HowToDoThings.com Tools & Materials

How To Remove Tree Sap

gin rummy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:28:35 -0600

Are you having a problem with sticky tree sap? This sticky mess can adhere to your vehicle, clothes and even your hands. Unfortunately tree sap won’t wash off with soap and water. Follow these steps to remove sap from almost any surface.

You'll need the following:

Soap and warm water
Paper towels
Rubbing alcohol

Steps:

How To Enjoy Gardening Without Bug Bites

Liz — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:39:33 -0500

When venturing outdoors in your garden, you may have all the tools necessary to garden, but haven't prepared with the tools necessary to fend off annoying insects. These irritating bugs, such as mosquitoes and flies, can interrupt your concentration and your pleasure of gardening. Rather than trying to swat them away with your hand or to squash them with a trowel, if you come prepared with these tips, you can take pleasure in gardening again without being annoyed by pesky bugs.

How To Choose a Lawn Sprinkler System

Tonya249 — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:19:00 -0500

A lush, green, perfectly manicured lawn is the ultimate goal of many homeowners. However, unless you are fortunate enough to live in an area which receives abundant rainfall each year (Seattle, anyone?), you'll probably need a little help with the "green" part. A lawn sprinkler system can ensure that your grass receives the proper amount of moisture throughout the year.

How To Find Corrosion Control Products

Staff468 — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:19:00 -0500

Corrosion is the deterioration of materials, usually metal, due to reactions with the environment. While corrosion can occur anywhere, it is the corrosion of a home's pipes that is the cause for the most concern, as it can lead to the toxicity of a family's water supply.

Before using a corrosion-control method, conduct a test to estimate the degree of corrosiveness. There are a couple of simple ways to determine if your pipes are corrosive. For one, if you see blue-green stains in your sink or the same stains along the joints of the copper piping, corrosion is present. Rust stains will appear when iron corrosion is present. Toilets with blue, green, or rust stains indicate corrosion as well. If the tap water tastes bitter or metallic, corrosion may be the culprit of that, too. Sometimes corrosion also gives off an odor.

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How To Repair Sprinkler Systems

Bryan344 — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 14:00:00 -0500

Sprinkler systems are a necessity for anyone with a lawn. They'll save you time, money and headaches. However, repairing a broken sprinkler system is less than desirable. There are plenty of factors that go into repairing a sprinkler system, but the first step is determining what is in need of repair and where the problem lies. Once the initial assessment is done, the rest is relatively simple -- it just takes a little work to accomplish. Essentially, there are two places that you can break a sprinkler system: a main line (possibly when aerating) or a sprinkler head (usually when mowing a lawn). Breaking sprinkler heads is common, so don't feel bad if you do.

Repairing a Main Line

Determine where the line is broken. This is usually done by locating the puddle of water in the lawn or simply the geyser that's now in the lawn.

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How To Choose Garden Tractors

Bryan344 — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 11:37:00 -0500

If you're in the process of choosing a lawn tractor, you must make sure that you actually have a need for one. Lawn tractors are not only expensive, but they're bulky as well; storing one could create a problem for some of you. Also, if your yard is less than half an acre, you may not want to consider buying a tractor because the costs can often outweigh the benefits.

Each lawn tractor has different engine size, deck size (size of the cutting area), transmission types, possible accessory attachments and brand name.

How To Choose a Snow Blower

Tonya249 — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:38:00 -0500

If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow every winter, you know that the first snowfall is a fun novelty. Every one after that is hard work! The biggest job that needs to be done after a snowfall is clearing the driveway and sidewalk--and the best way to make this tough job easier is with a snow blower (or snow thrower, as they're more accurately called).

How To Choose a Lawn Mower

Tonya249 — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 18:54:00 -0500

If you own your own home, you're going to need to buy a lawn mower at some point. That is, unless you're lucky enough to have a gardener or have dedicated your entire yard to creating the perfect Zen garden. Choosing which lawn mower to buy can be either an exciting challenge or a bewildering chore. No matter how you view this task, there are several important factors to take into consideration before making a purchase.

How To Choose a Hose

Tonya249 — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 11:25:00 -0500

All garden hoses are basically the same, right? They're just a circular length of rubber that carries water from point A to point B. Well, that's true to a certain extent, but there are also many differences. If you are planning to purchase a new garden hose, here are some points to aid in the search:

How To Buy Garden Hoses

Victoria116 — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 02:44:00 -0500

Any home owner that has a yard will most likely want to have a garden hose as one of their home maintenance accessories. In fact, if your yard has a flower or vegetable garden - or just plain grass - a garden hose is a necessity. Here are some tips on how to buy a garden hose:

Determine your needs. There are three things to be aware of when buying a garden hose: the hose diameter, length, and quality. These three components will dictate the price you pay. Ask yourself a few questions before you go shopping for a hose. Do you need a hose that will run the entire length of your yard? Will you be using the hose on a daily basis for watering flowers or shrubbery? Do you have more than one outdoor water spigot?

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