The average homeowner keeps bleach around to clean the house or even do laundry. There is no denying that bleach is an effective cleaner, but it is hard to get past the strong smell. So, what can you do if your house smells like bleach after cleaning?

Kittens are loving, adorable, and tiny, but they can make big messes. While they quickly adapt to litter boxes, you may have to clean a few messes before then. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to litter train a kitten.

Like it or not, there are tons of different critters out there that can get into our home and cause real issues. Whether it is something that our pets bring in or something that makes its way indoors from the outside, it poses a serious problem. Bug bombing is the quickest way to get rid of a serious bug problem, but you need to prepare and know what to cover when bug bombing.

On UpgradedHome, we talk about a *lot* of home improvement projects and tools. One of the better tools to have on hand is Flex tape. It can tape things up while locking water out, making it an ideal pick for people who have stubborn faucets or need to tape up a vent that just won’t stay put. Flex tape is so popular, it’s pretty easy to find. But, where do you go for this quality fixer-upper fave?

Having black appliances can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they are sleek and can hide food stains well. On the other hand, cleaning can be difficult for appliances that come into frequent contact with food and fingerprints.

I don’t know about you, but I despise vacuuming. Thankfully, in the effort to live like the Jetsons, someone invented the Roomba. Now we can have a hands-off approach to cleaning our house!

While there are many different brands of generators on the market, Generac is known for being one of the highest quality brands. Generators are a handy appliance to have in case of emergency. 

When you’re shopping around for a house, one of the deciding factors is often the neighbors. How close houses are, whether or not the yards are separated in any way, and other things play a role. If your house is close to your neighbor, when Autumn comes around you might wonder how to stop your neighbors’ leaves from blowing in your yard.

Leaks are a homeowner’s worst fear. They can cause massive damage to both your home and the property inside of it. Because of this, it’s crucial to find and fix the leaks in your home as quickly as possible.

You have invested a lot of time and money into your home. Unfortunately, you’ve noticed your driveway, garage or other concrete surfaces don’t look as good as they once did. You’ve done some homework and concrete resurfacing seems like the best option to repair and refresh that concrete slab. But before you spend the money, you need to know if it will last.

Carpet on stairs presents a few extra challenges when it comes to cleaning. It’s not like you can quickly run your vacuum across the steps. However, knowing how to clean carpet on stairs doesn’t take a lot of specialized knowledge or tools.

As someone who’s had friends who didn’t really understand the concepts of cleanliness, I’ve seen some pretty gnarly rooms. The worst rooms I’ve seen are, invariably, bathrooms and kitchens. I’ve even refused to bathe in a friend’s home because their bathtub was so gross. Believe it or not, if you’ve neglected cleaning your bathroom for that long, you can still clean a disgusting bathtub with a few tips.

Ever since the discovery of fire, humans have been eager to cook using it. As time passed, cooking techniques have become increasingly more efficient and sophisticated, in addition to more compact and portable.

It isn’t something that happens often, but there will come a need to disconnect your gas stove. Whether it is to perform a thorough cleaning, to replace a damaged connector, or swapping out the appliance entirely, it helps to know how to disconnect everything properly. Whatever the case, it can be easy to properly disconnect the gas line.

Today over 43 million people rent their homes in the USA. Renting is especially convenient for those who find themselves moving often. However, there’s a vast gray area when it comes to landlord-tenant relationships: Can your landlord tell you how clean to keep your home?

For many years, the tankless water heater has been a popular alternative to conventional tank water heaters in Europe and throughout the world. However, North American consumers have only just recently discovered the benefits involved with tankless water heaters.

Thanks to its lightweight profile and value proposition, Dirt Devil has become one of America’s top vacuum cleaner brands. If you’re looking for a simple, lightweight, and functional vacuum cleaner, it’s hard to go wrong with Dirt Devil.

If you’re a fan of Moscow mules, you definitely want to have a set of those majestic copper mugs in your drinkware collection. Not only do metal cups add a rustic flair to your bar, they are excellent thermal conductors. This means that they’ll keep your drinks chilled during the summer and warm in the fall.

If you have lost the code to your master lock, you will probably be on the verge of tossing that lock from a window or bringing out the bolt cutters. Rather than do that, we have a guide that will help you open a master lock key box without a code. Check out our short guide below:

Pancakes are delicious with maple syrup on them but not so much for carpets. The sticky gooey mess in your rug is unsightly and you need to get rid of it as soon as possible before it soaks in all the way. Whether it is real maple syrup or corn syrup, we have some solutions for you.

Sometimes there is just no alternative to cooking on a griddle. Whether you are cooking a meal for many or a meal for one, the griddle can provide a unique sear that other surfaces just can’t replicate. Whether it be a hash or creating the perfect melt, a Blackstone griddle can make for a fine kitchen accessory.

Log cabins are a part of old school Americana. Lincoln lived in one. Settlers had them. Even today, camping in a log home is considered to be a great way to enjoy a slice of the country. But, log homes aren’t common anymore. Did you ever wonder why that is? Well, it has to do with a lot of the problems that they tend to bring.

If you’re looking for your mobile home to count as real property, you may be required to have a permanent foundation. Having a permanent foundation will broaden your financing options and make selling your home a whole lot easier.

Bathroom vanities can prove very useful as a versatile piece of furniture. Use them to stay organized in the bathroom while also touching up your appearance. They even work as a functional piece of bathroom décor.

Whirlpool makes a ton of different household appliances. From stoves to refrigerators and everything in between, you can walk into millions of homes across the United States and find a Whirlpool product somewhere.

Everyone enjoys a good wood-burning fire in their home, especially during the winter months. However, the chopping, storing, and relentless stoking that firewood requires can be a nuisance. Not to mention the worry associated with whether or not you remembered to put it out before you went off to bed.

Mice, though cute in appearance, are a nightmare to deal with as a homeowner. Their droppings are toxic and wind up getting everywhere. They can also do major damage by chewing through things and can even live in the innards of your car.

Depending on how old your house is, your furnace may have an inducer motor. This is a handy dandy piece of equipment that keeps harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide, out of your home.

If you’ve spent a lot of time cultivating a beautiful garden, you don’t want pesky invaders taking over your space. Invasive species like the Virginia creeper steal resources from other plants in the area. This can easily lead to a dead garden.

Today, we’re answering an important question for anyone living in an area that sees a lot or power outages: are generator interlock kits legal?

No home is complete without a refrigerator. While modern refrigerators are impressive, they are not infallible and are prone to many problems. We all want our refrigerators to be cold, but not cold enough to freeze the food. Many homeowners have asked themselves the question: why is my refrigerator freezing my food?

LED lights have revolutionized the energy efficiency of lighting fixtures. Integrated LED lights give homeowners a unique lighting setup that can last for a decade in many cases. So, can an integrated LED light bulb be replaced?

A microwave drawer is a modern solution to free up counter space while also adding a sleek touch. In addition to the look, the functionality is unmatched. If you want to take back your countertop while adding a functional and clean look, a microwave drawer is for you. 

Apartment living can be fraught with issues. Noise is perhaps the greatest source of friction between apartment neighbors across the globe. Luckily, there are ways to soundproof your apartment door and many are relatively inexpensive.

I remember when I was a kid and something in our house needed to be repaired. My dad would go out to the garage and get his little black toolbox that was filled with every sort of tool imaginable to get the job done right.

When you are washing your clothes, the last thing you’re expecting is the basement drain to back up. That is unless your basement drain continually backs up often when you do the laundry. This problem is more common than you might think. Luckily, there are a few things you can do that will stop your basement drain from backing up when washing clothes.

Laminate countertops are a great addition to any kitchen. They’re durable, look great, and are long-lasting. Just like anything else in your home, it can be affected by water damage. 

Smartphones have been a unique and impactful innovation in their own right. But an underrated money-maker is all the accessories that can be applied to those smartphones. Cases in particular have been a huge money-maker.

LG front load washing machines are popular and are not known to have too many issues. However, every appliance has problems now and then. And LG front-loaders are no exception. They can have a leaking issue sometimes.

In recent years, memory foam has become the pillow material of choice because of its long lifespan. Memory foam pillows can either be one solid piece or shredded pieces of foam.

If you’ve gone to retrieve something valuable from your safe only to discover that you’re locked out, we understand how frustrating this occurrence can be. The batteries in your electronic safe are generally slated to last between 8,000 and 10,000 openings. While that is a lot of times to open and close a safe, what happens when the cells become exhausted over time and the batteries have died?

Having a wavy roof may sound like fun but it really isn’t. In fact, it can be a sign of something majorly wrong up there. Wavy roofs are not normal, and they do not happen on their own naturally. So, what are some of the reasons your roof can look wavy.

Do you know that feeling when, on opening the door of your dryer, you see the unmistakable signs of oily residue smeared all over your clothing? (We hope you said no!) Not only do you have to clean your dryer, but you’re also stuck trying to figure out exactly how to get the melted Chapstick out of your clothing. However, don’t worry, we have the answer for you!

Home is where the heart is, but it can be detrimental to your health if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings. Indoor air quality affects everything from your mental health to your lungs, skin, and eyes. Many homeowners understand this but ask the question: Why is my home air quality bad?

Honeywell has been a mainstay in the HVAC world for ages thanks to their world-class workmanship. This is especially true when you take a look at their thermostats. They last for ages without even needing so much as a battery change for months, if not years. But eventually, you will need to change their batteries if you want to keep your thermostat going. But how do you do that?

When you’re excited about tackling a home project, it can be very tempting to jump in and get it done quickly. However, if you skip vital prep work, you might end up with shoddy work and wasted time.

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional flatware and cooking utensils, bamboo is an excellent choice. Not only is it more affordable than silver flatware, it is also durable, lightweight, and incredibly eco-friendly. In fact, the environmentally-friendly nature of bamboo is the main reason why bamboo kitchen utensils have become so popular in recent years.

In the world of construction, whether concrete, brick, or steel, the SDS rotary hammer drill is one of the highest-caliber drills on the market.  Because of the design, however, the drill requires unique drill bits to accomplish the job.

With their delectably sweet interior, papayas are great in an assortment of recipes including salads, smoothies, jams, and even milkshakes. This delicious fruit offers a number of health benefits when incorporated into your daily diet. Although papayas taste best when they are fresh, you can also store and savor them at a later time. Since they tend to be less common than other tropical fruits, you may be wondering how to store papaya. Well, we’re here to help!

Whether you’re an avid home cook, a busy parent, or just love to snack, a disorganized fridge can put a damper on your kitchen habits. French door refrigerators are one of the most popular styles of this appliance. Knowing how to organize a French door refrigerator will go a long way to keeping your life calmer and more productive (and you won’t waste food).

The mini fridge is a useful invention, whether you simply don’t have space for an actual refrigerator or need to transport cold products.

Baseboard trim is an important part of home building as well as remodeling. Having a wall without a baseboard would be unprofessional and weird. They often define the entire room. A regal baseboard adds class and skimpy baseboards just make it look cheap.

Having an automatic garage door does not mean much if the opener will not work. For some reason, the Sears Craftsman garage door opener remotes just stop working after a while. This means you have to buy a new remote. Or does it?

Fireplaces are the central gathering place in most peoples’ homes. A fireplace can provide warmth, comfort, lighting, and more. Although they are relatively simple to operate, the fireplace damper can be a source of confusion for some people.

The landlord/tenant relationship is supposed to offer mutual protection. For the costs of rent, the tenant should be able to expect timely repairs, safe conditions, and all of the protections and rights that come with being a tenant.

If you’re like the average renter in my area, your landlord has a lease that stipulates that you need to have your carpets shampooed at least once a year. And let me tell you, shampooing your carpet is not exactly the easiest thing to plan out. This is doubly true when you realize you can’t actually step on the carpet until it dries. But…how long does that even take?

Ortho Home Defense is great for keeping bugs and killing off any nasty critters that may be taking up residence in your home. But like just about any other bug killer on the market, there will no doubt be questions about its safety of use around kids and pets.

Ah, new joys of parenthood. Lots of bottle filling, lots of new stains to get rid of, and tons of new things you never knew about keeping a good house. One of the first new stains you’ll run into as a parent is the awkward spill that happens if you drop diaper cream on a carpet. So, how do you get this stuff out of your pre-baby carpet?

There’s something about the understated beauty and elegance of brass that makes it a terrific addition to any home interior. Use brass items as accent pieces throughout your living and dining rooms to wow your guests. Brass looks even better when it features the right kind of finish.

Refrigerators have a wide range of weights depending on capacity and conveniences. A refrigerator is one of the heaviest standard appliances in the home, and for many residents, it has gotten larger and larger. But before purchasing your fridge, it’s important to know how much a refrigerator weighs.