Douglas fir is a common wood choice for exterior projects such as doors and decking. The wood can degrade over time due to exposure to weather, temperature changes and the sun. Sealing Douglas fir for exterior use protects the wood from the elements and makes it more durable. You can also use a combination stain and sealer if you want to alter the color of the wood. Douglas fir absorbs stain easily.

Waterbeds provide a unique sleeping experience due to their special water bladder design, but this special design can also require special maintenance. One of the more common waterbed problems is excess air in the mattress, which can cause the mattress to make annoying sounds during use. Air extractors are specifically designed to remove excess air from waterbeds and help control this sound issue. Blue Magic manufactures a "Super Pump" air extractor, which can be used to extract excess air from a waterbed in a few steps.

ProFlo jetted tubs are a nice addition to any home and usually add resale value if properly cared for. All ProFlo whirlpool models are made from acrylic and therefore can scratch easily. In addition, owners must be mindful of keeping not just the tub basin clean, but also the jets. If not cleaned correctly, a bather may notice black grime floating around after turning them on. Although you should follow the manufacturer directions that came with your tub for proper care and cleaning, most ProFlo jetted tubs can be cared for in the following manner:

Accidents happen that result in the saturation of your carpet padding with water or liquids that require you to dry the padding. Be it an overly wet carpet cleaning, flood, or other water damage, the carpet padding must dry thoroughly to eliminate foul odors, mold and mildew growth. If your carpet padding has been wet for more than 24 hours, there’s a really good chance your padding is already infected with mold and it might not be safely salvageable.

How to Make a Roman Shade. Roman shades are a classic window treatment that you can make in just a few hours. Choose coordinating fabric to match your existing decor, and let the window frame your fabric by mounting the roman shade on the inside of the frame. Make a Roman Shade Making the Roman Shade Measure the width and the height of the window. Measure the width of the window at different locations and use the measurement that is the smallest.

A good garden hose will last many years with proper care and maintenance. The Moen single handle pull-down faucet -- sometimes called a pull-out faucet -- provides the functionality of a spray hose in a single faucet format. It comes in handy when you need to wash dishes, do prep work or clean. Wear and tear from frequent use can cause a leaky faucet hose, while hard water can cause mineral buildup inside the hose, resulting in poor water pressure.

Cotton is a durable fabric that is widely used for making clothes. Cotton can shrink under the right conditions, so if you have a cotton shirt that is a tad too big, you can shrink it. Although washing the shirt in hot water in the washing machine might do the trick, the hotter the water the better. Cotton shirts shrink the most during the first wash cycle. The heat from boiling water constricts the fabric fibers, making the shirt smaller.

Galvanized nail — more commonly referred to in construction as roofing nails — are nails that are dipped in melted zinc. This extra coating makes them resistant to rust and ensures that they have a very long lifespan. Galvanized nails have certain characteristics that set them apart from standard nails. Before you head out to the hardware store to buy galvanized nails for a special project, take a look in your toolbox — you might have galvanized nails and not even know it.

Windsor chairs are classic, sophisticated and durable. Windsor chairs generally feature a rounded wooden back featuring several vertical thin wooden spindles. The simple wooden seats are held up by four chair legs, angled out for balance. Often found in country and cottage home decor, these chairs are typically used around a dining room table or as desk chairs. Windsor chairs are most often made of wood, but reproduction pieces might be made of metal.

Nitrile and neoprene are types of synthetic rubber, but have different chemical structures. The two rubbers vary in resistance to heat, abrasion, flame, petroleum or weather, so are used for different applications. Chemical Structure Nitrile is a copolymer, it is made up of a mixture of two molecules. These are butadiene and acrylonitrile. Neoprene is a homopolymer, made of a single substance called chlorobutadiene. The proportion of butadiene and acrylonitrile can be adjusted in nitrile rubber for specific purposes.