Home Resource Page

Contents [Hide] 1 Blogs 2 General 3 Decorating 4 Appliances 5 Arts and Crafts 6 Cleaning 7 Furniture 8 Home Decor 9 Kitchen 10 Tableware 11 Kitchen Storage 12 Linens and Bedding 13 Outdoor Accessories 14 Power Tools 15 Utility Closet

Blogs

Home and Garden Blog Roundup

General

• Lowe's -- the store has helpful home project information and some product buying guides.
• Home Depot Know-How -- Home Depot's guide to how to do just about anything around your house.
• Do It Yourself -- DIY projects for everything in the home.
• BHG's Home Improvement Encyclopedia -- Better Homes and Gardens tells you how to fix stuff.
• Home Improvement Share Wiki -- A Wiki site where you can search and share Home Improvement projects.

Decorating

• Interior Decorating at About.com -- About's decorating tips and advice. Check out the article on paint colors.
• Rental Decorating -- information specifically geared towards decorating rentals.
• Essortment -- variety of text articles on a wide range of topics.
• Get Decorating -- requires a subscription to view hundreds of photos of decorated interiors, exteriors and homes.
• Home and Garden Makeover -- lots of articles about how to redecorate, including budget interior design.

Appliances

• Air Conditioners
• ConsumerSearch -- a meta-review of air conditioners -- scroll down for a table giving the number of BTUs you need for a given room size.

• Air Purifiers
• Allergy Buyers Club -- only reviews HEPA filters, as the other two kinds aren't that useful for allergies.
• Air Purifiers America -- conducted their own tests, has an extensive buying guide w/ FAQ.
• ConsumerSearch -- extensive information summarizing many different reviews; detailed information about many models; describes in detail the lawsuit brought by Sharper Image against Consumer Reports for a series of bad reviews for the Ionic Breeze line of air purifiers.
• Sharper Image -- response to the poor reviews for the Ionic Breeze in Consumer Reports. Doesn't respond to the Air Purifiers America review.

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning -- information on carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Epinions -- an expansive (and negative) critique of CO detectors.

• Clothes Dryers
• ConsumerSearch -- clothes dryer reviews and buying tips.
• HowStuffWorks -- how dryers work.

• Dehumidifiers
• ConsumerSearch -- comprehensive.
• Allergy Buyer's Club-- geared to consumers with allergies.
• Dehumidifier Basicsand Dehumidifier Features -- two pages from EnergyStar about dehumidifiers.

• Flashlights
• Flashlight Guide -- More detailed info.

• Freezers
• Ezine Articles -- How to choose a freezer.
• About.com -- Saving money with your freezer.
• American Council for Energy Efficient Economy -- Top-rated freezers.

• Irons
• ConsumerSearch -- reviews of irons and product recommendations.
• Extreme Ironing -- the latest sports craze started in the UK. You have to see it to believe it.

• Ovens
• Lowe's -- simplified guide to the important features.
• Choice -- Australian guide to buying an oven -- still applicable in US, except for dimensions given in centimeters.
• Aki's Kitchen -- an amateur chef with an extensive opinion on buying ovens.
• ConsumerSearch -- a review of the reviews of specific models.

• Smoke Alarms
• Residential Fire Safety Institute -- information on placement of alarms, alarm maintenance, and other FAQs.
• How Stuff Works -- how smoke alarms work.

• Space Heaters
• What You Should Know About Space Heaters -- more safety information.

• Vacuums
• Knowledge Hound -- information about buying a vacuum.

Arts and Crafts

• Knitting
• Stitch 'n Bitch -- website for the popular book -- with patterns!
• WoolWorks -- a free resource for knitters.
• Knitting Techniques -- with animations.
• Yarn Lover's Room -- knitting and crochet pattens, and how to interconvert the two.

• Woodworking
• Woodworking Magazine
• Workbench Magazine
• American Woodworker

Cleaning

• How to Clean Anything -- just like the name says.

Furniture

• Beds
• Australian MSN -- Why a good bed is so important.
• eHow -- How to buy a good bed and mattress.
• Total Bedroom -- Glossary of bedroom terms.
• Furniture 123 -- A helpful glossary with pictures and explanations.

• Computer Desks
• Buyer Zone -- How to buy a quality desk.
• Healthy Computing -- Buying a comfortable desk.

• Lighting
• How Stuff Works -- Learn all about how different light bulbs work (as well as lots of other science).

• Mattresses
• ConsumerSearch -- Good mattress comparisons.
• Simmons -- They have several articles on "better sleep basics".
• Mattress Hotline -- A giant comparison index of brand name mattresses.
• Better Sleep -- A primer on the main mattress terms.
• What's the Best -- Another intro to mattresses with a handy instructional on mattress production, sorted by brand, price, and quality.
• A Bed -- What's best, depending on your sleeping preferences.

Home Decor

• Classic Vase Styles -- Provides insight into the types and shapes of popular vases.

Kitchen

• Cheese Graters
• Cheese.com
• ILoveCheese.com
• Cabot Cheese
• All Natural Brick Cheese
• The Wisconsin Cheeseman
• 1800Gourmet.com
• igourmet.com
• Hickory Farms

• Coffee
• Sally's Place -- learn about different kinds of coffee makers.
• Capresso -- online manual if you lost your print copy.

• Cutting Boards
• Wood V. Plastic -- Pro-plastic
• Wood V. Plastic -- Pro-wood

• Dehydrators
• Healing.About -- more information on commercial dehydrators.
• Mother Earth News -- Choosing a food dehydrator.
• About.com -- Details on types of dehydrators.
• Food Dehydrator Store -- How they work. (Poorly edited, but informative.)
• Food Dehydrator Store -- The best dehydrators.
• Dry Story -- Dehydration FAQs.
• About.com -- How to know when your food is dried.

• Egg Coddlers
• Martha Stewart -- She knows how to make coddled eggs for four. Don't doubt her.
• Teri's Kitchen -- This lady looks like she knows her way around coddled eggs. Impressive.

• Fondue
• About.com -- Many links to recipes for all kinds of fondue.

• Juicers
• Macrobiotics -- Interested in learning more about the health benefits of juicing, especially as part of a macrobiotic diet?

• Knives
• The Knife Outlet Kitchen Guide -- Interesting article about knife construction, along with the distinction between Eastern and Western knife-making philosophies.
• Chef's Resource -- Lots of different knife styles to check out as well as other cookware.
• Furitechnics -- Demonstration of knife technique by a professional chef!
• Korin Trading Company -- Introduction to Western and Japanese knives.
• Taunton Press -- Choosing great knives.
• Amazon -- How to buy great knives.
• Amazon -- Types of knife blades.
• Hormel -- Types of kitchen knives.
• ConsumerSearch -- Kitchen knife reviews.

• Knife Sharpening
• Korin.com -- info on stone fixers.
• Korin -- On sharpening.
• Korin -- A DVD on knife sharpening!
• Books on knife sharpening 
• Korin -- More info on sharpening stones.
• World Knives -- A guide to knife sharpening.

• Measuring Cups
• Infoplease -- handy chart giving kitchen measurement equivalents. They also have a kitchen unit converter.
• Wikipedia - Pyrex -- all about Pyrex glass.

• Microwave Ovens
• Epinions -- All about buying a microwave.
• Wikipedia -- History, workings, risks of a microwave.

• Pasta Makers
• Pasta.com

• Pizza Cutters
• Williams Sonoma -- gourmet pizza supplies.

• Water Filtration
• ConsumerSearch -- Reviews of all the major types of water filters.
• Kinetico -- Company that specializes in reverse osmosis filters. Check their website for dealers near you.

• Whisks
• Cooking.com
• Amazon.com sells whisks in sets.

Tableware

• Chopsticks
• How to Use Chopsticks -- Still confused about how to eat with chopsticks? Follow this how-to guide. It also has Japanese eating etiquette tips.
• Wikipedia - Chopsticks -- For usage, trivia, and more general information

Kitchen Storage

• EHow -- More tips on how to free up counter space!

• Knife Storage
• Am-Wood -- build your own knife block.
• Furitechnics -- safe knife storage.

• Spice Racks
• Amazon.com
• Cooking.com
• Fantes.com
• Organize-everything.com
• Spicebarn.com
• Stacksandstacks.com
• The Tubular Spice Co.

Linens and Bedding

• Linens
• QVC -- Their linen guide, as seen on TV.
• Better Homes and Gardens -- Some information on bath linens.

• Pillows
• Allergy Buyers Club -- A comparison of several top, hypoallergenic pillows.
• The Company Store -- FAQs for general linen and pillow softness.
• Land's End -- another pillow guide.
• Back Designs Guide -- a guide to properly fitting your pillow.

Outdoor Accessories

• Grills and Smokers
• About.com -- Before you buy a gas grill, read this.
• About.com -- Before you buy a smoker, read this.
• Barbecue Smoker Grill -- Smoker FAQs, including temperatures for specific meats.
• Smoking Meat -- The complete smoking meat guide.
• Patio Heaters
• How to Buy a Patio Heater -- Tips and hints on purchasing a patio heater.
• Patio Heater FAQ -- Provides indepth information on patio heaters.

Power Tools

• Lathes
• Mini-Lathe -- A very detailed photo schematic of a lathe. It's a few years old, but makes the whole lathe process very clear.
• Sawdust Making -- Explains the parts of a lathe with a nice picture.
• Wikipedia -- Introduction to the lathe
• Mini-Lathe -- An in-depth documentation of all the things a lathe can do to metal.

• Planers
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety -- What do know before using a planer.
• Consumer Guide -- People are raving about the Rigid 13 inch planer. See it for yourself.

• Power Saws
• The Center to Protect Workers' Rights -- A guide to power saw safety.
• eBay -- Guide to power saws.
• Lowe's -- The index to all their buying guides on power tools.

• Pressure Washers
• ConsumerSearch -- Full Story -- The most comprehensive discussion of pressure washers you could want, with brand recommendations, detailed buying tips, safety tips, recall information, and loads more.
• Lowe's -- A more generalized buying guide.
• Popular Mechanics -- Another buying guide along with product evaluations (only six products tested, however).

• Shapers and Routers
• Sawdust Making -- Glossary of woodworking terms.
• Occupational Health and Safety Administration -- Guidelines for woodworking safety on the job.
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety -- Safety guidelines for shaper usage.

• General Power Tool Resources
• Cordless Combo Kits -- reviews.
• Dust Collectors
• Generators -- reviews.
• Levels -- reviews.
• Power Drills -- buying guide.
• Power Saws -- buying guide.
• Power Tools -- buying guide.
• Sanders -- buying guide.
• Power Tool Institute -- A comprehensive glossary for all power tool terms.
• Professional Power Tool Guide -- Cheaps vs. expensive power tools.
• Professional Power Tool Guide -- Overview of power tools.
• Popular Mechanics -- Guide to buying power tools.
• Sawdust Making -- Power Tools 101.
• American Woodworker -- An index to buying advice on all tools concerning woodworking.

Utility Closet

• Duct Tape
• Duct Tape Guys -- they are wise in the ways of the Force (of duct tape).
• Wikipedia -- history of duct tape -- be sure to check out the links at the bottom, too.
• 101 Uses for Duct Tape -- the count isn't accurate, but then, some of these shouldn't be tried at home.
• I Did It With Duct Tape -- did you know you can fix turtles with duct tape?

• First Aid Kits
• REI -- outdoor supplier with useful info about buying first aid kits.

• House Painting
• Paint and Coating Resource Center -- Hundreds of "Ask the Expert" questions about house painting
• Al's Net Biz -- House painting tips, techniques, tutorials, and how-to. Apparently, with paint quality, you get what you pay for.
• FactsFacts -- Listings of some of the best paints for specific interior jobs (How to cover other paint, water resistant, etc.)
• Painting Your House -- How to pick the right paint
• Do It Yourself -- Why you should spring for the higher quality paints
• Al's Net Biz -- Dozens of FAQ's about fixing, improving, remodeling, and decorating your home.
• Do It Yourself -- Even more FAQs about finding the proper brush, etc.
• Do It Yourself says that all you need is a 2 inch angled brush, a 2 inch trim brush, and a roller brush with an extension pole (to make it super long).