Olga

In some homes, basements are light and airy with adequate windows and space to help you forget you're in a subterranean room. Others might need some help. If your basement feels musty and dank, check out these ideas on how to breathe some new life into the space.

IT'S ALL ABOUT LIGHTING

Make sure windows are sparkling clean and unobstructed from the exterior to let natural light in, and approach basement lighting as you would any room - just remember you'll likely need ...

You've been perusing real estate apps for months, have gone to countless house inspections and finally found the home of your dreams. But before you start building your decor Pinterest board and investing in new wares, it's time to tackle one of the most frustrating parts of the process: moving.

There's no denying it: Moving can be a real pain. In fact, people dread it so much that 61 percent of adults list moving homes as more stressful than getting divorced. ...

Many homeowners with hard water struggle to make their bathtubs shine. For those with acrylic tubs, it's more complicated.

Acrylic is a popular material because manufacturers can mold it into unique shapes, which proves especially handy for large, freestanding soaker tubs.

It can provide the classic look of a clawfoot tub without the weight of cast iron. Bathtub refinishing companies also create tub liners with acrylic or use it in spray form ...

Hardwood floors can last for generations if they're cared for properly.

Unlike tile or laminate, you want to clean wood only when you really need to.

For regular maintenance, vacuum floors every day or two or use a floor duster.

When mopping a polyurethaned hardwood floor, you can clean the floors with water or a combination of 1 cup vinegar with 1 gallon warm (not hot) water.

You can also use a wood-cleaning ...

If you've been avoiding spring-cleaning since the start of the season, you're not alone.

For most of us, the thought of steaming our carpets or cleaning out the crisper section of the refrigerator makes us want to crawl under the covers and wish for winter. Almost.

Since we all can use some extra motivation to get our rubber gloves on, we've rounded up the leading expert advice about how often you should clean everything and, more important, ...

One of the important ways in which reverse mortgages differ from forward mortgages is the difference in the urgency to proceed.

A prospective home buyer who needs a mortgage to make a purchase is under the gun to have the mortgage approved and fully processed before the sale date. In contrast, senior homeowners contemplating a reverse mortgage have no deadline to meet and can be as deliberate and careful as they want.

Having the opportunity ...