Win a free GPS from Gadling!

Posts with tag useful

What first-time home buyers need to know

Not a good choice for your first purchase of a house. By Flickr user wolfrage.

Ah, Spring: the time of year when flowers bloom, bunnies hop, and the sound of dozens of "For Sale" signs being hammered into the ground echoes throughout every neighborhood. While you can go house-hunting at any time of year, Spring is the season traditionally associated with buying or selling a house.

But home purchasing is full of potential pitfalls: what should you look for? How do you protect yourself and your family from shady sellers and predatory lenders? Who's the best inspector for the job? Do you even like the neighborhood? And what does a Realtor mean when they say "cozy," anyway?

All these questions (except maybe that last one), and many more, are addressed in a fantastic Ask Metafilter thread: Chunks of homebuying wisdom from The Hive Mind. Dozens of people weighed in with what they know -- and what they wish they had known -- about buying a house for the first time. It's invaluable reading for anyone who is in the market for a new residence, or just thinking about it.

[via Not Martha, a little while ago.]

17 fresh uses for common household junk

Before you throw out those old CD cases, infant floaties or garage funnels, take a look at this rather unique assembly of small projects created from normal household junk we all most likely have in abundance. I'm still scratching my head on the infant floatie with the lightbulb inside, but I digress.

My favorite out of this collection is the tennis ball ear insulating covers (like those headphones you use when at a firing range). To those of us who are handy daily with a high-speed drill, this could be a cool and very cheap solution. Just remember to get a over-the-head connection that doesn't squeeze that noggin too much.

Another tasty solution from this collection involves an index finger portion of a standard dishwashing glove being used as a dampener of sorts for the end of that salad dressing bottle. How many times have we all accidentally overpoured our favorite dressing onto that nice salad? Talk about a cool kitchen hack that allows neat and easy dressing dispersal.

Tennis balls: Little. Yellow. Useful.

Many household items have earned a spot in the ultimate do-it-yourself toolbox: duct tape, vinegar, lemon juice, aluminum foil, wire hangers; but there's one multi-task tool that many people might overlook: the tennis ball.

Yes, that furry yellow orb of happiness is good for a myriad of tasks far beyond its typical role of sitting in the bottom of your closet as a continual reminder of your broken New Year's resolution to get more exercise. In fact, the common tennis ball might be one of the most versatile and useful tools you never knew you had!

To prove my point, here are 17 helpful tips to make a tennis ball serve you (as opposed to the other way around):

Continue reading Tennis balls: Little. Yellow. Useful.

About DIY Life

Do Life! DIY Life highlights the best in "do-it-yourself" projects.

Here you'll find all types of projects, from hobbies and crafts to home improvement and tech.

Featured Projects


Powered by Blogsmith

DIY Life Exclusives

avant-yard construction chronicles remodeling

Sponsored Links

Featured Galleries

An easy way to insulate and skirt an elevated structure
USB analog gauge overview
USB analog gauge circuit
Fabric scraps projects
TieCake
Wedding bouquet ideas
Making and using a facial mask
Children's Day in Japan
Fingerprint stationery
Hot Sprinklers
Homemade lava lamp for kids
Create a Celtic pendant for St. Patrick's Day
Easy no-sew jeans messenger bag
Bathroom tile makeover - fish
Hinamatsuri doll examples
Poisonous Plants 101
Playground 4x4s
Upholstered nightstand makeover
iPod+Nike DIY duct tape pocket
cootie catcher
10 ways (OK, maybe a couple more) to increase your vehicle's fuel economy