More and more households prefer to have their front yards paved rather than turning them into beautiful gardens. Yet, in many western cities, gardens constitute 1/3 of the total urban area. A beautiful garden next to your house can make you happier, make your house appear more inviting, and can even increase the value of …

Everyone knows you have to clean your makeup brushes, but for some reason hairbrushes are often forgotten. “Like all your beauty tools, hairbrushes get dirty with repeated use, especially if you’re using styling products on your hair,” says dermatologic surgeon and RealSelf contributor Sejal Shah, M.D. Along with hair clumps and product residue, dust mites, …

Sure, it’s an essential for grandma’s amazing chocolate chip cookies, but baking soda also has the power to freshen and clean seemingly countless spots in your home. It’s a super-effective (but gentle) abrasive and is a great natural deodorizer, so it’s helpful in all sorts of cleaning emergencies. 1. Remove stains from plastic food containers …

The first step when it comes to dusting is knowing which tools you should and shouldn’t use. For instance, feather dusters are far from helpful, according to Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab: “This tool simply spreads dust from one surface to another.” Instead, you can more successfully capture dust with …

With some careful planning, decorative touches and innovative storage, you can easily create a warm and welcoming haven. 1. FURNITRE AND FIXTURES Your decision about what to include will be dictated by the space available – a roll-top bath requires more room than a boxed-in one, for instance, and a counter-top sink with storage beneath …