Latest news with #home
The Sun
2 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
I'm a cleaning pro and hate when clients have this feature in their kitchens – it never looks clean even after scrubbing
IT'S no secret that certain items in your home need cleaning more often, but one cleaner has revealed the kitchen features she hates the most. Taking to social media, cleaning whizz Kate from @cleanlikeapro_ explained why your kitchen backsplash matters more than you might think. 2 2 Although it might be tempting to go with the design and material you like the look of most, that's not always the best option, Kate explained. In a viral video, the pro explained that a glass backsplash can be more of a pain to clean than most people realise. Although it's a better option than having lots of tiny tiles and grout to scrub, it's not the best option either. "And when cleaning them you do have to clean them well, wiping over multiple times to ensure no streaks." Not only that, but according to the pro every single streak and wipe from cleaning will still be visible in certain lights, making it an annoying choice for any cleaner or homeowner. So, what should you opt for instead? Although small tiles are even worse than glass, the cleaning whizz said the best option are large tiles. They're not reflective like glass, so won't show up every little mark and there's not as much grout to scrub like smaller tiles have. More items to avoid in your home In a clip shared to TikTok (@ the cleaning whizz revealed the worst offending items that she dreads coming across on her daily job - starting with silicone toilet brushes. I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) The cleaner explained that while they're more hygienic, she said that you can't clean with them. Instead, she pointed out that it's best to use bristle toilet brushes only. Next up, the cleaning guru urged homeowners to avoid jumping on the black tap trend. "Builds a ridiculous amount of limescale, marks easily - just a no from me," she warned. And for anyone looking to give their kitchen a glow up any time soon, then you may just want to listen up…because there's a specific colour cupboard she advised steering clear of at all costs. The cleaning whizz explained that while she loves the look of black cupboards, it's best to avoid them "unless you want to spend the rest of your life wiping them 24/7." 5 cleaning hacks Say goodbye to ironing Don't have time to smooth out the wrinkles of a shirt with an iron? Lenor 's Crease Releaser makes wrinkles vanish - simply hang up creased items, give them a quick spritz and smooth against a hard surface. Teabags for trainers When trainers smell a little squiffy, pop a used (and still moist) tea bag inside and leave for about an hour. The tannins will seep into the sole of the shoe to fight nasty-smelling odours. Remove limescale without scrubbing When bathroom taps start looking a little grimy with limescale, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle on baking soda. Rub the fruit over the taps and with a gentle clean they will come up sparkling. Use a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Streak-free mirrors and windows White vinegar is a handy secret weapon when it comes to keeping mirrors and windows streak-free. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle. Squirt then wipe with a microfibre cloth and voilà, clean glass in an instant. Make your home smell amazing For dust-free skirting boards, pour some fabric softener onto a cloth and give them a quick wipe. It will stop dirt collecting so quickly and, as an added bonus, make your home smell amazing.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why You Should Use a Toilet Paper Holder in Your Kitchen (It's So Cute!)
As a lifestyle editor, I'm constantly amazed by the brilliant hacks people discover for ordinary items — especially when they relate to some stylish organization. Whether it's using book bins as bathroom storage, lid organizers to store belts and hats, or lazy Susans to make stunning wall art, if there's a secret use for an item, someone on the internet is going to find it. And the latest trick I'm obsessed with can be used all over the home. This Instagram Reel from couple Crystal and Scott Ransons, shows the most ingenious use for a toilet paper holder: as a cabinet vase! This antique-style gold holder would typically be used in the bathroom to hold toilet paper, but its open nature makes it the perfect vessel for a glass vase to hold flowers or other greenery. Plus, it's a superchic touch that'll match any kitchen style. This design hack is just as easy to implement as it looks. Simply decide where you want it, screw your toilet paper holder into your wall or cabinet, and you've got a sleek storage addition in an instant. Aside from flowers, depending on how much weight it can hold, you might also use it to store a utensil crock, cooking oil, a small plant, or even a decorative faux candle. Amazon $32 Buy Now If you want to get the look in your kitchen, this ornate brass toilet paper holder would make a gorgeous receptacle for the project. At about 4×5 inches, this gem is large enough to fit most narrow glass or ceramic vases, and its slats are close enough together to keep everything in place. While the side of your kitchen cabinets is probably my favorite spot for this storage trick, it can really be used on any flat vertical surface. Put them on your living room wall, in your bedroom for plants or extra storage, or along your staircase to hold motion-sensor lights. Buy: , $32.49This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Why You Should Use a Toilet Paper Holder in Your Kitchen (It's So Cute!) Why People Are Ditching Their Seltzer After a Disturbing Study The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can't Stop Talking About Le Creuset Launched a Pan That's Perfect for Everything from Stews to Stir-Fry — and It's Already on Sale
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tim Dowling: I need to drop everything so I can get back to doing nothing
I am sitting in my office shed, marvelling that an email from a car hire company I last used six years ago feels entitled to employ the subject line DROP EVERYTHING. 'It's hard to imagine,' I say, 'how a 20% reduction in rental rates for the month of June could be sufficient cause for anyone to suddenly abandon their present business, be it knee surgery, adoption proceedings or, in this specific case, Wordle.' The dog, which is lying on the step in front of the open door, lifts its head to look at me – an emboldening reminder that as long as I'm sharing space with an animal, I'm technically not talking to myself. 'Then again, I have sort of dropped everything to read this email,' I say. My wife walks up to the door, leans in and hands me a small box. 'I found these in the car,' she says. 'You requested them at some point.' The box contains wooden plant labels – essentially ice lolly sticks with one pointed end – which would have served a definite and supportable purpose about three weeks ago. 'Yeah, a while back,' I say. 'Not at all,' my wife says, turning for the kitchen. I examine the box: the back bears a photographic illustration of a properly deployed plant label, stuck pointy end down into some soil next to a seedling. On the label someone has helpfully written 'Plant Name' in a neat cursive hand. The accompanying instructions say: 'Simply push in.' 'Can it really be that simple?' I say, looking up to find that the dog has followed my wife back to the house. I gaze across the rows of seedlings I planted out in the raised bed in a frantic hurry when they outgrew their trays – some struggling, some thriving, all of them unlabelled. I convinced myself I would remember which row was which – I was wrong. But now, I realise, a solution is at hand: I can write 'Plant Name' on all my new labels, and simply push them in. Ten minutes later, my wife returns. 'I have someone coming for lunch,' she says. 'Could you possibly mow the lawn?' I swivel my chair to look at her. 'What, just drop everything?' I say. 'What is it you're actually doing?' she says. 'That,' I say, 'is not a question I feel the need to answer.' 'She's coming at one, so,' my wife says. 'Fine,' I say. All things being equal, I am an enthusiastic supporter of basic safety precautions. That said, I'm pretty certain it's not a good idea to mow the lawn in flip-flops, and yet I have already made the decision not to change out of them and into shoes. I resent having my working day interrupted, even though I'm not working. Writing involves a certain level of tactical time-wasting – you sometimes have to bore yourself into concentrating. Absorbing menial chores – cutting the grass, say – are no help. I need to get back to doing nothing, and quickly. Anyway, I tell myself as I begin, the lawnmower has a sort of dead man's handle – if I keeled over from a heart attack the blades would stop turning. What's the worst that could happen? This question is answered almost as soon as I ask it: pulling the lawnmower backwards from a tight corner, I step out of my left flip-flop and partially run it over. It's not ruined – just scarred – but the sight of it is immediately sobering. My wife's guest arrives at one. It's not clear, from my vantage point at the other end of the garden, how my own lunch plans are affected. Am I invited? Or am I supposed to wait until the guest departs, and then slither over to feed on whatever scraps remain? The dog comes out and resumes lying in front of my office door. 'What's going on in there?' I say. 'Are they eating yet?' The dog stares straight ahead, as if it hasn't heard me. How long, I think, before hunger drives me to go and investigate? The answer is: not that long. The guest, it turns out, is our friend Louise. 'Hello,' I say, looking at the plates. 'Well done for staying away for a whole hour,' my wife says. 'I've saved you some food.' 'I can't eat now,' I say, 'I'm busy.' 'He's busy,' says Louise. 'I just came in to say hi,' I say, turning to leave. 'There he goes,' my wife says. 'Flip, flop, flip, flop.' Back in my office, I sit at my desk, staring at a blank white screen and thinking about just dropping everything and hiring a car.
Globe and Mail
16 hours ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
Your daily horoscope: May 31, 2025
The year ahead could be good and it could even be great but it certainly won't be boring. Take events as they come and strive to see the opportunities in each and every situation. Above all, believe you deserve the very best that life has to offer. Make it your business this weekend to clear the air of any bad feelings at home and at work – then everyone can start as friends again come Monday morning. Forget what other people said about you and invite them to forget what you said about them! Not everyone can be as rational in their thinking as you, so make allowances over the next 48 hours for some of the stupid statements that friends and family members come out with. Treat them like you would treat a child, with amused indulgence. The fact that your heart is not really in what others expect of you is of no importance. The only thing that matters is that you go out of your way to make them happy – because if they are happy they won't make life difficult for you. The fact that you helped out a friend in a crisis does not mean they will help you out in a similar way. If they say they are not in a position to assist you don't argue about it. The planets indicate that could work in your favour. If some of the people you love get excitable this weekend make it your business to calm them down by explaining that whatever it is that got them upset it means nothing in the greater scheme of things. Help them take a more philosophical attitude to life. A task you thought was going to be simple could turn out to be one of the hardest things you have ever done. That will make it all the more satisfying when you make a resounding success of it, which of course you will. If you find yourself in the spotlight this weekend don't try to escape it – instead, put on a show and make sure everyone knows what a hugely talented Libra you are. It's not always enjoyable being in the public eye but it could be if you embrace it. Someone who can use their influence to help your career will move into your life over the next 48 hours and you must not let them move out again without taking advantage of what they can offer. Don't hide your ambition, flaunt it instead! There is no point reacting to criticism if it comes from people you don't respect. Whatever it is they say about you this weekend just treat it as a joke and let them know you won't be changing your ways, not for them and not for anyone. The more other people try to wind you up this weekend the more you must call on your powers of self-control. The only reason they are trying to upset you is because they know you will outshine them. Stay calm and refuse to take the bait. If you are beginning to have doubts about what you are doing then it might be a smart move to make a tactical, if temporary, retreat so you can think it through from a safer position. A sight adjustment to your plans is probably all that's needed. Make an effort to see a dispute of some kind from the point of view of the people who oppose you. It can be all too easy to label others 'the enemy' just because you have contrasting ideas. Difference is what makes the world go around. Discover more about yourself at
CBC
21 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Cross Lake evacuee drives hours to Winnipeg to escape wildfire
Shane Castel, Cross Lake evacuee in Manitoba, says he is worried about losing his home after having to drive hours to Winnipeg to escape the wildfires.
