Green Home How To & DIY

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

Cleaning a light switch with gloves and a damp cloth.

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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.
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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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DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Keep your home clean and safe from harsh chemicals with these natural products and DIY cleaner recipes.
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How to Dispose of Grease and Cooking Oil

Read this guide to learn 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.
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How to Remove Mold on Drywall

If you notice mold on a drywall surface in your home, try not to panic. The truth is that mold can happen anywhere and in any home. All it needs to grow is a source of moisture and an organic food source, and drywall can be an all-you-can-eat buffet. Read these steps on how to safely remove mold from your drywall.
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How to Test for Black Mold

Do you keep getting a whiff of something musty in your bathroom or basement? Afraid it might be mold? Learn about three of the most popular kits to test for mold at home.
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How to Remove Mold From Wood

Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces, as wood is very good at absorbing water. Add to this moisture warm temperatures and mold spores (which are always in the air), and it’s the perfect storm for a mold infestation. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood.
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How to Clean & Polish Copper

Tackle dirt and tarnish to restore the rich, gorgeous gleam of this durable metal—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.
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How to Prevent Mold in Your Basement

Got mold in your basement? Read this guide to learn how to identify and treat mold.
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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

How to toss or recycle household materials in need of special treatment. Note: Be sure to check your local laws before proceeding
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How to Install an Electronic Air Cleaner

Improving indoor air quality with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey
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How to Clean Up Attic Mold

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows a professional approach to eliminating dangerous fungus outbreaks in the home
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Get Rid of Bad Smells the Safe Way

Try these expert green-cleaning tips for healthier ways to get rid of common odors.
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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
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13 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home

Here’s how to root out the invisible irritants that turn your home into a sick house and banish them for good.
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10 Uses for Vinegar

This inexpensive kitchen staple—the distilled white kind, that is—can multitask in any room of the house.
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Debris Disposal 101

How to get cash for your trash—and other money-saving ways to reduce renovation waste
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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

In this how-to video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey examines various types of carbon-monoxide detectors
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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
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Recycling Paint Thinner

Don't throw out your paint thinner after a single use
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Breathing Easier

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