Amy Bobinger, BA

How to Defrost Frozen Water Pipes (And When to Call a Pro)

Home improvement specialist Patrick Johns explains the best ways to unfreeze frozen pipesIf you turn your faucet on during winter and nothing comes out, you’ve probably got a frozen pipe. Thawing a frozen pipe is usual...

The Easiest Way to Fold a Fitted Sheet

While the elastic corners on a fitted sheet are helpful for keeping them on a mattress, they make folding the sheets a real pain. If you've ever gotten frustrated and stuffed your fitted sheets in your linen closet in a ...

Bamboo Propagation 101: Dividing Rhizomes & Taking Cuttings

Learn to grow bamboo from cuttings or rhizomesBamboo is a thick, woody grass that’s often grown as an ornamental plant or dense privacy barrier. You can propagate any type of bamboo by dividing the plant in early sprin...

7 Reasons Your Toilet Tank Isn’t Filling with Water (& How to Fix It)

Tips for diagnosing and fixing a toilet that doesn’t fill after you flushIf your toilet tank isn’t filling with water after flushing, you may not see any water in the tank at all, which can prevent it from flushing. ...

How to Plant an Onion That Has Sprouted to Get New Onions

If you find a sprouted onion, don’t throw it out—regrow it with this guideIf you notice a green sprout emerging from the top of an onion, it means it's trying to regrow. By separating the sprouts inside an onion’s ...

How to Remove and Replace a Drain Stopper

Learn to install a sink stopper replacement with this easy DIY guideIt's time to replace your sink stopper—but with all the parts and pieces around and below your sink drain, you aren't completely sure how to get start...

How to Hang Pictures with Sawtooth Hangers

From choosing the right type of hanger to installing itA sawtooth picture hanger is a great way to hang pictures that weigh less than . Sawtooth hangers are attached directly to the back of the frame, then hooked onto a ...

How to Replace & Attach Garden Hose Fittings

Learn the best ways to fasten a hose to any connectorIf you spend a lot of time in your yard, you already know how essential a good garden hose is. But if it's leaky or the attachments are worn out, how do you go about c...

A Complete Guide to Cleaning with a Bissell Little Green

Get carpets, curtains, & sofas clean with the Little Green Machine The Bissell Little Green is a compact carpet cleaner that’s perfect for tackling spills and stains on rugs, furniture, vehicle upholstery, and more. Th...

How to Revive a Dying Poinsettia: Easy Steps for Beginners

Top tips & tricks for bringing back a wilted or fading poinsettiaPoinsettias add a beautiful pop of color during the holidays, and they can also make a lovely houseplant year-round. But what do you do if your poinsettia ...

How to Retrieve Something You Accidentally Flushed Down a Toilet

Plumber-approved tips for getting objects out (and when to call a pro) Flushing an item down the toilet is a frustrating, worrisome, and all too common accident. Thankfully, the object will usually get caught in the drai...

Everything to Know About Adjusting Soft-Close Cabinet Hinges

Home improvement specialist Gino Colucci shares how to troubleshoot problems with cabinet doorsSoft-close door hinges are a great upgrade for your cabinets—they prevent doors from slamming and can even prolong the life...

Beginner’s Guide to Growing Date Seeds at Home

Follow these easy instructions to sprout and plant date seedsIf you live in a sunny climate, sprouting and planting a date seed can be a fun project. Date palms are slow-growing, but if you’re patient, you can have a b...

Replacing a Lamp Socket Switch or Cord Switch

Easy step-by-step guide for beginnersLamps are a stylish way to bring soft light into a room, but it can be frustrating when your lamp switch stops working. Instead of throwing your lamp away, try installing a new socket...

How to Replace the Batteries in Your Smoke Alarms

An easy guide to wired and non-wired smoke detectorsSmoke detectors are an essential piece of safety equipment for any home. Properly maintaining your smoke detector—including changing the batteries twice a year—can ...

How to Get Velcro to Stick Again: Cleaning Tips

Freshen up your Velcro strips with common household itemsUsually, when Velcro loses its stickiness, it’s because it’s clogged up with lint, hair, and other debris. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to toss out the ...

How to Adjust Garage Door Springs: Expert-Backed Steps

Learn to loosen & tighten torsion springs or extension springsGarage door springs offset the weight of the door and allow it to open and close with ease. A problem with the spring tension could cause the door to open or ...

How to Prune a Plum Tree for a Beautiful Shape & Fruit Production

A year-by-year guide to shaping and pruning plum trees Plum trees need to be pruned once a year to help them retain a healthy shape and produce abundant fruit. You’ll use the same basic techniques each time you prune, ...

Get Rid of Scratches on a Glass Cooktop Like a Pro

From buffing out minor scuffs to filling in deep scratchesGlass cooktops have a lot of benefits—they’re slicker and easier to clean than traditional metal cooktop. Unfortunately, glass cooktops do tend to get scratch...

How to Grow Onions from Onions at Home

Edible gardening expert Erin Hostetler explains how to plant and grow your very own onion plantsOnions are as simple to grow as they are delicious to eat in a variety of dishes. And, as long as you have another onion on ...