Page 3 - News

Hand using a bug sticky trap on a window ledge with a cloth nearby and debris outside the window.

How Candle Wax Helps a Sliding Window Glide More Easily

Gareth Whitcombe • September 16, 2026

A candle wax can help a sliding window move more easily when dust, sand and debris in the track are...

Hands pouring liquid from a glass jug into a bowl on a wooden table with orchids and a sachet of grains nearby

How to Use Dry Yeast for Orchids at Home

Gareth Whitcombe • September 16, 2026

Among the ornamental plants people enjoy keeping indoors, orchids undoubtedly take centre stage. Their blooms are delicate, remain attractive for...

Person wearing gloves and a mask cleaning a stained wall with spray bottle and cloth in a bright room.

How to Remove Mould on the Wall Safely

Gareth Whitcombe • September 16, 2026

Mould on the wall develops when spores find moisture, limited ventilation and a suitable surface on which to grow. Removing...

A person placing a handcrafted clay birdhouse on a wooden table with a small bird perched on it.

Rufous Hornero Mud Nest: What It Means for Your Home and Garden

Gareth Whitcombe • September 16, 2026

Finding a rufous hornero’s mud nest at your home or in the garden is often regarded as a positive sign....

Schoolchildren gardening and watering plants in a greenhouse garden bed on a sunny day.

How More Than 2,000 Plastic Bottles Became a Greenhouse at Richardson Primary School

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

More than 2,000 plastic bottles that might otherwise have ended up in the bin have been given a new purpose...

Person wearing yellow gloves pouring drain cleaner into a blue bucket under a kitchen sink.

How to Clean a Sink Trap Safely

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

When water in the sink starts draining more slowly, the cause may be in the concealed section immediately below the...

Person hanging colourful plastic lids on a string above leafy green vegetables in a raised garden bed.

How Hanging Plastic Caps Protect Garden Beds from Birds

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Growing vegetables and plants at home calls for protection against small intruders that target tender shoots. Creatively hanging plastic caps...

Person organising folded clothes on a wooden shelf in a wardrobe with hanging shirts below.

Dry cloth in the wardrobe: can it help with moisture?

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

A dry cloth in the wardrobe may sound like an overly simple measure, yet it can be useful in specific...

Hand applying white tree wound dressing to lemon tree trunk in garden with watering can and brush nearby.

Wood Ash on the Lemon Tree Trunk: What It Is For and How to Use It

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Applying wood ash to the lemon tree trunk mixed with water is a traditional gardening method, used chiefly to create...

Man cleaning a concrete wall with a brush and spray bottle in a room under renovation.

Saltpetre on Concrete Walls: Causes and Removal

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Saltpetre on concrete walls can show up as white marks, crusts or a fine powder that returns even after cleaning....

Hands tying a young basil plant to a support stick in a clear pot on a wooden table outdoors.

How a Self-Watering Pot with a Wick Works

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

A self-watering pot with a wick keeps the water reservoir separate from the growing medium, using capillary action to move...

Conservator carefully restores a damaged fresco of a saint in a historic room with wooden beams and natural light.

Tudor Wall Paintings Discovered at The Ashes in Cumbria

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Renovation work in a bedroom in northern England took an unexpected turn when marks beneath the plaster began to resemble...

Hands pruning a pink rose on a small rose plant in a raised garden bed on a sunny day.

Rose bush stopped flowering: how to make it bloom again

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

When a rose bush stops flowering, many gardeners assume that it is unwell or will no longer produce buds. In...

Cross-section of a family sitting in a living room with a ventilation system installed underground beneath the house.

How Buried Pipes Provide Passive Cooling for Your Home

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

The search for sustainable ways to reduce heat in the home has prompted many families to investigate passive cooling concepts....

Man laying cardboard in garden bed surrounded by colourful flowers and gardening tools near house.

How Cardboard Sheet Mulching Transforms a Traditional Lawn into an Ecological Garden

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Replacing large residential lawns with ecological beds marks an important shift in modern gardening. Placing cardboard over existing vegetation forms...

Person cleaning a foggy window with a cloth while holding a digital thermometer showing 19.3°C.

Why a Window Is Wet Inside in the Morning: What Engineers Say

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

A window that is wet on the inside at daybreak is a common sight in many homes, particularly on colder...

Hands laying red bricks on a garden path with a rubber mallet and bucket nearby on a sunny day.

Aged Bricks for a Cosy Residential Garden

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Refreshing outdoor areas is taking a new direction, with industrial styling giving way to warmer finishes. Using handmade bricks in...

Hands pouring a white powder from a cardboard box into a bathroom sink with a tap and liquid soap nearby.

How bicarbonate eliminates unpleasant odours from bathroom pipework

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

The sudden onset of unpleasant odours from pipework causes everyday discomfort in many homes. Although reaching for bleach is a...

Young person kneeling on grass planting a sapling next to a tree with plant guides and tools nearby.

Trees That Can Damage Residential Foundations and Properties

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Growing plants in residential areas adds beauty and thermal comfort, but choosing unsuitable species can lead to serious problems. Well-planned...

Person disinfecting metal keys on white towel with spray bottle in bright kitchen setting

How to Spray White Vinegar on Keys Safely

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Spraying white vinegar on keys can help lift hand grease, perspiration, dust and other residue built up through everyday handling....

Person writing "BASIL" on a wooden garden marker with plants and gardening tools on a wooden table.

How to Make Wooden Plant Signs for the Garden

Gareth Whitcombe • September 15, 2026

Offcuts of wood from previous projects can be given a straightforward role in the garden: they can become plant identification...