Spicing up the dorm

Brighten dreary study area without breaking house rules

Necessity is the mother of creativity for university students trying to brighten their dorm rooms. Decorating takes on a whole new meaning when you're a student. The rules are strict and straightforward: The walls cannot be repainted. The curtains cannot be . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

SOLUTIONS: Cardboard proves a versatile resource

THE first corrugated box was manufactured in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, wooden boxes were gradually replaced by cardboard boxes. The average American generates an astounding 56 tons of trash per year. Before you recycle your cardboard boxes . . .

Posted: 2010-11-27

Have a 'staycation' to remember Oasis Leisure Centre

Why risk pandemics, political uprisings and getting less bang for your buck when you can just enjoy yourself at home this vacation? These so-called "staycations" are contributing to the huge popularity of the backyard home resort. Jason Lawrence, operations manager for Oasis . . .

Posted: 2009-07-26

Freeze leftover cookies to preserve the goodness

Question: I have a lot of leftover Christmas cookies, how can I prevent them from becoming freezer burnt in the freezer? Answer: Homemade cookies store well for about three months, in the freezer. Layer the cooled cookies between sheets of . . .

Posted: 2023-01-07

Layering landscapes with greenery

Dwarf trees can add depth to old growth and make a huge difference in small yards

A multi-tiered approach to incorporating greenery in the landscape is always ideal. Indeed, the typically modest patch of mostly flat area on which the average house sits cries out for multiple layers of interest.In a mature, roomy landscape, creating an . . .

Posted: 2017-01-28

Keeping your furnace in best shape

Question: I have a relatively new high-efficiency furnace with a filter that I clean regularly, but it does not seem to get very dirty. It has a large metal box with plates and thin wires and another very thin metal . . .

Posted: 2016-10-29

Replace old bathroom fan with HRV unit

Q uestion: We purchased a home, built in 1987, and have a bathroom fan that exhausts through a central motorized fan near the furnace. The vents that are used by the fan to pipe out the side of the house . . .

Posted: 2016-12-03

SOLUTIONS: Bring in ammonia for tough cleaning Solutions

QUESTION: I read with interest your hints in the Winnipeg Free Press. I need your help because I washed walls this week with my usual cleaner, Lysol Liquid; now there are terrible streaks over everything I've washed. This has never . . .

Posted: 2010-02-27

The eco-friendly way to banish motor-oil stains

Question: In a non-toxic way, how can I clean off motor oil from a large truck on my driveway? Thank you very much, Barbara   Answer: Here are a few examples, some of them are toxic and some are non-toxic. The fresher the . . .

Posted: 2017-06-30

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Check new-home fire codes when upgrading garage

QUESTION: I have a two-storey detached home in Whyte Ridge. The house was built in the early '90s. The living space is adjacent to, but not above, the attached garage. I want to undertake a "do it myself" project to . . .

Posted: 2012-01-21