Its easy to avoid bringing them home, but you have to know what to look for. Where Do Bed Bugs Come From? Bed bugs have been with us since humans began dwelling in caves. Credit:Getty Images Theyre not part of the ecosystem but live in the human environment, says Miller. They need us to survive. Thats because bed bugs werent a problem in the U.S. for much of the last century....

Here’s what to do if a bee’s nest is too close to your home. Gardeners know that all kinds of bees are good for our flower andvegetable gardens. We want and need these industrious, little workers. Credit:Getty Images But sometimes bees get a little too close to home for comfort. Most of the time, bees do their own thing, foraging for food and raising a colony. But learning about the insects in your landscape will help you understand how you gotta respond....

Say goodbye to faded black clothes with these simple tips. Getty Images You may think washing your clothes is a simple, straightforward process. Washing black clothes is an art form of its own. Credit:Getty Images That’s why their wash and drying processand even storagerequires more thought. So, how do you keep black clothes from fading? Why Do Black Clothes Fade? Credit:Getty Images In short, black clothes tend to lose their vibrancy overtime because of the breakdown in dyes....

Heres how to keep these pests away from you and your family. We asked two entomologists for expert tips on repelling black flies and keeping them away from your house. What Attracts Black Flies? Credit:Elmer Gray They are attracted to hosts by smell, heat, and sight. They never go away but will expand their territory if conditions are right. Are Black Flies Harmful? How Long Do Black Fly Bites Last? An anti-coagulant is injected, which causes the blood to run....

It’s not in the fridge. Kevin Scollohas worked in restaurants and bakeries across the country for over 15 years. There’s a reason for that. Credit:Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Plastic traps moisture, and moisture unfortunately promotes mold. “Most yeasted breads (baguettes, ciabatta) will last 1-2 days. What about a bread box? Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Some people will tell you that you absolutelymusthave a bread box....

So when the breading separates from the cooked chicken and falls off, it’s a major bummer. If this happens to you, try our foolproof method for breading chicken. you’re free to also leave the chicken uncovered in the refrigerator to dry it out. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox It sounds counterintuitive, but a dry surface will help the flour adhere evenly to the chicken. After coating chicken in an egg and breading layer, gently pat all sides....

Protect those peeled potatoes. This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Can You Eat Brown Potatoes? Yes, an oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn’t affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox But who wants to sit down to a bowl of graypotato salad?...

Heres how to keep deer from destroying your garden. Getty Images / Philippe Gerber Sure, Bambi is cute. But whats not so cute is when shes chowing down on yourvegetable gardenor devouring yourhostasanddaylilies. Credit:Getty Images / Philippe Gerber Even if youve never had deer visiting your yard before, theres always a first time. And no planteven those said to be deer resistantis truly safe from their voracious appetites. flowers,shrubs,perennials,and edibles....

Heres how to control the flea population in your yard. Fleas are a year-round problem in the South, both indoors and out. Because you cant control whats wandering through, fleas are constantly reintroduced to your yard. Credit: Sandra Dombrovsky / EyeEm / Getty Images Both types are wingless, black-brown to reddish-brown, and about 1/8 inch long. Some people actually have intense reactions with red, itchy bumps. You may feel silly but its effective....

Heres how to keep these disease-carrying pests away from your family. If we can be mindful about our behaviors, we can minimize our chances of getting sick. Keeping them out of our homes in the first place is the goal. Credit:Getty Images But we can take some basic steps to limit their access to our homes. Getty Images What Types Of Flies Get Indoors? You’ll be able to determine the bang out by their size and where they’re hanging out....

Heres how to deal with those annoying little pests. Gnat is a general term for a key in of small fly, says Matt Bertone. Theyre a diverse group, but people refer to a lot of the little flies as gnats. Credit:Getty Images / Marc Leupold Gnats are tinyand theyre everywhereso you wont see them sneaking indoors. You want to find the source of the issue, says Faith Oi, PhD. You also may have purchased an infected plant....

If you don’t have anyone to check on your houseplants, these tips from horticulturists can help. Have a growinghouse plantcollection and not sure about their care when you take off for vacation? There are several tips and tricks to ensure your plants manage without you. Credit:Getty Images Leave the plant to absorb moisture for about a half hour or so. Then let any excess moisture drip out. You dont want to drown the roots in too much water....

Dry macaroni and cheese is not invited to the holidays this year. Macaroni and cheeseis a thing of beauty when executed correctly. Unless your mac and cheese takes a turn for the worse and comes out of the oven dry. Credit: Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley You want to use equal amounts of butter and flour by weight. Unlike its baked counterpart,stovetop macaroni and cheeseis much easier to fix when too dry....