Abusive Lab Test: Handheld Vacuums (With Video)
In the first video edition of Popular Mechanics' product review turned extreme experiment, we tested three new hand vacs, using each to clean up 32 oz. of pre-sifted flour, followed by 14 oz. of wet, disgusting kitty litter. Things got messy, ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
7 More Reasons To Switch Bulbs
Now, a new CFL revolution is at hand. Retail giants are pushing hard for the bulbs ? Wal-Mart hopes to sell 100 million CFLs by the end of the year. In California, a legislator recently proposed banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs in the ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Plus: The Best Lawn Chair Ever
Absurd? Sure ? but who wouldn't want La-Z-Boy's outdoor Whitley Recliner ($600), with its rustproof aluminum frame and fast-drying cushions? You can buy it as part of a six-piece set, but we think this recliner should stand alone, as a role model ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Animal House: Keeping The Critters Out
The defense: Housekeeping, gap sealing and food removal thwart rats and mice-and don't discount the snap trap. Invented in 1895, it's "simple, cheap and deadly," Fasoldt says. Because mice have poor eyesight, they travel a room's perimeter, so . ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
This New House: Restoration Tips You Can Use
They sure built 'em right in the rolling Dutch Country of southeastern Pennsylvania. The abandoned 1890s farmhouse on designer David Drummond?s 5-acre spread had withstood decades of weathering with barely a rotted clapboard to show for it. But ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
How Your House Works, Part 1: Plumbing
Plumbing has been around since early Roman times, but there's a good chance that the average man on the via didn't worry about how it worked. That was for the pros. Fast-forward several centuries to the aisles of your local home center. The pros ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Winter Watch: Tips To Reduce Snow-Shoveling Strain
I find this all very interesting because I've been shoveling snow for 34 years (I started when I was about 10). Anyway, I've shoveled, plowed and used a snow thrower, but I never thought much about it all until a cold and rainy day in spring ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Build Better Storage: Top 7 Tips To Save Space
One of my favorite tricks ? building drawers and shelves beneath a staircase ? came into play in the home of Sarah and Rob Eddins and their two children, ages 6 and 3. The Eddins's foyer was jammed with book bags, shoes, toys and coats ? all ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
How-To Central: Replacing A Water Heater
Our old heater had dielectric unions that connected the copper pipe to the threaded steel fittings on the water heater. A dielectric union is designed to prevent the electrolytic corrosion that occurs when these dissimilar metals are in contact. ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Home Checklist: 44 Tips To Cut Energy Costs
22 Insufficient attic ventilation can trap very hot air in the attic (well over 100°F in summer), causing serious damage to roofing materials and adding significantly to air-conditioning costs. For older houses, where overheated attics can be the ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Follow The Weekend Brick Road
Before beginning the walk, inspect the site and check the slope of the ground. Use a straight 2 x 4 and level to determine the slope (1). Ideally, the walk should be at the same height as the surrounding ground. Sometimes, adjusting the height ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Part 2: The Electrical System
Harnessing energy isn't new. If anything, it's a signature human characteristic. But of all the energy sources we've tamed, electricity is unique. Why? Because, quite simply, it's so portable. All you need are wires--and a few utility poles, ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
