Car dealers rely on a deceptively simple worksheet, the four-square, to turn a straightforward purchase into a maze of numbers that can quietly boost their margins. I want to show how that same tool ...

Dear Angie: How do you remove carpet padding that has adhered to a hardwood floor? — Rennie T., Staunton, Va. Answer: The good news is that you're not stuck. (Bad pun, I know.) Our consumer-services ...