What Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal: The Real List
The answer depends partly on your disposal. Grease is a hard no for everyone; for bones and fibrous scraps, it comes down to the model.
What Cookware Works on Induction? Magnet Test, Materials, Discs
You may already own more induction-ready pans than you think. A fridge magnet and a quick look at the base will tell you.
Why Your Dishwasher Smells Bad and How to Get Rid of It
Rotten-food smells, sewer smells and burning smells mean different things. Here's how to find the source and fix it.
Refrigerators
All Refrigerators
How to Clean a Refrigerator Water Dispenser: Nozzle, Tray and Lines
Slow flow, off tastes or black specks usually come from a dirty nozzle, a neglected drip tray or an old filter. Here's a safe cleaning routine from outside in.
Refrigerator Has a Chemical Smell? What It Usually Means
New-appliance plastic smell and leftover cleaner are common and harmless. A burning odor, an ammonia smell or a hiss from the tubing are a different story.
How to Remove Odors From a Refrigerator: Find the Source First
Deodorizers only mop up what is left. The real fix is finding the spill, the drip pan or the forgotten container that keeps the smell going.
Garbage Disposals
All Garbage Disposals
How to Remove the Knockout Plug on a Garbage Disposal
A five-minute step that decides whether your dishwasher can drain. Here is how to do it, when to skip it, and what to do if the disposal is already installed.
How to Get the Bad Smell Out of Your Garbage Disposal
A smelly disposal is almost always a cleaning problem, sometimes a drain problem, and occasionally a sign of something else. Here is how to tell which.
Garbage Disposal Not Spinning? Hum vs. Silence and What to Do
The sound it makes, or does not make, tells you most of what you need to know. Start with the free fixes before calling anyone.
Dishwashers
All Dishwashers
How to Remove Hard Water Stains in a Dishwasher (and Keep Them Away)
Cloudy glasses and chalky tub walls are mineral deposits, and they're usually easy to remove. Here's how, plus how to tell film from permanent etching.
How to Drain a Dishwasher With Standing Water (Step by Step)
Most standing water comes from a clogged filter or a blocked drain path, not a dead pump. Here's how to empty the tub safely and find the blockage.
Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes? How Drying Works and What Fixes It
Wet plastic is often normal, and empty rinse aid is the most common fix. Here's how dishwasher drying works and what to check before calling a tech.
Air Fryers
All Air Fryers
5 Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes, Plus a Times Chart for Everyday Veg
Cut evenly, use a little oil, do not crowd the basket. Five easy vegetable sides and a chart of starting times.
Air Fryer vs Convection Oven: Same Idea, Different Strengths
Both use a fan and hot air. The differences are chamber size, airflow, capacity and how much you cook at once.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer? Foil and Parchment Safety
Foil and parchment can save cleanup, but loose liners, blocked airflow and acidic foods cause problems. Here is how to use them safely.
Kitchen
All Kitchen
How to Remove Grease From Kitchen Cabinets (By Cabinet Finish)
That sticky film above the stove is cooking grease mixed with dust. Dish soap handles most of it; the trick is using as little water and scrubbing as possible.
What Is the Best Kitchen Sink to Buy? Materials and Mounting Compared
There is no single best sink, but there is a best fit for your counter, cabinet and habits. Here's how the main materials and mounting styles compare.
How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink: Plunger, Disposal Check and P-Trap
Grease, food scraps and coffee grounds cause most kitchen clogs. Work from the free checks to the P-trap, and leave caustic drain openers on the shelf.
Ranges & Ovens
All Ranges & Ovens
Oven Temperature Not Accurate? How to Check, Adjust and Test the Sensor
Most ovens cycle above and below the set point, so a single reading means little. A proper check takes about 30 minutes and an inexpensive thermometer.
Gas Stove Burner Not Lighting? Fixes for Clicking, No Click, Weak Flame
If the igniter clicks but nothing catches, the fix is usually cleaning and reseating parts. If you smell gas, stop and get out.
How a Self-Cleaning Oven Works: High-Heat vs Steam Clean
Self-clean is convenient but not effortless. Here's what happens during the cycle, why pet birds should leave the house, and what to check before you start.