Retractable curtain shades roll up and down, providing a neat and simple window covering with little to no overhang. If an understated but functional window covering is the goal, a retractable shade is the way to go. As long as the appropriate hardware has been purchased, curtains can be made to match any décor. A heavy, home décor fabric is best because it will hold the bottom curtain rod without tearing a seam.

Wood furniture, even when stained, will not take kindly to hot items or fire touching its surface. The dining room table, because you eat on it, is more likely to get burns than any other piece of furniture in the home. A hot pot set on the surface, or a candle that tips over can leave a horrifying scorch mark. Luckily, most minor burns in wood can be scuffed out without ruining the wood or stain.

Teak patio furniture has become increasingly popular, especially when used outdoors. When teak patio sets are new, the wood is a beautiful honey color. After prolonged exposure to the sun, the wood color weathers to a silver-gray color. Teak patio furniture: brand new and after patina It's relatively simple to restore your teak patio furniture back to its original color. Things You Will Need + Mild detergent Soft bristle brush Fine sandpaper Teak oil Waterproof outdoor furniture cover Clean the Teak Patio Furniture

Sanding wallpaper deglosses it so paint or new wallpaper will stick. Sanding wallpaper isn't the ideal way to prepare a wall for paint or new paper -- stripping it is a much better way. Some wallpaper sticks so well, however, that trying to strip it is futile. If the paper is thick, and the stripper doesn't penetrate even after scoring it with a wallpaper scorer, there's a better chance of making a mess by continuing your efforts than there is of creating a smooth substrate.

Painting the exterior of your home represents a considerable investment in time and money. A quality paint job, though, will last at least five years and can increase the resale value of your home. Expect to spend at least $500 in paint supplies, including rollers. Splurge on high-quality materials and clean the siding properly before painting it so the new paint adheres to the siding. Roller Nap Prime the siding before painting it to create a moisture-resistant surface.

Vacuums can clean up an area quickly. However, if they are not properly maintained or used well, they can produce smoke and a foul burning smell. Troubleshoot and maintain your vacuum cleaner for optimal performance. Belt Problems Troubleshooting smoke from your vacuum cleaner can help improve its performance. A burning and smoke smell comes from the belt. When items such as cables, cords and other large objects are caught in the brush roller, it may fail to rotate.

When installing plumbing in your home, the simpler you can make it, the easier and cheaper the project will be to complete. That doesn't mean you can skimp or cut corners, however. If you are installing plumbing for a laundry room, you need to add a trap on the drain line for the washing machine. Drain Trap Your washing machine's drain line needs to have a trap. A trap on the drain line in your plumbing system is a specialized piece of pipe with a unique shape.

Some washing machines -- especially high-efficiency models -- have an "Extra Rinse" setting, which makes double-rinsing laundry a snap. If your washing machine doesn't have this feature, you can manually rinse your clothes twice by using the main wash cycle dial. Double-rinsing clothing minimizes detergent residue, which can irritate sensitive skin or trigger allergic reactions. A second rinse also helps remove toxins such as pesticides from contaminated clothing, and it flushes away traces of bleach from your washing machine tub.

Molded sugar figures are attractive for adorning cakes and cookies and as table decorations for parties. Once you’ve made the molds you can add bows, glitter, sweets and chocolate chips to create patterns. You don’t need any actual molds. Brown or white sugar are both suitable for making molds. Things You Will Need + 8 tablespoons of sugar 4 tablespoons of water Juice of ¼ of a lemon Wooden spoon Saucepan Plastic gloves Silicone sheet Melting and molding sugar is easy; the main difficulty is handling the hot mixture.

Sewer vents serve as part of the home drain-waste-vent system, helping remove waste from toilets, sinks and showers. When the vent freezes up -- often indicated by the “rotten egg” smell of hydrogen sulfide -- it can cause you or family to become ill or even create explosive gas in the home. Cold weather poses a threat to the drain-waste-vent system. Because sewer vents are part of an interconnected plumbing system, you'll have to attack from a few fronts to prevent freezing.