What Every Homeowner Should Know About Fire Extinguishers

When it comes to fire safety, almost every home in the country now has at least one smoke detector — but about a quarter of us still haven’t installed fire extinguishers. That’s unfortunate, because they help prevent thousands of house fires every year.

“People often don’t want to invest a few dollars into a safety product. But a small investment can go a long way if you need it,” says home safety expert Philip Farina.

And it’s not enough just to buy a couple of fire extinguishers. In order for them to be effective, you also need to choose the proper type, place them in optimal locations and keep them maintained. It’s also vital to know when you should use a fire extinguisher and when to run. To help you understand all of these factors, here’s our guide to home fire extinguishers.

What Is a Home Fire Extinguisher?

A home fire extinguisher is a portable, pressurized container that dispenses either a dry powder or a wet chemical substance. Extinguishers are meant to put out small, contained fires in their early stages. While they’re not legally required in single-family homes, insurance companies often give discounts for installing them.

Types of Fire Extinguishers for Home Use

There are five classifications of fire extinguishers.

• Class A, for combustible materials like wood and paper.
• B, for flammable liquids, like gasoline and oil.
• C, for electrical fires.
• D, for combustible metals.
• K, for cooking oils.

For home use, safety experts generally recommend a combination ABC extinguisher, since those are designed to handle the most common home ignition sources. Additionally, fire extinguisher sizes range from 2.5 pounds to 10 pounds.

Where to Place Fire Extinguishers in Your Home

The most important places to keep fire extinguishers are the kitchen and garage/workshop. It’s also a good idea to have one on every floor, including in the master bedroom and laundry room. Make sure you have an extinguisher near your grill, as well.

Fire and safety expert Lo Choe recommends five-pound ABC units in general living areas, plus a separate class K extinguisher in the kitchen for grease fires. Consider upgrading to a 10-pound ABC model for the garage/workshop.

Mount fire extinguishers in visible, accessible locations, between three-and-a-half to five feet from the ground, near room exits. For the kitchen, keep them 10 to 15 feet away from the stove top. Never store them near a heat source, or a place that tends to get hot, such as the stove or in the trunk of a car.

“That’s where things get genuinely dangerous,” says home fire safety inspector Kameron Khan. “They can build internal pressure to the point of explosion.”

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

• Pull the pin on the top of the handle.
• Aim the nozzle low, toward the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the handle gently, which will begin discharging the chemicals.
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side, continuing to aim at the base of the fire.

This method is known as PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). “PASS has been around for over 50 years and is by far the easiest way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher correctly,” says Choe. “Remember to stand about six to eight feet away from the fire when you begin, and slowly back away while watching for flare-ups once you think it’s out.”

What do I do after using a fire extinguisher?

If there’s any question as to whether the fire is completely out, call the fire department to let them know you’ve used your extinguisher and want them to inspect for fire damage. Then:

• Open all windows. Dry chemicals from fire extinguishers can damage your lungs.
• Take pictures of the affected area.
• Replace the extinguisher promptly, or bring it to a service company for a recharge.
• Clean dry chemicals from electronics within 24 hours to prevent damage.
• Notify your insurance company within 72 hours.

When NOT to Fight a Fire Yourself

Only attempt to fight a fire if it is small, no taller than your chest, and you have a safe exit. If the fire is creating heavy smoke or if smoke is rising above half of the room, evacuate immediately. Shut the door and call 911 once outside.

“Fire needs oxygen to sustain itself, and if you are caught trying to fight a fire with limited visibility, you will have less than a minute before you are disoriented and pass out,” says Choe.

How to Choose the Right Extinguisher

• Choose models displaying UL certification on the label.
• Buy ones with a metal valve, not plastic.
• Verify that the pressure gauge needle is in the green zone.
• Look for ABC-class extinguishers, which are generally optimal for most home situations.
• Consider a class K for the kitchen.

“Stay away from disposable extinguishers with plastic heads, as they have shorter service lives than metal-head rechargeable units,” says Choe.

How to Train Yourself

Local fire departments sometimes offer fire extinguisher training events. Also, some companies offer fire safety classes. Even if you skip attending one of these, teach everyone in your home the PASS method, and regularly practice unmounting your extinguisher and locating the pin.

“Pulling the pin and aiming the nozzle takes most people several seconds,” says Choe. “That’s all it takes for an average stovetop fire to travel up the cabinets.”

When to Replace

Disposable home fire extinguishers are good for eight to 12 years from the manufacturing date printed on the bottom of the unit, and they should absolutely be replaced on time, says Choe. Rechargeable models can last 12 to 15 years, but should be serviced regularly by a professional, according to manufacturer recommendations.

Also, examine your extinguishers once a month or so. Check the gauge to make sure the needle is still in the green, the pin is still in place and the seal is intact. If the canister is dented or has corrosion past the thickness of your nail, it should be replaced and taken to a household hazardous waste disposal site.

FAQ

How many fire extinguishers does a home need?

It depends on the size of the home, but the general rule is at least two, and more is safer. Ideally, place one on each floor, including in the kitchen, laundry room, master bedroom and garage. Also, keep one near areas with fire risks, such as fireplaces and outdoor grills.

“I’d go one per 1,000 square feet on larger houses, and keep travel distance to any extinguisher 40 feet or less,” says Choe.

Do fire extinguishers expire?

Yes. Depending on the model, they expire between eight and 15 years. That’s because the pressurized gas leaks out from the valve seals over time. Also, the rubber O-rings will dry out and the chemical agent inside will harden on the bottom.

“This is why you should have annual professional servicing, and not just a visual inspection,” says equipment leasing expert Cal Singh. “A technician empties the unit, inspects the condition of the agent and recharges it appropriately.”

Can a fire extinguisher explode?

Yes, but it’s rare because modern extinguishers have safety valves to vent pressure. Still, never store them in places above 120°F, keeping in mind that interior car temperatures can reach upward of 160°F in the summer. Corrosion also increases the chance of an explosion.

“Dropping your fire extinguisher from four or more feet onto a hard surface can also breach the valve stem,” says Choe. “These cases are rare, but don’t let that lead you to thinking they can’t happen.”

Where should you not store a fire extinguisher?

Avoid direct sunlight, hot attics, car trunks, non-insulated garages or any other areas that can reach over 120°F or under -40°F. Also, avoid damp basements and other rust-prone environments, or places that aren’t visible or easily accessible. “Locked up, behind furniture or stored higher than six feet are contrary to the point of owning one,” says Choe. “Also, where you mount your fire extinguisher matters. If it can roll away when grabbed, it will.”

About the Experts

• Lo Choe is a licensed fire and electrical safety contractor, and owner of Aura Fire Safety in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has nearly three decades of experience with fire safety and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
• Philip Farina is founder and chief security and safety advisor for Risky Business consultants, and is well-known for his expertise on home security, safety and disaster preparedness.
• Kameron Khan is founder and managing director of SilverWater Plumbing, which also performs fire safety inspections at residential properties.
• Cal Singh is head of marketing and partnerships at Equipment Leasing Canada, where he works with businesses that lease and finance heavy equipment in the construction, manufacturing and agriculture industries.

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Thousands of Pennsylvania Drivers Told to Re-Test Months After Passing Driver’s Exam

One of the rites of passage here in the United States is getting your driver’s license. It grants you an added level of independence; as long as you have access to a car, you’re now in charge of your own travel plans.

The prep work for it can feel like a lot at times. You’ve generally got to pass a written exam to obtain your permit, take driver’s education classes, log a certain amount of supervised driving hours, and ultimately pass a road test. Getting to have your license after all of that work is incredibly rewarding, but roughly 2500 people in Pennsylvania just found out that they aren’t properly licensed after all.

According to Jalopnik, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) incorrectly administered thousands of road tests. Now the impacted drivers reportedly have to retake the test or start over from scratch.

How Did Pennsylvania Mess Up These Road Tests?

Per Jalopnik’s report, roughly 2500 new drivers who’d taken their road test between October 2024 and November 2025 received a letter that their license was invalid due to “‘irregularities’ in the amount of time lapsed in each of the problematic exams.” One driver who went in to retest “was told there was an issue with an examiner and ‘possible fraud.'”

Theories about what specifically that entails abound, but at the time of this writing there hasn’t been confirmation of anything beyond “irregularities with time” and “possible fraud.” Jalopnik did report that the irregularities could “be traced to one specific location..the PennDOT licensing center on South 70th Street in Philadelphia.” So it seems less like a system-wide issue and more like problems with just the one location.

What Do These Drivers Have to Do?

PennDOT is warning the affected drivers that they need to schedule a retest as soon as possible or they’ll lose their license and have to revert to a learner’s permit. If this happens, these drivers are now looking at having to retake the written test as well as the road test.

Jalopnik also reports that while the fee for “an initial permit to drive and a four-year license costs $45.50,” so far PennDOT hasn’t said if they’re waiving this fee for the drivers who have to retake the exam or not. There’s a chance that these drivers will have to pay for their retesting out of pocket, even though they weren’t responsible for the error.

Source:

PennDOT Screwed Up Thousands Of Road Tests And Is Making Drivers Retake It, Jalopnik, 2026.

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• See a Green Dot on Your Android Phone? Here’s What It Means
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• This Is How Often You Should Restart Your Phone

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Here’s Why You Should Never Sweep Mouse Droppings

Yes, there is a wrong way to clean up mouse droppings, and unfortunately, it’s the way that most people are likely to do it. When they see droppings in a closet, a drawer or a corner of the basement, folks tend to reach for a broom or vacuum to get rid of them. But according to pest control expert Kyle Turner, “sweeping or vacuuming is the worst thing you can do.”

Why? That’s what this post explores, along with an explanation of the hazards that mouse droppings create. We also explain the proper way to clean up droppings, and because it involves getting down and dirty with them, it might be the method you are least likely to choose.

Diseases Linked to Rodent Waste

Rats and mice don’t deserve the full blame for the spread of bubonic plague (aka The Black Death) during the Middle Ages, but they definitely helped, because they carried the fleas that actually infected people with the Yersinia pestis bacterium. Rodents don’t need fleas to spread other pathogenic bacteria, however, including Salmonellosis and Leptospirosis, as well as viral infections like Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) and Hantavirus. They spread these diseases through their droppings.

Hantavirus is a particularly serious infection, according to the CDC. Some 38 percent of the people who develop severe symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) end up dying. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest.

Why Sweeping or Vacuuming Mouse Droppings Is a Bad Idea

When you sweep or vacuum dry mouse droppings, you raise dust, and that’s dangerous. “Hantavirus spreads through inhalation of contaminated dust, and it’s not something to mess around with,” warns Turner. It isn’t just the droppings you have to worry about; it’s also dried urine and any nesting materials that happen to be around. Some nesting materials may be too small to see and lightweight enough to fly around when agitated. That increases the likelihood of inhalation.

Safe Cleanup Steps

Ventilate the area

“Ventilate the space first, at least 30 minutes before you touch anything,” advises Turner. Open windows and doors to create a cross-draft. If you need a fan, run it only at low speed to avoid raising dust.

Use proper protective gear

“Gloves and a mask the whole time,” says Turner.

Saturate the droppings

Turner’s advice: “Wet the droppings down with a disinfectant.” If you’re wondering which disinfectant to use, the CDC recommends any preferred disinfectant cleaner, and it provides a link to an EPA site that explains the meaning of “preferred,” but without mentioning any brands. You can save yourself a ton of research by using a 10:1 bleach solution (10 parts water, one part bleach), which the CDC also recommends.

Wipe instead of sweeping

“Let it sit,” advises Turner, “and wipe it up with paper towels…don’t forget the urine trails you can’t see.”

Disinfect

Using your preferred disinfectant spray or a 10:1 bleach solution in a spray bottle, spray the area around the droppings and any surrounding places you think mice or rats might have visited.

When DIY Cleanup Is Not Enough

To get rid of mouse droppings, you have to get rid of mice, and if your DIY efforts are failing in that regard, it may be time to get professional help. Before you do that, though, check out these helpful mouse control ideas.

FAQ

What qualifies as an infestation?

If you see a mouse in your home, it’s unlikely to be alone, and that itself is a good indication of an infestation. In the absence of an actual mouse sighting, droppings in several places, gnawed woodwork and the sounds of scurrying animals inside the walls are also signs of mice taking up residence in your residence.

How can I keep mice from returning to my home?

Prevent access to what attracts mice. Clean eating areas assiduously, store food in sealed containers and stop rodents from getting into the house by sealing holes in the foundation, baseboards, and any other small gaps you can find. And “small” means about the size of a dime.

About the Expert

• Kyle Turner is the Founder, President, and CEO of Pro Active Pest Control, based in Rancho Cordova, CA.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): How Plague Spreads; (2024)
• CDC: About Hantavirus; (2024)
• CDC: How to Clean Up After Rodents; (2024)
• PCI Pest Control: What Size Hole Can a Mouse or Rat Fit Through? Entry Points to Seal in Washington Homes; (2026)

Related:

• How To Get Rid of Pet Hair in Your Home
• 5 Tips for Getting Dog Smell Out of Your House
• How To Clean a Dog Bed

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Why People Are Cutting Their Grass With Scythes

Having a lawn means taking on all kinds of yard work. Mowing, fertilizing, and watering are all important parts of your lawn’s health. With summer just around the corner and the weather heating up, you might be thinking about getting an early start to your yard work on your weekend mornings.

But if you’re worried about the noise a lawn mower makes, fear not. Many people on Reddit have shared that they’re now cutting grass with scythes instead. It’s quieter, cheaper, and it’s often better for your local habitat.

Is It Hard to Cut Grass by Hand?

The Reddit post claims that mowing by hand ” is easy to learn and takes little physical strength.” As proof, the poster cites that “it takes two old people (we’re 50f, 55m) 2 days to cut half a hectare of wildflower meadow.” You could probably cut faster, but the poster explains that these are “two slow days where we don’t overexert ourselves and take a nice long break at noon to avoid the heat.”

The couple also spaces out their cuts. They don’t cut the second half of the meadow until “the grass on the first half has recovered.” For them, this is an environmental choice. They have two orchards and do these cuts twice a year. They space out the cuts between the meadow halves “to make sure that we’re not taking all cover and food for wildlife away at once.”

What Are the Benefits of Cutting Grass With a Scythe?

According to the Reddit post, cutting grass with a scythe is relatively affordable and eco-friendly. If you’re in the market for one, “a good scythe costs 70 bucks and lasts a lifetime. No fossil fuels needed.” You won’t have to shell out for a gas-powered mower and your winterization process will go much faster.

The poster also says that mowing by hand is both peaceful and quiet, so you can start earlier in the day if you have noise ordinances, and you may even find it to be somewhat relaxing once you settle into the rhythm. Sure, your mileage may vary, but easy, repetitive tasks are often a good way to give yourself a bit of a mental break.

Finally, the post says that cutting grass with a scythe is “gentle for everything living in the grass.” You’re moving slower than a gas mower, so the local critters have more time to move out of the way. This saves both you and them the trauma of a lawn mower-related death. You’ll still need to be careful, but you’ve started stacking the odds in your favor.

This method may not work for everyone, but it’s worth giving it a try to see if this routine is right for you and your lawn. Besides, at the very least, having a scythe around means you’re set for Halloween decorations and costume contests for years to come.

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• 7 Reasons Why Your Houseplants Might Stink
• 8 Must-Know Tips to Drought-Proof Your Lawn
• Tired of Raking Leaves? Plant These Trees Instead

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Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro Review: A Smart Upgrade for Pool Owners

As a Florida homeowner, I have a love-hate relationship with my in-ground pool. The cool, refreshing water is a must-have amenity for swampy summer days, but I dread trying to keep it clean. After all, even though I live a solid 20 minutes from the beach, there’s still sand pretty much everywhere. And trying to keep the pool free of those tiny grains feels like a Sisyphean task.

Well, it did until the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro came along. This robot pool cleaner has been a total game-changer for keeping the pool clean. Read on for my full review.

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Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro

This Beatbot pool cleaner uses intelligent navigation to map and clean pools of all shapes up to 3,875 square feet.

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What is the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro?

The Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro is a cordless, robotic pool cleaner. It uses intelligent navigation to map and clean both in-ground and above-ground pools up to 3,875 square feet. With a runtime of up to 10 hours for surface cleaning and up to five hours for floor, wall and waterline cleaning, it’s often able to get the job done in one go.

The Beatbot Aquasense Pro also comes with an easy-to-use app and a clarifying agent kit. The included ClearWater Natural Clarification is listed as skin-safe and eco-friendly, and does not have to be added with every use.

Beatbot Pool Vacuum Features

The Beatbot pool vacuum is loaded with intelligent features that make it one of the best pool vacuums on the market.

• Intelligent navigation: The Beatbot pool cleaner uses the brand’s CleverNav Smart Navigation System and SonicSense Ultrasonic Pool Mapping and Obstacle Avoidance. This advanced navigation system allows the robot to clean pools of all shapes, including rectangular, round, kidney and freeform. Just keep in mind that if the bottom and walls of your pool are curved, ultrasonic waves may be reflected upwards at the bend and cannot be received by the machine. In these cases, the Beatbot may not be able to draw a map.
• 5G/2.4G WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity: Users can remotely control the Beatbot pool cleaner through the app. However, this feature can only be used on water surface cleaning.
• Multiple cleaning coverage areas: This pool vacuum cleans the water surface, floor, walls and waterline. The two-layer filter can capture everything from leaves and insects to hair and sand.
• Automatic surface parking: When it finishes a cleaning cycle, the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro parks itself at the surface of your pool for easy removal.
• Water Clarification: ClearWater Natural Clarification kit is skin-safe and eco-friendly. It’s designed to remove dead algae, fine debris and other organic particles, turning your water from cloudy to crystal clear.

How We Tested It

I have been using the Beatbot Aquasense Pro since May, 2025. Our house is on a large piece of property in a dirt road community. Although the pool is enclosed in a lanai, I still end up with tons of dirt and sand on the patio and, of course, in the pool.

During the spring, there are also obscene amounts of pollen that settle on top of the water. Depending on the season, the Beatbot goes in the pool at least once or twice a week in addition to my weekly pool cleaning service.

Set-Up and First Impressions

As soon as I opened the box, I was impressed by the Beatbot. It’s clearly a well-built machine, and I was excited to see it in action. Unboxing and assembling the robot only took a few minutes. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and I didn’t need to look up any additional videos or tutorials. It was fully charged and ready for use in under three hours.

Since I had recently had the pool professionally cleaned and treated ahead of the hot season, the water was already crystal clear. Therefore, I did not use the clarifying agent on that first deployment. I also did not use the app initially. It’s worth noting that the Beatbot can only be controlled through the app when on the water surface. You cannot use the app for underwater cleaning.

The Beatbot has several settings. Since I have a filter that catches large debris, I opted to have it clean the bottom and sides of the pool. This takes several hours to complete, but the results make it worth the wait. This robot does a great job of sucking up small sand particles and other small debris. Overall, it left the bottom and sides of the pool super clean!

Cleaning and Care

The maintenance on the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro is, for the most part, a piece of cake. It has a double-filter debris basket that really works well and is easy to clean after every use. The only hitch is that debris doesn’t always make it into the basket and settles in the space between the basket and the compartment. When this happens, I just take the Beatbot over to the hose and quickly clean it out.

When not in use, the Beatbot just lives on the charging station on the lanai. So while it is outside all year long, it’s out of the sun and elements. Other than some pollen and dust on the outside, the Beatbot still looks like it’s in mint condition.

Longterm Use

After a year of continuous use in my Florida pool, the one word that comes to mind is “convenience.” The Beatbot is incredibly simple to use. All I have to do is remove it from the charging station and set it on the ground for a few seconds of self-calibration. Then plop it into the pool and let it do its thing. Once it’s finished, take it out of the pool, clear out the filter basket and set it back on the charger.

I’m always impressed by how well this robot cleans the pool. No matter how much sand makes it into the pool, the Beatbot gets it all. No debris is ever left behind.

The only thing my Beatbot doesn’t clean is the steps. While it can clean steps, mine are too small for the Beatbot Aquasense Pro.

During testing, I did overcome my aversion to technology and download the app. Imagine my childlike excitement when I discovered that I could drive the Beatbot on the surface with my phone like a little motorboat. But excitement aside, this feature is worth its weight in gold during the spring when the pool has a thick layer of pollen on the surface. Yuck!

I also tried the clarifying agent that came with the robot, but unfortunately, I didn’t notice much of a difference. However, that could be because someone comes every Monday to treat the pool and give it a quick clean.

The only downside is that you have to physically move the Beatbot from the charging station to the ground, give it a few seconds to self-calibrate, then move it back into the water. When it’s finished cleaning, you have to physically pull it out of the pool and put it back on the charger. And, as mentioned above, there are times when I have to carry it out of the lanai and across the yard to the hose. At just over 25 pounds, some users may have difficulty moving it from place to place.

Overall, I’m incredibly pleased with the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro after a year of regular use. It’s an easy and effective way to keep the pool clean. Best of all, the machine itself doesn’t require any maintenance. There are no cleaning cycles to run or filters to change.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Effectively cleans the bottom, sides and surface of the pool
• Sucks up tiny sand particles as well as larger debris
• Can be used in any shape pool
• Suitable for in-ground and above-ground pools
• Long runtime
• Generous three-year warranty

Cons

• Must physically move it to and from the charging station and the water

Final Verdict

If you only want the best for your backyard oasis, I highly recommend the Beatbot. It’s a durable machine that keeps your pool squeaky clean with minimal effort on your part. After a year of regular use, I couldn’t be happier with the unit and anticipate continued use for years to come. At over $2,000, the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro is a significant investment. Then again, so is your pool.

Where to Buy

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Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro

This Beatbot pool vacuum cleans everything from leaves and insects to gravel and fine sand.

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The Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro retails for $2,299, but this model does occasionally go on sale. When it does, you can save upwards of $500. It is available on the brand’s website as well as on Amazon and Walmart. Skip the tedious pool cleaning this summer—Beatbot has it handled!

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 FAQ

How do you reset a Beatbot Aquasense Pro?

To reset your Beatbot Aquasense Pro, press and hold the three control settings—power, standard mode and pro mode—for 10 seconds. This will restore the Beatbot to factory settings.

How do you use Beatbot?

You must physically move the Beatbot from the charger to the ground and wait a few seconds for it to self-calibrate. Once it calibrates, move it from the ground to the pool and let it complete the cleaning cycle. Once it’s finished, the Beatbot will park itself on the surface until you come to take it out of the water. After removing it from the pool, clean out the debris basket and place it back on the charging dock until the next cleaning.

Are Beatbot pool cleaners good?

Yes! I have been using the Beatbot consistently for one year and have been impressed by its performance.

How much is a Beatbot pool cleaner?

Beatbot makes several different robotic pool cleaners. Some models, like the entry-level Sora 10, retail for $699. Others, like the new Aquasense X, will set you back a cool $4,250. The Beatbot Aquasense 2 Pro retails for $2,299 but often goes on sale, making it a great middle-of-the-road pick.

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Watch Pamela Anderson Transform Her Grandparents’ Home in “Pamela’s Garden of Eden”

If you’ve been looking for a new show that combines renovation, sustainability, an incredible host, and a nostalgic core that’ll hit you right in your feels, then wehave some great news for you. Actress and activist Pamela Anderson’s series Pamela’s Garden of Eden is now streaming on At Home with Family Handyman, and it checks all the boxes. Each episode focuses on an aspect of a home renovation as she returns to the property her grandparents once owned and works to bring it back to life and make it her personal paradise.

In the third episode of Pamela’s Garden of Eden, Anderson focuses on renovating the front room of one of the buildings on the property she calls the Roadhouse. When she was a child, this room was her grandmother’s general store. Anderson spends the episode working with her designer, Francesca, to figure out how to make the space inviting while also preserving her family’s history.

The Inspiration

Anderson begins the brainstorming process by telling Francesca about the space’s history. She recalls reaching into the fridge in the corner for frozen treats. She also fondly remembers the large counter with the cash register on it, which was the focal point of the space. When she discusses the renovation with her parents, she laughs, remembering how she’d “put things on their account” as a child.

As Anderson and Francesca discuss design ideas, they agree it’s not functional as is. Currently, Anderson is using it as her office. However, since it’s right at the home’s entry and not entirely private, it’s not exactly conducive to focus.

In transforming it into a more welcoming area, Anderson wants to include a nod to the space’s history. She stresses the importance of making it feel creative, too. She doesn’t want it to just look like something out of a catalog. This is a piece of family history, and that element is crucial to her.

The two discuss furniture elements, color palettes and fun touches, all centered on bringing that history to the forefront so she and her parents could reminisce about her grandmother and the fun times they all had when they’d visit the Roadhouse.

The Key Touches

Bringing this space back to life, blending Anderson’s taste with the details that will honor its history, and staying as sustainable as possible throughout is no small order. But Anderson, Francesca and the build team work hard to make it happen. They go back and forth over a tile inlay in the floor, the right fabrics for window treatments, and what decor elements will fit best with the space and Anderson’s vision.

One inspired design choice that blends all the critical elements is a coffee station. The espresso machine has a similar profile to the old cash register. As such, it immediately calls back fond memories of childhood. The small table sits near the window—the perfect spot to enjoy coffee and cookies. Plus, it gives the room a familiar cafe feel; the kind you might find yourself returning to again and again because it feels more like an extension of your own home than a restaurant.

To find out how the rest of the renovation goes, you can watch Pamela’s Garden of Eden on At Home with Family Handyman. Season one premiered May 4, 2026 and season two premiers in June 2026.

At Home with Family Handyman is currently available on Samsung TV Plus, XUMO, The Roku Channel, LG Channels, Plex, fuboTV, and Sling Freestream. You can also stream At Home with Family Handyman for free through the Family Handyman app on iOS, Apple TV, Android, AndroidTV, FireTV and Roku devices.

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Costco Recalls Swing After Reports of Seat Detaching Mid-Use

Memorial Day and summer are just around the corner. That means it’s the beginning of outdoor dinner parties and patio season. When it comes to preparing your space for a party, Costco is usually a good option. However, this week the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) announced that there’s a patio swing recall involving almost 20,000 units. Find out if yours is one of them and how to protect yourself, your family members, and your guests.

Why Is Costco Recalling Patio Swings?

Per the USCPSC, in the faulty swings, “the swing seat can detach from the frame while in use.” A sudden drop like this poses “a risk of serious injury or death from a fall hazard.” To date, there are eight reports of this happening. In all of them, the detachment caused injuries “including impact injuries to the head and arms.” Make alternative seating arrangements for your outdoor space for the time being. You can return to using your swing once you’ve either confirmed that it’s safe or finished the recommended repair.

Which Patio Swing Models Are Included in the Recall?

If you own an “Agio Menlo Woven Patio Swings with model number 1934256,” you need to exercise caution. 18,500 patio swings with that model number and sold by Costco between February and March of 2026 aren’t necessarily adequately attached to the frame.

If you’re unsure about the safety of your own swing, fear not. The recall brief says that “consumers who are unable to determine whether they have the recalled model can contact World Bright International Limited for assistance.” To be cautious, it’s a good idea to refrain from using your patio swing until you know for sure whether or not yours is included in the recall.

Is There a Fix Yet?

According to the recall brief, “consumers should immediately stop using the recalled patio swings and contact World Bright International Limited to receive a free repair in the form of replacement hooks and instructions for replacing the hooks.” Refrain from using your patio swing until you’ve replaced the hooks; no one wants to kick off their summer with a trip to the emergency room. If you have further questions, you can check the USCPSC site. The USCPSC number for this recall is 26-485.

Source

World Bright International Limited Recalls Agio Menlo Woven Patio Swings Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Fall Hazard; Sold at Costco, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2026.

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