite™ 50% Stickier Lint Roller makes quick work of visible lint or pet hair.

Scotch-Brite™ 50% Stickier Lint Roller

Replace Streaming with Bathroom ScrubbingIt can be hard to resist catching up on your favorite show, especially when the alternative is paying bills. But pressing play is a slippery slope that can lead to hours of lost time, and that groggy feeling that comes from staring at your TV during the day. Get your blood flowing and your tile sparkling with some needed TLC instead. Task TipsCollect all of your used towels and bathmat and toss them in the laundry—replacing everything at once will make a huge difference. Clean your mirror—it will reflect more light and give you a whole new outlook (literally!).Use a tile-safe scrubber (try the Scotch-Brite® Swift Scrub Bathroom Buildup Remover!) to cut through soap scum and shampoo residue quickly, and without the need for harsh chemicals.Save This Guide for When You Need a Visual Reminder

Jesse Mumford

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These pro tips will save money while keeping your home cozy all year long. More

Some clothes are easier to care for than others. Most everyday items can be cleaned with a quick wash and dry, however, “dry clean only” and delicate garments require more TLC. While it’s always best to leave the dry cleaning and pressing up to the professionals, you may be tempted to skip the extra trip and dry clean at home.

This, of course, begs the question: Can dry cleaning really be done at home? Even though there are a number of ways to remove stains, wrinkles and odors from “dry clean only” clothes (more on that below), there is no way to actually dry clean at home, according to Carolyn Forte, Director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Professionals are able to remove stubborn body oils and stains that at-home dry cleaner kits and steaming are unable to. “Dry cleaning at home may delay bringing something to the dry cleaner and give you a few more wears, but it will not totally eliminate the need for it,” she explains. Maybe you have a whole season’s worth of clothes to dry clean and don’t want to stomach the high price tag. Or maybe you’re not a fan of how your clothes smell when you bring them home. Forte offers up a simple solution: Keep searching until you find a dry cleaner that meets your needs or find an alternative (but highly effective) solution like wet cleaning or liquid carbon dioxide cleaning. How to Refresh “Dry Clean Only” Items at Home If you want to extend a garment’s life between dry cleanings, you have two options: use a dry cleaning kit or take the DIY method. Dry cleaning kits like Dryel’s At-Home Dry Cleaner Starter Kit come with everything you need for a similar dry cleaning experience at home: a stain remover, bag, cleaning clothes and an odor and wrinkle releaser. Here’s how to get the most effective refresh: Treat stains with the stain removing pen and spray high-odor areas with the odor releaser spray.Stick up to five garments in the bag with the cleaning cloth and tumble in the dryer. The heat and tumbling of the dryer activates the cleaning cloth, releasing trapped odors and freshening the fabric. Remove the clothes promptly and get rid of any remaining wrinkles or odors with the spray.No kit, no problem: Follow these steps to spruce up your “dry clean only” items: Remove stains from garments. Just to be safe, test the stain remover on a hidden spot of the fabric and look for water spotting or color loss. Fibers like silk and rayon may be damaged by at-home stain removal products. Freshen fabrics, remove wrinkles and get rid of unwanted odors with a garment steamer like Seal star Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Garment Steamer or a spray like Downy Wrinkle Releaser. Always test the products on a hidden spot of the fabric first. Some fabrics, like knits and other lightweight fabrics, can also be de-wrinkled in the dryer. Stick your items in a wash bag and add a wet washcloth, hand towel or ice cubes to dryer to speed up the process. Remember: This is only a placeholder until your next visit to the dry cleaner. There’s no other way to really make your garments look and smell like new.

The Products You Need to Dry Clean at Home

At-Home Dry Cleaner Starter Kit

Dryel
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GS38R Handheld Garment Steamer with Turbo

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Wrinkle Releaser Fabric Spray

Downy
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Mesh Laundry Bags

BAGAIL
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Houseplants aren’t just for decoration. For many plant parents, they are another member of the family — leafy and green, but just as lovable. Think about it: You spend hours making sure your houseplant gets just the right amount of water, plant food and sunlight to live its happiest, healthiest life. And sure, plants don’t necessarily need names to grow big and beautiful … but what’s the fun in that? To really make your cactus, succulent, indoor tree or other greenery an official part of your family, give it a name that captures its unique personality or plays off of its color or plant type. Here, you’ll find tons of cool names for plants — some straight-up cute, others funny (we’re a succa for puns) and several inspired by your favorite celebrities. You’ll notice that we’ve designated if a name works best for a specific plant species — Sunny for an aloe vera plant, for example — but feel free to get creative with it. When you find a name that you’re particularly frond of (get it), say it out loud for your plant baby to hear and see if it catches on.Cute Names for PlantsSweet and simple just like your houseplant. Pick a name inspired by its natural color (whether it’s green, red or yellow) or plant type, or opt for something more universal.BlossomBudChloe, means “green shoot” in GreekCutie EmeraldEsmeralda, means “emerald” in SpanishFernFlora GoldieJadeLily (peace lily)MinnieOlivePearl (string of pearls)PenelopePennyPrickles (cactus)RubySageSucca (succulent)Sunny (aloe vera or sun-loving plant) Sylvia/Sylvie, means “forest” in LatinVera (aloe vera plant)Verde, means “green” in SpanishFunny Names for Plants[image id=’8a69ab05-e4a9-4fb5-ae08-759bad02b8bb’ mediaId=’b51ddb50-007a-4e90-ac99-3f3094262689′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’1×1′][/image]Your plant has its quirks and its name should reflect that. There are a few punny monikers to choose from, as well as some that are just plain ironic (which makes them equally as funny).Bill (money plant)Christofern (fern plant)Fluffy (cactus)Lil PlantMr/Miss PlantMr. Prickles (cactus)Spike (cactus)Woody (indoor tree) Celebrity Names for PlantsTake inspiration from pop culture — musicians, actors, politicians and artists — with one of these punny takes on a celebrity name. Some group names even work for plant families. Burnie Sanders (aloe vera plant)Cactus Everdeen (cactus)Elvis Parsley (herb plant) Justin Timberlake MC Hammer (cactus)Morgan Treeman (indoor tree)Orlando BloomSir Pokes-a-Lot (cactus)Snake Gyllenhaal (snake plant)Tree Diddy (indoor tree) Simon and Garfunkel (a plant duo)Spice Girls (a group of herb plants)Vincent Van Grow[editoriallinks id=’4a10238a-af92-4248-a8b8-b609cab1335e’ align=’center’][/editoriallinks]

Amanda Garrity
Associate Lifestyle Editor
As the Associate Lifestyle Editor for GoodHousekeeping.com, Amanda oversees gift guides and covers home, holidays, food, and other lifestyle news.

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Glass cooktops are the style of choice for anyone who prefers electric ranges or induction cooking appliances and while nothing beats them for their seamless look and sleek style, they can be a real eyesore in your kitchen when covered with grease, film, burned-on deposits and food spills. How do we know? With all the test kitchens in our Good Housekeeping Institute and the constant flow of ranges in and out of our Kitchen Appliances Lab, we’ve seen, cooked on, and cleaned our share of glass stovetops. And we’ve tested lots of glass cooktop cleaners in our Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. Read on to see how to make your glass stovetop shine in just a few easy steps whether you have light, heavy, or burned-on deposits.How to clean everyday messes from your glass cooktop The trick to keeping this surface clean and saving yourself more time, stress, and elbow grease is to stay ahead of the mess and not give it a chance to bake on in the first place. Even light splatters that you can barely see build up over time and become more difficult to remove. That’s why it’s essential to give it a wipe down after every use, even if you think it looks clean. Here’s what to do to ward of cloudiness and keep your cooktop sparkling:Promptly wipe up spills and splatters as they happen with a damp sponge or cloth. Even if the surface looks clean, when invisible layers of grease build up and burn on you wind up with an even bigger job on your hands. Use a grease-cutting spray or wipe specifically made for glass on a cool cooktop, like those from GH Seal-holder Weiman. They won’t leave hazy streaks behind like regular all-purpose and glass cleaners with ammonia can and the wipes are super convenient to use. If you don’t have cooktop cleaner handy, use a spritz of full strength white vinegar. It will cut grease and clean without streaking. Rinse and buff the glass dry with a soft cloth or paper towel. How to clean heavy deposits from your glass stovetop If it’s been a busy week and cooktop spills have gotten ahead of you, switch to a cooktop cream or paste. The gentle abrasives in these formulas will help loosen stubborn residue that needs a bit of a nudge but that isn’t totally welded onto your glass:Apply cooktop cream or paste to a cool surface with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad working in a circular motion. Rinse the surface thoroughly and buff dry. It’s super important to completely remove any cleaning product residue, otherwise it, too, can bake and burn on and even worse, interfere with the performance of your cooktop, especially induction. Sprinkle on a little baking soda or a non-abrasive cleanser in a pinch and rub with a damp cloth to remove stuck-on stuff, then rinse clean and dry. How to remove burned-on stains from your glass cooktopIf your glass cooktop has seen better days and is already covered with burned-on grime and needs some TLC to remove discoloration, it’s time to pull out the heavy duty tools:Lay a hot, moist towel on the glass to help soften the residue. Use a razor blade — or the scraper that comes in a cooktop cleaning kit — held at a 45° angle, carefully scrape off the burned bits. Don’t worry, the glass on these cooktops is durable and can handle this treatment. Depending on how baked-on the deposits are, you may have to repeat the hot towel/razor blade step several times. Clean the entire top with your cleanser; then rinse well and buff dry.
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