Sophia Bell
wikiHow Staff Writer
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Co-authored Articles (337)
How to
Install a Split System Air Conditioner
A split system air conditioner is a great option for keeping your home cool and comfortable in the summer months. These units are also quieter, easier to install, and more energy efficient than central air conditioning. ...
How to Figure Out the Dimensions of a Staircase
Get the measurements you need to build a set of stairsDoing home renovations yourself is fun and budget-friendly, but building stairs can seem intimidating. But once you learn the basics of making measurements, planning ...
How to Legally Prevent Drones from Flying Over Your House
As drones have increased in popularity among hobbyists, it’s not uncommon to catch one hanging around the airspace above your property. If you’re not a fan, what can you do to protect your privacy and keep drones awa...
How to
Propagate Elephant Ear Plants
Elephant ears are lush jungle plants with large green leaves shaped like hearts. While elephant ears can’t be propagated from cuttings like many plants, you can divide the tubers of a healthy parent plant. Do this in t...
How to
Clean a Burnt Oven Bottom
Spills and splashes are pretty common while cooking and baking, but if you don’t wipe them up right away, they can burn and stick to the bottom of your oven. Luckily, burnt on food at the bottom of your oven can be rem...
How to
Prune a Lime Tree
Pruning a lime tree has many benefits, such as improving air flow, strengthening limbs, and reducing risk of disease. It's also a simple and straightforward task that you can do yourself. The right time to prune a lime t...
How to
Install a Bathtub
Installing a bathtub is a complex job that shouldn’t be attempted by novices. However, if you have some plumbing and construction experience, this may be a DIY project that you feel comfortable tackling. If you're look...
How to
Revive an Orchid Plant
Orchids are beautiful flowers that bloom in cycles. Just because the flowers have fallen off doesn’t mean that the orchid is dead—it’s simply in a dormant phase and will likely flower again. You can encourage bloom...
How to
Replace a Door Frame
If your door frame is damaged, the best thing to do is to replace it with a pre-hung door, which comes inside a pre-built frame. If you have a little carpentry experience, this is likely a project you can tackle by yours...
How to
Hang Lights from a Ceiling
Hanging a swag light or light fixture from your ceiling may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually rather simple. You only need a few basic tools and a little bit of time to tackle this project. If you own the pr...
How to
Dry a Mattress
A wet mattress is not only a headache, it breeds mold and mildew! Don’t worry though, you can dry your mattress easily with a few simple steps, regardless of how it got wet. Utilize direct sunlight and air circulation ...
How to
Remove Oil Based Stains from Fabrics
If you've spilled oil on your clothes, carpet, or upholstery, you may think the item is ruined. Luckily, it can be easily removed using a few household items. Whether the fabric came into contact with motor oil, cooking ...
How to
Remove Built‐Up Frost from Your Freezer
A little bit of frost build-up in your freezer is normal, but it can become a problem over time. Too much frost can be damaging to food and can indicate a problem with your freezer. There are, however, simple ways to rem...
The Gardener’s Guide to Pruning Jasmine for Beautiful Blooms
The right time and best way to trim overgrown or leggy jasmine vinesJasmine is a gorgeous, fast-growing plant with sweet-smelling flowers that makes a wonderful addition to any garden. Whether you’re growing summer jas...
How to
Prune a Bonsai Tree
Follow these steps to keep your bonsai tree healthy, happy, and thriving A bonsai tree needs regular pruning to maintain its size and to shape it to a desired style. There are two types of pruning: maintenance pruning, w...
3 Easy Ways to Reset an Air Conditioning Unit That’s Not Working
A quick and easy guide to get your AC blowing cold air after a power outage It’s the dog days of summer and you’ve been outside baking in the sun. You walk inside your home to get some sweet relief and find that your...
How to
Move Large Rocks
Moving large rocks for landscaping or construction may seem like an impossible task, but there are actually several methods you can use. You can move large rocks small distances with a ratchet hoist or to help you situat...
How to
Kill Yellow Jackets in the Wall
Yellow jackets build nests in trees, in the ground, and in voids in structures, such as empty spaces in walls. If you have yellow jackets in your wall, it’s best to contact an exterminator. But, if you’re feeling bol...
How to
Give Your Room a Makeover
Redecorating your room doesn’t have to cost a lot of money—you can easily transform your space inexpensively. Start by decluttering your room so you’re left only with things you truly need or love. Then, change the...
How to
Grow Vanilla
Vanilla beans actually grow on orchids of the Vanilla genus. These plants are commonly cultivated in Hawaii, Mexico, Tahiti, Madagascar, Indonesia, and other tropical locations. Growing vanilla at home does require some ...
