Life style

Biggest Challenges 1. Grungy ceiling-fan blades2. Dusty portable fans3. Clogged air conditioner filters and vents Tools You'll Use Old tablecloth or sheet Extendable duster and step stool Microfiber cloth Sudsy water or blow-dryer Vacuum with dusting...

Biggest Challenges 1. Grungy ceiling-fan blades2. ...

Bedbugs have been staging a comeback in recent years. Thanks in part to the ban on DDT, the use of less toxic (but less effective) pesticides, and the rise in international travel, these relentless, resilient, reddish-brown pests are quickly becoming...

Bedbugs have been staging a comeback in recent yea...

You don't need a news report to tell you that the cost of food is up­: You notice it on every grocery trip, and feel a guilty twinge when tossing something that's gone bad. Here, tips to manage your food inventory — and waste (and spend!) less.1. Cle...

You don't need a news report to tell you that the ...

Should You DIY Your Move? Moving yourself will most certainly cost less than hiring a moving company, but before you go it alone, consider: How big the move is Taking a teen off to college or even moving into a first or second apartment is a much dif...

Should You DIY Your Move? Moving yourself will mos...

Ah, the wonders of technology — from word processing to Web searching, computers have forever changed how we get things done. Less awe-inspiring: when software takes forever to load and cables and cords put a choke hold on your desk. Read on for simp...

Ah, the wonders of technology — from word processi...

The more you sort, the cleaner your clothes will be. First, read the care labels. Then sort clothing by washing method, color and type of fabric. Turn clothing items inside out to prevent fading and reduce pilling. Wash bulky items (like bed linens) ...

The more you sort, the cleaner your clothes will b...

See moving as an opportunity to organize and purge. Make "donate," "pitch," and "sell" piles in each room for belongings you no longer want or need. Arrange for a charity to come pick up items you plan to donate at the end of your packing schedule. P...

See moving as an opportunity to organize and purge...

1. Pick a cloudy day Streaks dry on in sunlight. To spot when they happen, wipe one side of the glass horizontally, the other vertically2. Don't make mud Before you spray, sweep dirt from the window, frame, and screen with a brush, or vacuum with the...

1. Pick a cloudy day Streaks dry on in sunlight. T...

We polled our Facebook fans for their most persistent and annoying problems. Solved! These organizers and streamliners come cheap, starting at just $10 PROBLEM: Our (OK, my) shoes are taking over the floor.SOLUTION: File them away in Lynk's 15-pair c...

We polled our Facebook fans for their most persist...

Our quick and simple guide to de-spotting, de-staining, storing, and even repairing your dishes If you're seeing spots Nestle dishwasher-safe glasses between the rack's spokes — not over them — to help eliminate spotting and breakage. For wineglasses...

Our quick and simple guide to de-spotting, de-stai...

Tools You'll Use • Eraser-type sponge• All-purpose cleaner with bleach• Chlorine bleach and regular sponge Biggest Challenge Stains — and who knows what else — in the kitchen sink. Fastest Fix Get rid of the gunk: Just about everything that happens i...

Tools You'll Use • Eraser-type sponge• All-purpose...

Could your furniture use a beauty boost? A few yards of fabric is all you need. The English armchair of Good Housekeeping's literary editor, Laura Mathews, was well loved — and well worn. Its floral slipcover had become dingy and unraveled after year...

Could your furniture use a beauty boost? A few yar...

How to patch up that hole in your wall the good way — and the good enough way. Good Way1. For fist-size holes or bigger, cut a square piece of Sheetrock slightly larger than the hole. Enlarge the hole so this patch will fit by placing the piece over ...

How to patch up that hole in your wall the good wa...

Smoke out cold-air leaks using a stick of incense With the stick smoldering, move it toward the edges of windows and doors. If there's a draft, the smoke will be blown horizontally (no draft, and the smoke will rise as normal). Fix it with caulk, app...

Smoke out cold-air leaks using a stick of incense ...

Three quick add-ons to max out a small spaceGet bottles off the sides of the tub with a toiletries organizer. Oxo's Bathtub Corner Shelf is a plastic triangle that suctions to a bathtub's corner (and can go right in the dishwasher).Hang towels where ...

Three quick add-ons to max out a small spaceGet bo...

Question: I was diagnosed with diabetes in August 2006 and my doctor told me to stop eating all carbs. I did this and have since gone down three dress sizes. I’m trying to follow The Supermarket Diet, but you say to eat three servings of wheat a day....

Question: I was diagnosed with diabetes in August ...

That stomach flu had you running to the bathroom for three days. Now you're running for the scale to see how much weight you've lost. Even if you stayed well hydrated, you may find that you did drop a significant number of pounds. But is the weight l...

That stomach flu had you running to the bathroom f...

Question: I have always been overweight, but I don't eat more than 700 calories a day. I know that I should eat more, but when I do, my weight spirals out of control. Is there something wrong with my metabolism? Answer: Seven hundred calories per day...

Question: I have always been overweight, but I don...

Hot weather is here. Time to lighten up on clothes. Time for shorts, sleeveless tops, swimsuits. Translation: Time for bare thighs, bare arms, bare back. Sigh. I have a friend who dreads summer because of what she calls the unveiling of her body. Pee...

Hot weather is here. Time to lighten up on clothes...

If you've been told by your doctor to avoid gluten (for health reasons such as Celiac disease), it could feel like a life sentence. Gluten, a protein found in rye, barley, and some oats, also shows up in lots of packaged foods, from cookies to salad ...

If you've been told by your doctor to avoid gluten...

Have you often wondered, "What Is the Best Diet for Me?" With the bevy of diets promising to deliver instant weight loss, finding a plan that fits your lifestyle and eating preferences practically requires an advanced degree in nutrition. Truth is, t...

Have you often wondered, "What Is the Best Diet fo...