Dan DiClerico

Mulch is the ultimate gardening time-saver, no matter if you’re tending to flower beds or vegetable gardens. And while mulching itself may be a pain, it reaps many rewards: When done properly, mulch cuts down on the time it takes to water, weed and fight pests. All in all, this makes for healthier fruits, veggies and flowers. For a more fruitful garden, you want to make sure you pick the best mulch for the job. Even though most mulch types will ward off pests and weeds, some cater to the needs…

Don’t get hosed on this essential lawn and garden purchase — instead, shop our experts’ top recommendations.

These saws are a cut above, packing equal parts power and control.

Our timely picks will enhance your health and wellness — and your look too!

No more cramped car rides!

It starts with the species, but there are other factors to consider.

Americans are focused on outdoor living like never before. In fact, according to a recent Houzz survey, more than half of respondents said they recently redid their outdoor space. The same way restaurants embraced outside dining, the pandemic left homeowners eager to expand their open-air living space, and the deck is center stage for outdoor entertaining.“A deck is no longer a space you use for an occasional BBQ, but truly an extension of the home,” says Blythe Yost, CEO and co-founder of Tilly…

Rid your home of roaches with a top-rated gel, powder or bait station.

Keep pollen, germs, and unwanted guests out.

The kitchen faucet might just be the hardest working fixture in the home. It’s also a major focal point, part of the jewelry of any kitchen. The fact that there are so many brands and models to choose from makes this crucial remodeling decision that much harder to make.To help you out in the process, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute continuously test kitchen faucets — in our Labs and in our homes — to find the models that can withstand wear and tear while adding a touch of style to…

Shop the best waterproof speakers for your shower.

What are the most important trends in housing and home improvement? Good Housekeeping’s annual Home Renovation Awards are here to answer that question — and, in the process, help steer you through your next big project. From the vast array of this year’s submissions, we know that today’s homeowners remain laser focused on creating beautiful living spaces that reflect their personal style. But other priorities are catching up with aesthetics, including:✔️ Resiliency: Our homes need to be more dur…

Give your kitchen a facelift with a fresh splash of color on the cabinets.

The warm embrace of a heated towel is a soothing start (or end) to any day. “If a bathroom renovation isn’t in the budget, adding a warmer is a simple and affordable way to make your space feel more luxurious,” says Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping’s Home Design Director. “And when it comes to available designs on the market, the options are endless.” That begs the question, what are the best towel warmers out there? Enter the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who spent more than 30…

Vinyl used to be considered the “builder’s special” of residential flooring, a material with a low cost that was matched by its cheap look and plastic-y feel. Times have changed. While today’s vinyl plank flooring can still be cost-effective, it’s so much better looking and hard-wearing, thanks to major improvements in the manufacturing process. “The available color variations and range of textures are impressive, especially if you’re a design buff,” says GH Home Design Director Monique Valeris,…

Lots of laundry products are touted as innovations, but not all of them actually help you clean clothes more effectively or efficiently, or help your appliances work better. “For a product to stand the test of time, it has to truly make laundry day go more smoothly,” says Carolyn Forte, GH’s Director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab — “either by simplifying the process or by turning out cleaner, fresher-smelling clothes.” To help you pinpoint the products that deserve a spot in y…

The ability to get on and off the toilet is one of those daily tasks we take for granted, until ailing joints or an injury make it extremely painful, if not impossible. So-called “comfort height” toilets are a couple inches taller than standard commodes, but that’s not always enough of a lift. Here’s where toilet risers come in. The devices sit atop your existing toilet seat, decreasing how far you need to descend to reach a seated position by as much as six inches.“Toilet risers help maintain i…

If you’re thinking about adding a rooftop solar system to your home, you’ve probably come across the name Sunrun. Started in 2007, the San Francisco-based company has grown into the largest solar company in the U.S., with roughly 16% of the residential market.The solar industry is no stranger to fly-by-night operations, which is why our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute say it’s important to go with an established brand with a proven track record. With nearly 1 million solar installatio…

When it comes to curb appeal, no exterior element has greater impact than your home’s siding. It’s also one of the first lines of defense against the elements, from pounding hail to lashing rain to blazing heat. No wonder siding replacements have one of the highest returns on investment of all home improvement projects, according to Remodeling Magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value Report.“Home re-siding is one of the most common jobs we take on,” said Randy Miller, owner of Allrite Home Remodeling i…

When I first started covering composite decking 25 years ago, it was hard to get excited about it. Most options looked pretty meh and performed even worse. Times have changed. Though composite decking is still made from the same basic formula of wood fibers, plastic and polymers, the ingredients and manufacturing process have gotten so much better. Over the last three years, I’ve overseen the testing of a dozen new composite decking products in the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab at the Go…