Book excerpt: Everyday care & repair is made easy with this maintenance guide for the DIY novice. Home Improvement 101is an easy-to-understand but comprehensive guide to common home maintenance and repair tasks, written specifically for less experienced do-it-yourselfers. From cleaning stains from carpets to unclogging drains, from dealing with insects and pests to fixing a leaky roof, it's all here-everything you forgot to learn from your parents about maintaining a home. Along the way, you'll learn about your home's structures and systems, and how to protect your single largest investment. Home maintenance is not only possible; it can be easy and rewarding, with this one-of-a-kind book. Gives complete, easy-to-follow solutions to more than 100 of the most common home maintenance tasks. Includes tips on selecting and using tools. Appendix includes a month-by-month guide for tracking routine maintenance. Includes real-life tips from actual homeowners. Features tips for working with plumbers, electricians & carpenters.