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Even though we love a good DIY job, some home remodeling calls for a good contractor. Money blog 20 Something Finance offers some tips for finding a reputable person for the job, but we're curious: How do you find a reputable contractor?Photo by George E. Martin.

Windows only: LookInMyPC generates a complete report of what's going on in a computer—from hardware to software, and everything in between. After playing around with it, this writer wouldn't start troubleshooting a PC without it. I'm not kidding.

The Web Worker Daily blog reminds us that today is National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Want to do some serious PC cleaning but not sure where to start? We've got your back, so let's get with the purging.Photo by karindalziel.

Windows: If you like your software open-source you'll definitely want to check out UltraDefrag a snappy open-source Windows disk defragmenter.UltraDefrag is available as a portable application and in a GUI and ultra lightweight command-line only version—the lightweight version is designated as "micro" in the download list and is at the top of the screen, make sure to scroll down for the GUI version if you want to interact with the program like in the screenshot above.

It's generally a good practice to power down your computer every night to save on electricity, but you can easily schedule shutdowns at specific times. So how do you take advantage of those extra cycles at night while you're sleeping?Photo by Ingorrr.

Dishwashers have a way of spoiling us—once you've got one, washing dishes by hand is a drag. Home improvement blog DIY Life has some tips to keep your dishwasher in ship-shape so it works for years to come.Image by tiredcynic.

Back in the day, you bought a new TV, set it up in any old corner of the room, and dusted it whenever you remembered. Plasma TVs need the kid glove treatment, though, if you want to keep them in pristine condition. Photo by lisibo.

It's the start of a new decade, and while you're busy making resolutions for yourself, you shouldn't forget about your PC. We suggest making a resolution to keep your PC clean, safe, and backed up for 2010. Here's how to make it easy. Image remixed from viagallery.com.

Dear Lifehacker, With all my holiday travel, I'm worried about coming home to a burst pipe following all the frigid weather we're having. What can I do to protect my plumbing while I'm out of town? Signed, Winter Worrier Photo by Jimmy_Joe. Dear Winter,

Ever need to repair an awkwardly shaped object but have trouble keeping it steady while you work? The always-clever Martha Stewart suggests getting some assistance from sand, using it to hold odd-shaped objects at just the right angle while your glue dries.