Home Improvement & Appliances Books

Crystal-clear advice for maintaining a crystal-clear swimming pool Keeping a swimming pool ready for use requires some chemistry know-how, an understanding of how pool mechanics work, and some time spent doing good old-fashioned cleaning work. Pool Care For Dummies offers a reliable, comprehensive resource for building the knowledge that lets you turn pool maintenance into a do-it-yourself task. Written by a certified swimming pool professional who started taking care of pools when she was 5 years old, this book helps you separate the good advice from the bad as you learn to build an upkeep schedule, figure out what chemicals you actually need and which are less-than-magical potions, and fix the common problems that plague all pool owners. With so much trustworthy pool care advice in one place, you can finally cut back on time spent searching for swimming pool advice and more time splashing with your friends and family! Learn how pools work and get the tools you need to keep your pool running Test your water and maintain a safe swimming environment Care for your and balance your above-ground or in-ground pool Know what to do when unexpected problems arisePrivate pool owners who need to know what’s what in the water will love this clear and complete Dummies guide.

Breathe new life into old furniture and thrift store finds Upcycling Furniture For Dummies shows you how to revitalize old furniture, with just a little effort and imagination, and maybe a few coats of fresh paint. Upcycling furniture is affordable, good for the environment, and a whole lot of fun! This easy, step-by-step guide shows you how to get creative and put your own unique flair on your designs. You'll gain the knowledge and confidence you need to select items that are worth transforming or restoring and learn specific techniques to give old pieces a new lease on life. Learn the process of upcycling dressers, tables, chairs, and other furniture Enjoy the fun of sourcing items and increasing their value with your creativity! Update your décor with gorgeous, upcycled furniture Express yourself and find out how to flip your creations for a profit! This Dummies reference is great for anyone with an interest in turning trash into treasure.

Clutter in your home is more than inconvenient — it can actually make a negative impact on your life and mental health. In this book, professional organizer Jane Stoller, founder of Organized Jane, teaches you how to create a decluttering game plan and make smart decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of.

The book that cuts through the clutter of decluttering  Modern life has produced so much clutter that the thought of packed closets, attics filled with storage bins, and rental units specifically used to store odds and ends produces its own stress. The decluttering movement offers solutions for those interested in reducing the amount of stuff in their life and embrace a more minimalist, tidier lifestyle.  Professional organizer Jane Stoller helps you bypass the stress of a tidying project by offering simple, proven methods for organizing every space in your life—even your mind! Build a new mindset for minimalist living Declutter your home, office, and digital life Develop new routines for a tidier life Establish minimalist practices From adopting a decluttering mindset to finding new homes for unwanted items, this is the book you’ll need to keep handy after the big cleanup!

Benefit from the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui  Take a look around you. What do you see? Whether or not you're aware of it, your environment profoundly affects your health, wealth, family life, relationship, and yes, even your destiny.  Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), which means wind water, is the ancient Chinese study of harmony and energy flow between you and your physical surroundings. Now, Feng Shui For Dummies, 2nd Edition shows you how you can apply Feng Shui principles to your home (inside and out) and workplace (from window office to cubicle) in order to achieve a better life. Principles are explained in an easy-to-understand language Practical tips show you how to incorporate the traditions of Feng Shui to your everyday life Before-and-after illustrations and full-color photos of real-life Feng Shui makeovers in an all-new 8-page color insert  Free of technical jargon and brimming with practical tips and advice, Feng Shui For Dummies shows you how to feel and access the energy of your environment and create harmony and happiness in your life. P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you're probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Feng Shui For Dummies (9780470769324). The book you see here shouldn't be considered a new or updated product. But if you're in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We're always writing about new topics!

A hands-on, step-by-step guide to properly maintaining your home Your home requires regular maintenance to operate safely and efficiently. The expert advice in this second edition of Home Maintenance For Dummies can help you save literally thousands of dollars each year by showing you how to perform home maintenance yourself! This new edition provides the latest tips on how to tune up your home and make repairs to every room of the house, from basement to attic. By combining step-by-step instructions and expert information, this practical guide gives you the skills to tackle everything from furnace tune-ups to leaky roofs. You'll also learn how to conduct routine inspections, keep major appliances running efficiently, and increase energy efficiency. Shows how to keep your home in tip-top shape, preserve its value, and avoid costly repairs Covers all rooms of the house, in addition to the roof, foundation, and exterior Explains how to keep all home systems and major appliances running smoothly Includes a seasonal maintenance schedule Provides the latest green maintenance options to help lower your utility bills James Carey and Morris Carey have a radio show, a newspaper column, and a Web site, all called On the House, and appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning. They are also the authors of Home Remodeling For Dummies If you've always wanted to tackle home repairs like a pro, Home Maintenance For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your ideal resource!

If I had a hammer: The fun and easy way for do-it-yourselfers to repair home appliances and furniture For anyone who's ever been frustrated by a repair shop rip-off or just wanted to join thousands of others in the DIY craze, How to Fix Everything For Dummies is a no-nonsense guide showing you how to troubleshoot and fix a wide range of furniture (with wobbly legs, for example) and household appliances -- vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, toasters, blenders, radios, televisions, and even computers and printers. Packed with step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, it's a must-have money-saver for the half of all homeowners who undertake Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home projects. This hands-on, DIY manual shows you not only how to fix faulty appliances but also tend to all those irritating repairs that cost more to have someone else fix than the item is worth. How to Fix Everything For Dummies is for you if you Are a homeowner or an apartment dweller Want to fix things around the house but aren't sure where to start Have some experience but need guidance on tackling more and larger repairs May be frustrated about throwing things away because you don’t know where to go to repair them Don't want to pay for service calls when the problem is minor Featuring clear, concise directions, How to Fix Everything For Dummies also covers the proper tools and materials to get the job done correctly without breaking the bank and important safety measures to take so you don’t hurt yourself. You’ll learn how to Fix creaky stairs Patch basement floors Restore damaged carpets Correct drywall and repair plaster walls Fix door and cabinet hardware problems Rewire fixtures Get doorbells to work Fix garage door openers Unclog drains and fix leaky pipes Mend wooden fences and decks Repair minor cracks in the concrete driveway or pool And a whole lot more Additionally, this friendly guide is written in plain English and includes a list of home repairs you should not take on yourself but should leave for the professionals and tips on how to hire one. Grab your copy of How to Fix Everything For Dummies, grab your screwdriver and wrench, and get to work!

Thinking about building your own home? This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. From acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely -- and staying sane during the process!

Want to be your own decorator? Design on a dime with Dummies! Home Decorating For Dummies packs all the information you need to know about décor into one easy-to-read source. Whether you want to decorate one room or make over the whole house, this book has everything you need to design like a pro. This is the only reference you’ll need to transform your home into a space you’ll love. Dummies offers no-nonsense help, so you can plan perfect projects and stay within budget. Updated with the latest on smart homes, short-term rentals, DIY décor, and more. Learn how to optimize your home’s floor plan Discover tricks for mixing patterns, colors, and textures successfully Refresh your home’s style without spending a fortune Decorate rental properties with eye-catching, trendy style Untangle the terms—mid-century modern, farmhouse, minimalism—and pinpoint your design styleFor those seeking ideas, resources, and budget-wise tips to spark their decorating creativity, Home Decorating For Dummies is a must-have.

Organize your office, your home, your life!What’s the favorite four-letter word of people who are less than fully organized? “Help!” So many technological, social, and economic changes affect your life that you need organization just to keep up, let alone advance. Many people have two jobs – one at the office and one taking care of things at home. If you have a family, you may count that as a third job. Caring for elderly relatives or have community commitments? You can count off four, five, and keep right on going. No matter what life stage you’re in, getting organized can make every day better and help you achieve your long-term goals. Organizing For Dummies is for anyone who wants to Polish his or her professional reputation Experience less stress Increase productivity Build better relationships Maximize personal time Organization isn’t inherited. With the human genome decoded, the evidence is clear: DNA strings dedicated to putting things into place and managing your time like a pro are nonexistent. Instead, organization is a learned skill set. Organizing For Dummies helps you gain that skill with topics such as: Understanding how clutter costs you in time, money, and health Training your mind to be organized and developing a plan Cleaning house, room by room, from basement to attic (including the garage) Creating functional space for efficiency and storage Time-management strategies for home, office, and tavel Scheduling, delegating, and multitasking Making time for your family Managing your health – physical and financial Finding time for love Organizing and cashing in on a great garage sale Getting organized is about unstuffing your life, clearing out the dead weight in places from your closet to your calendar to your computer, and then installing systems that keep the good stuff in its place. Organizing is a liberating and enlightening experience that can enhance your effectiveness and lessen your stress every day – and it’s all yours simply for saying “No” to clutter.