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Whether it’s a large backpack leaf blower or a slim electric model, there are several great options for storing a leaf blower in a garage.  This article will cover several ways to store your leaf blower, so it’s off your garage floor and (maybe) out of sight. All you need to do is consider your garage layout and pick the best option.  How To Hang Or Store A Leaf Blower I use my leafblower for much more than simply blowing leaves out of my garage.  Unfortunately, leafblowers have become increasingly clumsy to store as they get bigger.  So, what are some...

San Francisco designers Charles de Lisle and Ralph Dennis built their off-the-grid Sonoma retreat by way of salvaged goods and stalwart industrial elements. Case in point: the makeshift plywood kitchen de Lisle designed with a steel workbench as countertop, a cast-concrete laundry sink, and an industrial faucet. The result has a wood-shop feel but is entirely modular—and, for an off-the-grid weekend spot, it’s just enough. Here, we dissect the kitchen’s key elements. Above: Small but mighty, the kitchen is made of robust steel, concrete, and ply. Photograph by Eric Petschek from Off the Grid: A Stylish, Low-Impact Retreat in Sonoma...

Ever wonder what are the best things to buy at Dollar Tree? We’ve got the answers for the best Dollar Tree products. Dollar Tree is definitely one of our fave places to shop! If you’re still overlooking Dollar Tree items, you’re seriously missing out! There are great finds popping up every day in various departments, including brand-name goods, home decor, and even food! Check out our list of the best things to buy for $1.25 now at Dollar Tree instead of spending more elsewhere – and see which Dollar Tree products we think you REALLY should avoid that aren’t even...

Do you currently own a freeze-dryer appliance in your home? If not, you might be surprised by what they can do that those other food-preserving methods can’t. Freeze-dried products are not only an ideal option for backpackers and culinary masters but especially for preppers who are stocking up for emergencies. Please let me point out, I don’t own one and don’t plan on buying one based on my current age and storage capacity. If I have a question about one, I ask Matt in our group. At my age, (73) it doesn’t make sense for me to buy one. If...

By Pang-Chieh Ho If you were to ask me about the items I have the most of in my home, I would say it’s books and bags. The books are easier to organize (when I say “organize,” I mean “leave on a shelf”), while the bags have been more resistant to my coordination efforts. So this week I’m asking experts about the best ways to organize bags, especially if you have limited space.  But before we get into that, we have a birthday to celebrate! Drumroll, please … SMARTER IS A YEAR OLD! Illustration: Chris Griggs/Consumer Reports In celebration of...