Tips You Can Use - How to Use a Gas-Engine Leaf Blower (Sept. 19)

Leaf blowers are efficient appliances that help make fall clean-up a breeze. Here's how to use one safely to make fall chores a snap.

Tips You Can Use - How to Troubleshoot a Blender (Sept. 12)

When you’re in the mood for a smoothie, or a mixed drink, it’s only a nuisance when your blender goes on the fritz. These steps will help you get you mixing again in no time. 

Tips You Can Use - Care for Your Stand Mixer (Sept. 5)

Stand mixers are versatile when it comes to kitchen appliances. They are expensive, though, so make sure you take care to protect your investment. Follow these simple steps to make sure your mixer shines like new for batches of cookies and years of birthday cakes to come.

Tips You Can Use - How to Get the Most from Your Vacuum (Aug. 29)

Maintenance is key to getting the most cleaning power from your vacuum cleaner. Follow these steps four times a year (we suggest once every quarter) to keep your vacuum the cleaning machine you need it to be.

Tips You Can Use - Get the Most From Your Refrigerator (Aug. 22)

Keep you refrigerator working like the efficient workhorse it is - and save money - with a few, minor adjustments.

Tips You Can Use - How to Quiet a Window Unit Air Conditioner (Aug. 15)

If your room air-conditioner is noisy, Vibration is most likely the cause. Here's how to track down the cause and fix it so that you can stay cool in peace and quiet.

Tips You Can Use - How to Defrost the Freezer (Aug. 8)

More recent freezers don't need to be defrosted as they're frost-free, but they should be washed out and cleaned periodically. When ice builds up, it decreases your freezers ability to chill properly. Follow these simple steps to defrost your freezer when ice builds up to a thickness between 1/4 and 1/2 inches. 

Tips You Can Use - How to Refrigerate Foods Safely (July 31)

 With temperatures rising to the mid-90s and higher, keeping your food cool (and safe) is a priority during summer. Keep food fresh by following these guidelines, recommended by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tips You Can Use - Cleaning Refrigerator Door Seals (July 23)

Do you attempt to clean those pesky seals around your refrigerator door without much luck? Follow these steps to rid the seals of any grime to ensure your refrigerator door closes tight.  

Tips You Can Use - What to Do When Your HVAC System Breaks Down (July 17)

 Your air conditioning system breaks down in the middle of a heat wave. When you need to replace your system quickly, what should you do? American Standard offers these quick tips when you need to replace your air-conditioner in a hurry.

Tips You Can Use - Eliminate Washer Machine Mold & Mildew (July 10)
As with any appliance that deals with water, mold and mildew can become a problem. And the last thing anyone wants is clothes that smell like it. To get rid of any unwanted residue from both your clothes and washer, follow these steps to eliminate the problem entirely.

Tips You Can Use - Make Your Grill Look Like New (June 30)

Get ready for the Fourth of July weekend by cleaning up your grill. Have it looking new in no time with only a few steps. 

Tips You Can Use - Save Electricity with Your Electronics (June 25)

 The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) offers five simple tips to help families save electricity — and money — this summer.

Tips You Can Use - Save Energy, and Money, at Home (June 19)

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) offers these simple energy savings tips to consumers looking for ways to cut energy bills this summer. 

Tips You Can Use - How to Get the Most from Your Washer and Dryer (June 13)

It takes a hefty investment in clothes to keep you and your family looking great, and who wouldn't mind keeping those garments looking like new? A few steps taken during the wash and dry cycles can keep your clothes looking great for years -- and all with the help of your washer and dryer.

Tips You Can Use - How to Stop a Ceiling Fan From Wobbling (May 30)

If your ceiling fan is wobbling (and annoying you in the process) you don’t need to invest in a new one. Here’s how to make your ceiling fan run silently - or at least close to it.
 

Tips You Can Use - 10 Tips To An Energy-Efficient Kitchen (May 22)

Save energy -- and money -- with these ideas for your major appliances suggested by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC).

Tips You Can Use - How to Clean Your Coffee Maker (May 16)

After daily use for several months (or years), your coffee maker can end up looking grimy and leaving your coffee tasting the same. Cleaning your coffee pot will result in great-tasting brew and free your appliance of hard-water deposits.

Tips You Can Use - The Analog to Digital TV Switch (May 9)

You've probably heard that the analog TV frequency you currently view your favorite programs will switch over to a digital frequency, effective in 2009. You're not alone if you don't know what, if anything, you need to do to keep yourself tuned in.  

Tips You Can Use - How to Disinfect the Garbage Disposal (May 2)

It's convenient. You use your garbage disposal all the time, and occasionally, it starts to smell. With all the food thrown down into your garbage disposal, small food bits can leave your food-grinding appliance with a less then desirable funk. Here's how to keep your disposal clean and smelling great - and in a 'green' way too.

Tips You Can Use - Lawn Mower Maintenance (April 24)

Whether you've recently purchases a new a lawn mower or are breaking an old stand-by for the first cut of the season, a few tricks of the trade will help keep you mower cutting for seasons to come.

Tips You Can Use - Flat-Screen TVs: Five Things to Consider Before Installation (April 17)

You're new flat-screen TV has arrived. But before you start drilling holes in the wall, consider five factors that can affect where you place your HD display. The Consumer Electronics Association offers the following tips. 

Tips You Can Use - Set a Ceiling Fan for Summer Cooling (April 11)

A ceiling fan is an a cost and energy efficient way to keep your home cool in the summer heat. It can help keep a room comfortable without the air-conditioning running and also help circulate cool air with the AC on. To do so, make sure your ceiling fan is set for summer cooling.

Tips You Can Use - Cleaning Washing Machine Filters (April 4)

Over time, you may find your washer machine is taking longer to finish the cycle, is leaving more water than needed after rinsing, and is generally leaving your wash unclean. If so, cleaning you washer machine filter might be a quick fix to an efficient laundry cycle. 

Tips You Can Use - Easy Grill Clean-Up Tips (March 26)

Grilling brings the fun of summer, and the ease of outdoor cooking (aka: no dishes) with it. In a survey by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), 70 percent of respondents said they find “a lot” of pleasure in having few or no pots and pans to clean up when grilling as opposed to indoor cooking.

Tips You Can Use - Washing Machine Maintenance (March 19)

The change of season is a perfect time for maintenance checks on your household appliances, including your washing machine.

Tips You Can Use - How to Clean Your Air-Conditioning Unit (March 13)

With spring finally in the air, you should include your air-conditioner as part of your spring cleaning. A little pre-season maintenance will keep you cool and your unit operating smoothly -- even in the dog days of summer.

Tips You Can Use - Make Sense of Energy Guide Labels (March 5)

You've purchased an energy efficient appliance, but do you know how much energy (and money) you'll really be saving? Learn how to decipher those energy labels to find out.

Tips You Can Use - How to Install a Digital Thermostat (Feb. 28)

Although winter may technically be over in a few weeks, the chiller weather is still with us and still driving our utility bills up. To help conserve energy, and money, replace an old mercury thermostat with a digital, programmable one. 

Tips You Can Use - How to Choose a Whole House Humidifier (Feb. 21)

Whole house humidifiers are a great way to prevent the dry, winter weather from taking over your home. They're also a great investment if anyone in your household suffers from asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems. You should consider price, features and efficiency when it comes to purchasing a whole house humidifier, but here are a few guidlines to help you choose the best humidifier for you.

Tips You Can Use - How to Clean a Humidifier (Jan. 25)

Humidifiers need regular cleaning, especially during the winter months when they are used more frequently. Check your manufacturer's instructions and use your judgment when cleaning a humidifier to make sure this method works for your machine. After that, try this simple method. 

Tips You Can Use - What Is A HEPA Filter? (Jan. 11)

Tips You Can Use - How to Clean your Dishwasher (Jan. 6)

Tips You Can Use - What Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal (Jan. 2)

Tips You Can Use - Furnace Filters--Why They Matter (Dec. 19)

Tips You Can Use - How to Defrost Your Refrigerator (Dec. 11)

Tips You Can Use - Is Your Oven Heating Up Correctly? (Dec. 5)

Tips You Can Use - Maintaining your Microwave (Nov. 28)

Tips You Can Use - How to Safely Use a Gas-Fired Turkey Fryer (Nov. 21)

Tips You Can Use - How to Load a Dishwasher and What Not to Put in It (Nov. 16)

Tips You Can Use - Keeping Your Dryer Ready to Use and Safe (Nov. 8)

Tips You Can Use - Buying a New Appliance--Beyond the Price Tag (Nov. 6)

Tips You Can Use - Making the Most of Energy Star to Save Energy and Money
What does the Energy Star symbol mean, and what makes the appliances that have this symbol more efficient than other appliances? Energy Star is a program that was first developed in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a method to identify and promote products that are energy efficient.

Tips You Can Use - How to Save Energy and Prolong the Life of Your Washer

Have you checked the rubber hoses on your washing machine recently? Burst rubber hoses are one of the top causes of costly home flooding, yet this can be prevented with a little preventative maintenance.

Tips You Can Use - Tips To Fix an Ice Maker

Feature - The Kitchen Staple
Today's cooks want more than just reliability, they want style, they want to make a statement. In many homes, the range is designed as the focal point of the kitchen—the room where most families spend mornings, days, and evenings.