Author: Joseph Greenfinger

Decorative pillows add comfort and style to your home, but only if they are clean and new. Most decorative pillows should be washed once or twice a year to remove dust and soil from their bodies. The material used to make the pillow determines whether it can be machine washed, hand washed, or spot washed only. Always check the care label for specific instructions. Here’s a guide to the best ways to wash decorative pillows. Cleaning tips Refresh throw pillows by placing them in the dryer on the air-only setting. Add a few wool dryer balls to help fluff the…

Hello GPODers! Today we’re getting a summer update from Lee Miller’s garden on Long Island (check out her first entry: Long Island Garden Tour). She sent in so many great photos and information, so I’ll let her take the cake: Welcome to my summer garden! I am a native of Long Island, New York, who grew up and still lives in my childhood home in Sayville, a town on the south shore of the island. Gardening since I was five years old and now in my 60s, my undying passion for all things green continues to grow. As a retired…

If you enjoy thrift shopping, you may have noticed that, unfortunately, many items have a musty “thrift store” smell that seems difficult to get rid of. However, it turns out that getting rid of the smell of your finds is easier than you might think. Below, cleaning experts share some tips to help keep your found items smelling like new. Meet the expert Lily Cameron is a cleaning expert at Fantastic Services. Prerna Jain is the General Manager of Ministry Of Cleaning, a residential and commercial cleaning company. Justin Carpenter is the founder and CEO of Modern Maids, a Texas-based…

Powdery mildew is a common plant disease found in gardens and greenhouses (and occasionally houseplants). It can appear from spring onwards but is most common in mid-summer. It appears as an unsightly white or grey fungus covering the leaves, stems and sometimes flowers.Mild infections may initially cause little damage to plant growth, but as the problem progresses, new shoots become stunted and deformed. On plants such as roses, it reduces flowering, and on crops such as peas, gooseberries and zucchini, yields are severely affected.Powdery mildew is more likely to attack plants that are already stressed, often when growing in unsuitable…

Common name Saffron Botanical name Saffron Family Iris Family Plant type Light bulb Adult size 4–6 in. tall, 2–4 ft. wide. Bask Whole, part Soil type Rich, well-drained Soil pH Neutral to slightly alkaline Bloom time October to November Flower color Purple to lavender Tolerance zone 6-9 (USDA) Native area Eastern Mediterranean Toxicity Mildly toxic to pets Saffron Care Following are the main care requirements when growing saffron plants. Plant in late summer or early fall in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.Place the bulb in full sunlight.Be careful not to overwater, but do fertilize the flowers after planting.Overwinter bulbs…

Who doesn’t love strawberries, especially when grown at home? These delicious fruits have a distinct summer flavor and are easy to grow, and with proper care, should continue to grow after the main harvest.There are three types of strawberries. The most well known are summer strawberriesthe most commonly grown variety. They produce a heavy harvest over 2-3 weeks in early summer, with some varieties bearing fruit earlier than others. Conversely, strawberry fruit continuously grown for a much longer period in the summer and even in the fall. Although the harvest is less and the fruit is smaller than that of…

On the plus side, this is exactly when you’ll see what kind of shade you need, and where and when you need it – all important considerations when introducing shade into your garden. Whether it’s a place where you like to read or do morning yoga, a terrace that can accommodate long lunches, or a more permanent structure with a view of the garden to sit and relax in, each location and activity requires its own shade at specific times of the day.The quickest way to create shade is to use some kind of accessory. Umbrellas have long been used…

If you haven’t given much thought to your living room ceiling, it’s time to change your thinking. Many interior designers like to treat the living room ceiling as a fifth wall, making sure it stands out and adds personality and character to the space. “Adding intentional design elements to the ceiling will help draw the eye up and give the room more visual vertical height,” says Kevin Billings, founder of Dexter and Plaid. Some of Billings’ favorite ways to make a ceiling look better include adding wood beams and/or tongue-and-groove paneling to the ceiling, painting the ceiling, or decorating with…

Boxwood leaf-eating caterpillar (Monarthropalpus flavus) is quite common on cultivated boxwood shrubs. This is one of the worst types boxwood pestsBut some plant varieties are more susceptible than others. Severe infection, if left unchecked, will eventually kill the plant within about a year.However, with the right treatment, you can save your hedge. Boxwood leafminers are the larval form of a type of fly. They damage a wide variety of plants, including many vegetables and ornamentals like boxwood. Here’s how to identify, remove, and prevent boxwood leafminers.Does your plant have boxwood leafminers?To determine if you have leafminers on your boxwood, you…

Sponges may not be as clean as they appear, even when we use them to wash dishes and surfaces. A 2019 study found that sponges harbor high levels of bacteria, calling them “the most contaminated item in the home.” Sponges are breeding grounds for bacteria because they are porous and retain moisture. Sponges need to be replaced regularly, but the good news is that there are ways to disinfect and clean them to extend their life. Learn how to clean your sponge and when to replace it below. How often should you clean your sponge? If you use your sponge…