Home and Garden
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You’re probably washing your sweaters wrongJan 01, 2025 7:13 pm - For some of us, nothing is better than sweaters: sleek merino wool crewnecks, ivory cashmere, chunky cable-knits. But for some, nothing is worse than washing them, with the pilling, shrinking, complex care tags, dry cleaning bills and hand-washing. Experts say many people are wary of cleaning sweaters, but they needn’t be.
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Find out where your firewood comes from to prevent the spread of invasive pests
Jan 01, 2025 6:34 pm - Crackling fires have long been a gathering place where idyllic chestnuts are roasted, stories shared and souls warmed, whether around a hearth or at a campsite. Some folks cut their own wood and let it season, but most buy their wood without much thought about where it came from. As it happens, where our firewood comes from matters a lot.
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How to get that drain unclogged, and other wisdom from plumbers
Jan 01, 2025 6:28 pm - Plumbing disasters can be funny in the retelling — unless they’re happening to you, that is. Professional plumbers offer the best advice to avoid problems, and how to best fix them if they occur.
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Home sales notch fourth straight month of gains in November
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Bezos’ Miami neighbor seeks $200 million for empty lot
Jan 01, 2025 5:45 pm - A mystery seller is asking $200 million for an empty waterfront lot next door to the properties Jeff Bezos bought in South Florida. The roughly 1.84 acre lot (0.74 hectare) is at Indian Creek, a man-made barrier island that’s been dubbed “Billionaire Bunker.”
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5 lessons pro organizers have learned from clients
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Houseplant watering, fertilizing slows down in winterDec 31, 2024 7:26 pm - During the winter, most houseplants are not in an active growth phase due to shorter days, reduced humidity and lower temperatures. Generally, houseplants require less water and much less, if any, fertilizer because their growth slows during the winter.
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Are home inspectors picking your pockets?Dec 30, 2024 6:29 pm - Can buyers and sellers just do their own home inspections and save the extra costs of the inspection, one reader asks. Find out the pitfalls they might fall into.
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What to know about kitchen cabinet renovationDec 27, 2024 4:15 am - Homeowners who want to give their kitchens a new look and feel without doing a full renovation can consider kitchen cabinet projects. An understanding of kitchen cabinet projects can help homeowners decide if this undertaking is for them.
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Lawyer passes baton on educating board members, unit ownersDec 25, 2024 6:00 am - After more than 13 years of having the privilege of writing this column, I am passing the baton. Although the column is called “Condo Talk,” it has addressed legal issues concerning the full variety of homeowner associations in Illinois; that is, condominium associations, master associations and common interest community associations.