Here are a couple of do-it-yourself facts that will help you improve everything from your small ranch house plans to your lavish luxury home plans.

• When you use caulk to seal the joint between a bathtub and the wall tile, fill the tub up with water first.  The weight of the water in the tub will open the gap to the size it will be when you use the tub.  Otherwise, the seal created by the caulk could break the first time you decide to relax in a bath.

• Fresh is the best.  You can prepare your bedroom for the cold weather with freshly laundered blankets and linens along with a clean mattress pad.  Save yourself another step next spring and wash your summer linens before you store them.  Not only will your summer linens be clean when you go to get them next year, but if you use lavender sachets in the closet or in between the stored linens, you will keep moths from becoming attracted to the area.