Nerds Republic

Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during the winter can be a struggle…for every day that you’re warm, you’re paying out the nose through it. Thankfully, there are some ways that you can be toasty on frigid days without breaking the bank. Here’s how.

1. You could actually service your furnace.

Look, your furnace has been sitting unused for about eight or nine months. It’s a good idea to get it serviced before the worst weather hits, that way you know it’s heating your house efficiently.

2. Slap some bubble wrap onto your windows.

It sounds crazy, but a cheap roll of bubble wrap from a local packing / shipping store could save you some dough this winter. The plastic lets sunlight in and keeps the cold out. Cut bubble wrap sheets to fit your windows, then spray a thin film of water on the glass. The water will make the plastic stick to your windows (without leaving any residue behind).

3. Yep, that’s right: turn your fans ON.

Well, your ceiling fan that is. Warm air rises, so by turning on a ceiling fan in reverse, you can create an updraft that pushes the warm air to the walls and back to the floor. (The blades should be moving clockwise.)

4. Make your radiator more efficient by using foil.

If you use radiators, you can make them more efficient by placing a panel of aluminum foil behind each unit (and against the wall). Instead of heating the wall, your unit will heat the foil, which will reflect the warmth back into the room.

5. Stop running your exhaust fans in the bathroom.

Sure, the fan will remove all of the steamy air and will prevent mold from forming, wallpaper from peeling, and all that. However, it will pull cold air into your living space…which you will then need to warm up with your heater.

6. Get rid of drafts the best you can.

You can keep warm air from escaping under the door by using foam tubing, DIY draft eliminators made from socks, rugs, large fuzzy dogs, and basically anything else you can leave in front of your door. Keep your home cozy!

7. Make your water heater all warm and toasty.

If you insulate your water heater, you could reduce heat loss (about $20 a month, according to the U.S. Department of Energy). Touch your water heater — if it feels warm, you could cover it. However, just check your heater’s manual to ensure it can be covered. Otherwise, you may burn your house down.

8. Don’t abuse your thermostat, guys.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for each degree you lower the temperature on the thermostat for a period of at least eight hours can cut your bill by 1 percent. So, if you don’t go hog wild with the heat, you should be able to save yourself some money.

9. Seal off weak areas with caulking or weather stripping.

Find a place that air could get in (windows, ducts, doors) and seal it off the best you can. The less you let cold air in and warm air out, the more money you’ll save.

These tips might seem like common sense…

(via Yahoo)

…but you won’t be scoffing at them when you see how much money you save this winter.

Redoing your kitchen is a scary thought for many. Even if it’s a small project, it always seems like the budget grows and grows until you wonder why you ever opted for that new light fixture over the stovetop. It was supposed to be just $25 — how’d it become $250!

This couple knew their space needed a serious upgrade but didn’t want to break the bank by hiring someone to do it. Instead, they took the project on themselves, but when you see the results you won’t believe how inexpensive it was…or how professional it looks!

Here’s what they were working with — definitely needs a new look.

First, they removed all the doors.

After cleaning them and lightly sanding them, they were ready!

Two coats of dark stain made them look brand-new.

They got to work on the cabinets…

And after a few layers of stain, things were looking better.

Everything went back on and they added a top coat for an extra-dark hue.

Next step? The backsplash.

These peel-and-stick tiles were affordable and look great.

When all was said and done, they splurged a little on a new refrigerator and table and chairs.

(source Reddit)

This just goes to show that a fresh coat of paint — or in this case, stain — can work wonders on making a space look completely fresh.

If you own a home or rent an apartment, there are some basic things that you need to know. You should learn the layout of your house, figure out how to escape in an emergency, and ensure that your finances are always in order.

Another good thing to know is how to clean your place — and everything in it — effectively. If you are a little confused about how to do that, here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Dry a damp load of laundry more quickly.

Clothes taking too long to dry? Throw a dry bath towel in with them.

2. Shine silverware without expensive cleaners.

Toothpaste will actually clean silver pretty well in a pinch. Apply a little bit to each piece and rinse.

3. Remove a lightbulb that’s gotten stuck.

First, unplug the lamp or turn off the power through the circuit breaker. Next, put on thick gloves and wiggle the base of the bulb loose until you can twist it out. If that doesn’t work, break the bulb and insert a rubber jar opener into the base and turn it counterclockwise.

4. Clean your toilet tank.

You’d be surprised at how dirty these things can get. First, turn off the water valve, flush the toilet (which will empty the tank), then clean away the grime with paper towels.

5. Wash marble countertops and baths.

You should clean marble with tin oxide and a sponge. Anything with acidity like lemons or vinegar will eat away at the marble, so avoid using things like that.

6. Keep your towels from collecting fuzz.

Place a nylon net in the washer and dryer. It will make balls of fuzz fall off.

7. Wash your dishwasher.

Put paper towels and sponges into the bottom of an empty dishwasher, pour several cups of vinegar into the bottom, and run a full cycle.

8. Prevent color bleeding in the wash.

Many people will think that vinegar will stop clothes from bleeding, but that’s not true. In fact, pouring vinegar on your clothes will do more harm than good. The only proven method is separating whites from brights like your mama taught you (or hoping for the best and washing everything on cold).

(via Good Housekeeping)

These tips will make your home a much cleaner, more efficient place. When it comes to making your house a home, cleanliness is key.

There are tons of do-it-yourselfers in the world who are absolutely amazing at what they do. These creators can come up with brilliant homemade solutions to just about any problem, and their skills come in handy when it comes to decorating in a pinch. Sadly, though, the people in this video can’t be counted among them.

When they attempt to do it themselves, their failures are more than epic. While their projects may be dead in the water, their ability to make us laugh definitely isn’t.

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It’s pretty unfortunate that they started DIY projects to make their lives easier, and only succeeded in achieving the exact opposite. Better luck next time, people!

As Halloween rapidly approaches, the scramble for clever costume ideas becomes increasingly frantic. But if you’re still looking, consider getting one of these masks from Wintercroft.

We covered him and his DIY masks last year, and now, he’s back with a new collection of geometric creations. These might be even cooler than his last batch.

Each mask is made with thin cardboard.

If you want one for yourself, you just have to buy the pattern, download it, and print it out.

After that, you glue the pattern to some thin cardboard, cut it, fold it, and tape it together.

Old cereal boxes are perfect for this task.

In the end, you’re left with a totally unique mask!

Since the masks are made out of cardboard, you can customize them to your liking.

Since Wintercroft’s emergence last year, his mask collection has grown to include 50 items.

Some of the designs are really complex.

But each one comes with easy instructions, so you’re guaranteed to love it!

Some of them even come with moving parts.

Take this elephant trunk, for example. How cool is that?

This panda is not amused.

He’s also added some gloves to the collection.

Depending on how you style them, they can be cute or — like this rabbit — kind of menacing.

Or in the case of this bearded human face, completely terrifying.

(via Colossal)

Wintercroft’s masks can be purchased on Etsy, where you can download the patterns immediately. They only cost seven dollars! If you haven’t figured out your Halloween costume yet and would like to avoid the cheap, store-bought kind, you should definitely give one of these a try.

I don’t know about you, but I seem to misplace my phone ten times a day. Even though I can hear it buzzing away somewhere with countless calls and texts, I can never seem to track it down. Is it under the couch? In my coat pocket? In any case, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as listening to your phone go off and having no idea where it is.

Luckily for us, someone has come up with a way to recycle something old into something new — and totally useful. As it turns out, you can make a phone holder out of something you (or your parents) already have at home.

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You’ve had a perfect phone holder sitting around your house for years without even knowing it! When it comes to outdated technology, I guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks.

If you’ve seen one engagement right, you’ve seen them all, right? Well, not exactly. This guy wanted nothing more than to propose to his girlfriend, but he didn’t want to get her some run-of-the-mill ring. Instead, he decided that he’d find some gold and put his metalworking skills to the test.

That’s right. He made this ring by hand with gold that he dug up himself.

First, he went out and found some gold.

Once he amassed enough gold to make a sizable ring, he picked out the perfect center stone.

She’s a special lady, so he wanted her stone to be totally unique.

The first thing he did after collecting the raw materials was melt them down.

This obviously took a lot of work.

Then, he formed the ring itself.

Sure, he’s big and burly, but this guy can make a dainty, beautiful ring as well as any jeweler!

Once it was polished, all he had to do was set the stone.

Much to his delight, she said yes!

I mean, how could you deny a love like that?

(via Reddit)

I personally wouldn’t even know where to look for gold, let alone how to make a stunning, professional-quality ring! That’s pretty amazing, and I’m sure she appreciates every ounce of effort that went into creating it (and every ounce of gold, too).

Just when you think everything has already been discovered in the culinary world, someone comes along and does something amazing…something so mouthwatering that you can’t help but run to the grocery store and repeat the recipe for yourself. Something like…THIS — wrapping bacon around a stalk of corn.

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Like we said, pure genius. The true question now is, what CAN’T bacon make better?!

Some kids are born to be inventors. They spend their free time tinkering with everything in sight, wondering how things could be better. These little ones are great innovators in the making!

Take this boy, for example. Instead of seeing a leaf blower and some rollerblades, he saw an opportunity to create something awesome.

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I never would’ve thought of that! Kids like this are wise beyond their years. That cord may not let him get very far, but his flair for innovation certainly will.

While a bed without a headboard isn’t as bad as sleeping on a mattress on the floor (hey, we’ve all been there), it can still leave you tossing and turning with unfulfilled dreams of bedroom decor. Of course, you could always save your pennies, head to your local Ikea or other furniture store, and lay down some cash for a fancy solution…or you could try this super-easy DIY project.

All you’ll need is a wooden board, cushiony foam, fabric, and a staple gun.

Start by putting a foam cushion over the wood to make it soft and cozy.

Measure and trim it to the size of your board.

Next comes the fabric.

Stretch it all the way over the board tightly for a secure fit.

Trim any excess in the corner areas to keep things from looking sloppy.

Then start stapling perpendicular to the direction of force.

Otherwise your fabric will pull and create large holes.

To secure their headboard, this DIY-er used a French cleat capable of holding up to 200 pounds.

Secure the cleats to the back of the board and the area on your wall.

And voilà!

(source Reddit)

You could also try layering different patterns of fabric together for an even more unique look. The only thing that can hold you back from sweet headboard dreams now is your own imagination.