One of the best ways to keep your floors clean and free of sand or dirt is to institute a no-shoes-in-the-house policy. Believe it or not, wearing shoes in the home is frowned upon in many parts of the world. Many Asian countries, for example, do not allow the wearing of shoes in the home.

It can be quite difficult to remove skunk odor from outdoor furniture, especially if it’s upholstered. It can be an unpleasant process, but you can clean outdoor furniture that’s been sprayed by a skunk with some household items. All it takes is some dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar.

Have you noticed that your sprinklers don’t hit every part of your lawn? If so, that can explain why there are patches of dead grass in your yard. Sprinkler placement is everything when it comes to evenly watering your lawn.

Are birds active around your house at night? If so, you can easily scare them away with motion-activated lights. Birds get scared easily when they see flashing lights at night, especially if you put the lights in the right spots.

The only way to tell if your pool has too much chlorine is to test the water. Never swim in a pool that has more than 3.0-5.0 parts per million of chlorine. That is too much chlorine, and it can irritate your skin and eyes.

One important factor to consider when preparing for a Father’s Day barbecue is grocery shopping. One downside to Father’s Day being such a popular grilling holiday is that the best meats and produce are often picked clean before the big day.

Snakes cannot survive in swimming pools for long periods. Chlorine is toxic to many animals, and that includes snakes. Sadly, snakes get stuck in pools when they search for food and water, and they often can’t get out.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to keep groundhogs out of your garden, especially if you have castor oil at home. Castor oil is one of the best natural repellents to stop groundhogs from eating your plants. Simply mix 1 part castor oil with 3 parts water in a spray bottle and stir it gently.

You may see bugs come out of your drain because they either entered through a pipe or hid within the drain. Some bugs, such as flies, are drawn to sink and shower drains and even reproduce in them. This is mostly common with clogged drains, as they provide plenty of cover for mating and nesting.

Creeping Charlie can kill other plants in your yard once it spreads far enough. This creeping plant features a toxin that can suppress and kill other plants. The toxin is also harmful to livestock, such as cows and horses.

If you are someone who handwashes clothing at home, then a dehumidifier might be a great asset. Drying clothes on an outdoor clothesline is ideal, but it isn’t always possible. If you don’t have a yard, or the weather isn’t conducive to drying, then you need to dry clothes indoors.

Evaporation is the most common reason why your pool keeps losing water. This is most common during the summer, but evaporation can also happen throughout the winter when the pool is closed. Swimming pools typically lose ¼” to ½” of water each day during the peak of summer.

Animals typically get into walls via openings and cracks in your house. Small rodents, like squirrels and mice, can easily slip through holes in your roof and even pipes. Animals can also come inside if you leave windows open and have big gaps under your doors.

Dehumidifiers are not yet a staple in the majority of households. Air conditioners, on the other hand, are found in the majority of homes where high temperatures exist. Air conditioners not only lower the temperature in your home, but most of them are quite effective at lowering your home’s humidity as well.

Mold forms in terrariums because of excessive moisture and poor airflow. You can also accidentally introduce mold to your terrarium via contaminated rocks, plants, and decorations from a pet store. Mold is especially common in dark, stagnant terrariums that don’t get enough attention.

Lavender is an enduring herb that’s easy to grow if you provide enough sunlight. Plant lavender in an unobstructed area where it can get up to 8 hours of sunlight each day. That said, lavender can handle partial shade in hot climates, as that stops the soil from drying out.