MIKE HOLMES: Make sure you avoid the 'con' in contractors

I just heard a news story about some contractors getting arrested for taking homeowners' money and not completing the jobs they were hired to do. In one case, a contractor is accused of scamming a 90-year-old man from B.C. out . . .

Posted: 2012-02-25

Finally, time to do a job of my own

When a window of opportunity opens, I have to take advantage

My fellow contractors will agree — it’s next to impossible to set aside adequate time to start, let alone complete, renovations at our own homes, because most our time is spent completing renovations for hire elsewhere.This has been the running . . .

Posted: 2016-12-24

Growing cold

Extend the season with backyard greenhouses, potting sheds and cold frames

Winter, that cold interlude between the end of one growing season and the beginning of another, can be a productive time for gardeners. Some of the best ideas for backyard projects are started at the kitchen table, born out of . . .

Posted: 2014-11-08

Mirror trick brightens your outdoors

Dear Debbie: We live in a townhouse with a small back deck that gets lots of sun. We enjoy it all summer long as a quiet spot to relax -- it's just big enough to have a few friends drop . . .

Posted: 2013-08-10

Use vinegar and hot water to remove blueberry stain

Question: I think of you for so many household questions that befuddle me. And here’s another one. I have a big, straw summer purse with cloth lining. I spilled blueberries on the lining and don’t know how to clean the . . .

Posted: 2016-08-13

Make those appliances sparkle and shine

Question: My client remembers an article you wrote about cleaning appliances. Can you send me the tip? I know she would greatly appreciate it. Laura Answer: Begin by scrubbing coloured appliances, with a green scrubby cloth and dish soap. For stainless . . .

Posted: 2022-04-02

CONNIE OLIVER: Paint the town red, blue, yellow, purple...

Leading paint brand Dulux Paints aims to increase colour awareness among Canadians as international Let's Colour Week gets underway. As part of Let's Colour Week, structures around the world will simultaneously be infused with colour in an effort to transform grey . . .

Posted: 2011-10-15

Inexpensive household cleaner you can make at home

Question — Do you have a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner I can make at home? Tim Answer — Into a spray bottle combine one and a half cups water, and one and a half cups rubbing alcohol. Add two . . .

Posted: 2022-08-06

Two cutting boards are better than one

Question: My cutting board smells of garlic and every food that I cut on the board picks up the smell. What can I use to clean the board so that it no longer smells? Melissa, Ste. GenevieveAnswer: Many cutting boards . . .

Posted: 2016-02-06

Turkey tips to love those leftovers

Question: I have leftover turkey and I don’t want to waste it. Please tell me how to make homemade turkey stock like my grandma used to make. Thanks. Salome Answer: Great question! There are hundreds of variations for making homemade . . .

Posted: 2022-12-31