Green Home How To & DIY

Improve the value of your home by discovering our green home step-by-step tips & ideas.

A person using a rag to clean mold from a door.

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How to Kill Mold on Wood and When to Call a Professional

Our guide details how to safely get rid of mold in your house and can help you determine when the problem is too severe for you to tackle by yourself.
Cleaning a light switch with gloves and a damp cloth.

Is Your House Making You Sick?

Is your house making you sick? Learn how to put a stop to illnesses caused by materials or chemicals in your home.
Cans of gasoline in a garage that are expired and need to be disposed of properly

How to Dispose of Old Gasoline

Did you know that the fuel for your vehicle or power equipment can expire? Here’s how to tell if it’s no longer ok to use and find out how to safely transport and get rid of it.
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A Guide to Making DIY Natural Cleaning Product for Your Home

Save money and the environment with easy DIY cleaning products you can make with household ingredients. Check out these easy recipes and tips.
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How To Dispose of Grease and Cooking Oil

In this guide, we discuss how to avoid the inconvenience of a clogged drain by properly disposing of your cooking and frying oils.
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8 Household Recycling Tips

Not sure if your household waste belongs in a blue bin or trash bag? Here’s how to decide which items to recycle in your household.
A surface with mold growing on it.

A comprehensive guide on how to Remove Mold on Drywall

If you notice mold on drywall, it's important to act quickly and remove it to prevent long-term health effects. Here's how to do it.
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How To Test for Black Mold

Wondering if that spot might be mold? Learn about the most popular ways and kits to test for mold at home.
A kitchen wall with restored copper pans.

How To Clean Copper and Restore Damage and Tarnish

Tackle dirt and tarnish to restore the rich, gorgeous gleam of any copper—on cookware, plumbing, and other household items.
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How to Deep Clean Your House

Go beyond the weekly dust swipe-and-sweep and gear up for what pros call a "deep cleaning." Read our tips for deep cleaning your living room, bathroom, kitchen and laundry appliances.
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How to Prepare Your Home for Coronavirus

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads in the United States, there are several ways to prepare your home during the outbreak.
A corner of a room with a black mold growing on it.

How to Prevent Mold in Your Basement

Identify, treat, and prevent basement mold with expert advice from This Old House.
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How to Paint a Mold-Resistant Bathroom

Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique paints a bathroom using a mold-resistant paint, in this edition of DIY Smarts.
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How To Safely Get Rid of Unwanted Household Items

Not all items can be thrown out in the trash. This guide covers how to safely get rid of unwanted household items, including hazardous waste.
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How To Install an Electronic Air Cleaner

Want to improve your indoor air quality? This Old House expert Richard Trethewey shows how to install an electric air cleaner.
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How To Get Rid of Attic Mold

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows DIY and professional techniques for how to get rid of attic mold.
Bad smelling skunk inside a carpeted room.

How To Get Rid of Bad Smells the Safe Way

Try these green-cleaning tips for natural ways to get rid of common household odors in your kitchen, bathroom, living room, and more.
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10 Ways to Reuse Old Coffee Grounds

Stash your used coffee grounds for these clever household projects.
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How to Handle Household Products Safely

Learn the best way to reduce your use of certain household products, as well as the proper way to dispose of those you no longer need
A flower full of pollen, which is a common culprit of allergies.

13 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home

Here’s how to allergy-proof your home from invisible irritants and banish them for good.
A person cleaning grout with a vinegar solution.

10 Alternative Uses for Vinegar for any Room of the House

Vinegar can multitask in any room of the house. Here are 10 creative uses for this inexpensive kitchen staple in your home.
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Debris Disposal 101: A Guide To Managing Renovation Waste

How to get cash for your trash—and other money-saving ways to reduce renovation waste while remaining legally compliant.
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Keep Mold From Taking Hold

Mold spores are a problem anywhere it's humid, but in post-Katrina New Orleans, the scourge was hard to beat; here's how the owner of the TOH TV NOLA project did it
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How to Recycle Your Old Carpet

Government and industry efforts help you keep the carpet out of the landfill
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How To Choose a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Learn how to choose the best carbon monoxide detector for your home with our guide covering key features, sensor types, and more.
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Clean the Air in Your House

The stuff you breathe inside your home might be as filthy as an L.A. smog storm. Here's what you can do about it
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Earth-Friendly Flooring

10 options for the eco-minded remodeler
A drawing of paint thinner being poured into a bottle to be disposed of.

Recycling Paint Thinner: Everything You Need to Know

Throwing out paint thinner after a single use is a waste of money and harmful to the environment. Here's how to recycle it effectively.
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Breathing Easier

Simple, low-cost ways to make the air in your home cleaner and healthier.