This kitchen staple costs just a couple of dollars a bottle, yet does everything from remove carpet stains and polish brass to unclog showerheads and make old towels feel new again. Find out the dozens of other ways vinegar can replace pricey household cleaners and keep old items working like new at versatilevinegar.org.
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Frustrated by a fussy toddler or pre-schooler who stays awake long past bedtime? Texas Tech University child development researcher Sybil Hart, Ph.D., says she has the answer: sing your child a soothing nursery rhyme while giving her a relaxing massage. In her new book, Lullaby Massage: Rhyme & Touch Massage for Infants and Children, she explains that this calming combo helps youngsters transition from the high-intensity energy of daytime to a more peaceful state so they can unwind and drift off more easily.
[photo: SantaRosa]
Before you fill out expense reports, draw up a budget or do other arithmetic-related tasks, nibble dark chocolate first. Its rich supply of flavanols increases blood flow to the brain, making it easier to do mentally demanding math problems. In fact, in a recent study out of the U.K.’s Northumbria University, folks did significantly better at counting backwards from 999 in threes and were less mentally exhausted by the math challenge on days when they drank a dark chocolate drink than on the days they skipped it.
Stick with a proper measuring tool—such as a measuring cap, dropper, dosing spoon or syringe—not a kitchen spoon. When former cold and flu sufferers were asked to pour one teaspoon of an over-the-counter syrup into a medium-sized kitchen spoon, most poured about 8% too little—and when using a larger kitchen spoon, they poured about 12% too much, reports the Annals of Internal Medicine. These miscalculations may not sound like a lot, but they can make a big difference. Even just a bit too little can make many medications ineffective, and, over several days, a tad too much might cause a dangerous overdose.
[photo: Muffet]
Are you and your guy trying to decide on a new set of sheets, blankets or PJs? If softness is a key factor, you’re better off going with what feels best to you. Turns out, women have a better sense of touch than men thanks to small fingers that have more closely spaced sensory receptors, which send more information to the brain, according to research out of McMaster University in Canada.
[photo: D. Sharon Pruitt]
Want your partner to adopt a healthier lifestyle—such as doing more exercise or getting his or her blood pressure checked—without having to nag? Simply adopt these healthy habits first—your sweetie will likely follow, according to a recent study in the journal Health Services Research. In fact, this follow-me technique is so effective, the researchers found it works for even on hard-to-reach health goals, like quitting smoking and drinking.
[photo: thelastminute]
If you get a gut feeling about something—for instance, whether a salesperson is really offering you the best deal—pay extra attention. It’s not your imagination—your hunch is actually a combination of memories of outcomes from past experiences as well as facts that your subconscious has picked up that are bubbling to the surface to help you make the right choice, according to research from Linköping University in Sweden. And, it’s this kind of “insider” information can help you make the best decision.
[photo: rumpleteaser]
Sneeze more in spring and summer? It may not be allergies—you may be among the approximately 35% of folks who inherited a gene that makes you sneeze in sunlight. Easy sneeze-stopper: sunglasses.
[photo: Marvin Kuo]
Bothered by fleas or bracing for the next infestation? Forget turning to smelly chemical-filled flea sprays. Ohio State University scientists say all it takes to wipe out fleas in your home is your vacuum cleaner. Turns out, vacuuming kills 96% of adult fleas and 100% of younger fleas. Surprised? So were the scientists who repeated the test several times to make sure they were right. And they were! So what makes a vacuum work as well as (and sometimes better) than sprays? Turns out, fleas are pretty fragile, so the brushes and suction in your vacuum cleaner are enough to destroy them. For best results, vacuum two to three times a week to make sure all life cycles, including eggs, young fleas and adult fleas, are gone.
[photo: Hanumann]
Whether you’re taking photos at the beach, amusement park, botanical gardens or other outdoor destination, there are easy ways to make them look like a pro shot them. The New York Institute of Photography recommends…
* Turning on the flash. This eliminates the dark shadows that form around people’s eyes and nose on sunny days and adds extra light on cloudy days, making faces appear sharper.
* Zooming in. There’s lots of outdoor clutter that can distract your subject—such as passersby, coolers, trash cans and cars. A tight shot focuses your photo on your subject, giving it more impact.
* Watching out for squinting. People’s eyes are usually the first place we look in a photo so you want them to be as clear as possible. If your subjects are squinting, try to turn them in another direction where the sun isn’t bothering them.
* Taking more photos at the “magic hour”. At dusk, the sun gives off a soft glow that makes virtually everyone instantly more attractive.
* Making flowers more fantastic. When taking close-ups of roses, lilacs, hibiscus and other warm-weather blooms, try to include a butterfly, bee, ladybug or other garden critter. This little touch makes an ordinary flower shot far more intereseting. Also key: Kneel down to the flower’s height to get more detail.
Quick—which do you think would make folks want to be closer to you:
A) You do them a favor
B) You ask them to do you a favor
It’s B! Turns out, when someone gives you the time, loans you a cup of sugar, doles out advice or does another small favor for you, they think they’ve helped you because they like you. So, it automatically makes them like you more, according to a study in the journal Human Relations.
[photo: D. Sharon Pruitt]
