Best Tips, Fast Fixes, and Simple Solutions. Tips and Solutions that even ordinary household items surprisingly have uses for all.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Erase Dirty Grout this 'Elementary' Way
Erase dirt between your bathroom tiles with a circular typewriter eraser. Simply roll it along the grout to rub it clean. Many of these erasers come with brushes to sweep away the eraser dust left behind.
Muscle out Bathroom Mildew
Cleaning your bathtub and shower regularly can stop mildew in its tracks. That's because a clean bathroom doesn't contain the things mildew thrives on, like soap scum, shampoo residue, and body oils. To deprive mildew of the moisture it needs, leave shower doors or curtains open right after you've bathed or showered. Keep the bathroom door open to dry the room out, too.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wash Mildew down the Drain
If your shower is becoming mildew's favorite hangout, mix three-quarters cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Rub this powerful solution on your tile and grout, and wipe down your plastic shower curtain. Once the mildew fades away, rinse with plain water.
Fight Soap Scum on Tiles
To clean grime off your bathroom tiles. whip up a solution of equal parts Epsom salt and liquid dish detergent. The salt adds friction, which helps the detergent scour away the scum.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Spray Mildew Away
Fighting mildew is an everyday battle. Arm yourself with an inexpensive homemade weapon. Mix one-half cup of rubbing alcohol, three cups of water, and one tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture on your tiled bathroom walls after each shower.
Clean your Shower while you Sleep
Make cleaning mildew and muck on your tub or shower tiles as easy as calling it a night. Spray bleach on paper towels and spread them on the grungy areas. The wet towels will stay in place and clean throughout the night. All you have to do is rinse off the tiles in the morning.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Stop mildew before it starts
Scrubbing mildew off your shower tiles can be as much fun as going to the dentist. Instead, prevent mildew from growing in the first place by running a squeegee over your tiles after every shower. Keep the squeegee in your shower stall so you won't forget to use it.
Spray away shower scum
Commercial shower cleaners can clean out your wallet if you use them every day, so make your own daily cleaner instead. Pour 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol in a 32-ounce spray bottle and top it off with water. Spray this concoction on your shower walls and curtain after every shower. You won't even have to rinse it off
Strike a match to strike out odor.
One of the most effective ways to mask unpleasant bathroom odor is also one of the easiest. Simply light a match or two, and you'll camouflage any smells. Keep a few matchbooks in your bathroom for emergencies.
Prevent toilet trouble with baking soda
One of the most effective ways to mask unpleasant bathroom odors. pour in one cup of baking soda once a week
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Bounce odors with fabric softener
Freshen the scent of your bedroom or bathroom without throwing away money on fancy-smelling air fresheners. Just put a fabric softener sheet in your wastebasket.
Get Disposable gloves for free
Need to get down and dirty? Save those plastic produce bags you tear off in the grocery store and turn them into disposable gloves, Slip the bags over your hands and hold them in place with rubber bands. When you're done, just toss them out.
Friday, September 24, 2010
In Deep Water
Want to get exercise? Reach for your swimsuit instead of your sneakers, Research shows deep-water running can give you the same cardio benefits as an intense jog, minus the wear and tear on your joints. When you run on land, the impact creates a force equal to two to three times your weight, says Tish Doyle-Baker, a Calgary clinical exercise physiologist, But the buoyancy in the water eliminates most of that stress.
You can't just jump in and casually tread water, though. You have to actually run - raising your knees and pumping your arms - to get results.
That can be difficult, says Lawrence Golding, coauthor of a paper on the benefits of deep-water running published in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal. "There is a tendency to not work as hard in water," he says. One solution is to use a waterproof heart-rate monitor to ensure you're exercising within your target heart-rate zone, helping you achieve maximum benefits.
You can't just jump in and casually tread water, though. You have to actually run - raising your knees and pumping your arms - to get results.
That can be difficult, says Lawrence Golding, coauthor of a paper on the benefits of deep-water running published in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal. "There is a tendency to not work as hard in water," he says. One solution is to use a waterproof heart-rate monitor to ensure you're exercising within your target heart-rate zone, helping you achieve maximum benefits.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Bitter Remedy
A STAPLE OF CHINESE and Indian cuisine, bitter melon lives up to its name. also know as bitter gourd, bitter apple and bitter cucumber, it's been used as a contraceptive, a treatment for psoriasis, and a variety of other purposes. Mainly though, it's been hailed for lowering blood sugar, and the fruit and seeds are loaded with chemicals that appear to have an impact on glucose or insulin.
Studies suggest bitter melon may work on several levels, such as boosting insulin secretion, improving the ability of cells to absorb glucose, and hindering the release of glucose from the liver. One of the largest studies of bitter melon in people with type 2 diabetes lasted only two days, but it caused significant drops in blood sugar for 100 participants within hours of drinking suspended vegetable pulp.
Herbalist often suggest taking it in juice (50ml is a typical daily dose), but if you don't like the bitter taste you can consider capsules instead. Look for products made from the fruit or seeds - the apparent source of bitter melon's effect.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Healing Power of your Chums
It's been known for a while that our relations with others can affect longevity - married men, for instance, live longer than unmarried ones on average. But a new Australian study suggest that it's not just close family that counts.
Monitoring 1477 people over the age of 70 for ten years, scientists found that those with the strongest network of friends tended to live longest, whereas contact with relatives didn't make much difference.
The team suggest that friends might affect health behaviours such as smoking and drinking, as well as boosting mood and self-esteem, which can have a positive physiological effect in the same way stress can have negative one.
Monitoring 1477 people over the age of 70 for ten years, scientists found that those with the strongest network of friends tended to live longest, whereas contact with relatives didn't make much difference.
The team suggest that friends might affect health behaviours such as smoking and drinking, as well as boosting mood and self-esteem, which can have a positive physiological effect in the same way stress can have negative one.
Do You Smell That?
What do strawberies, lemon, smoke, leather and pineapple have in common? Well, according to a recent study on memory, they're five of the ten most recognisable smells that may help detect the first signs of Alzheimer's disease.
The inability to recognize these scents appears to show which people are developing dementia as opposed to those suffering simple mental decline due to aging, says Dr D.P. Devanand of the New york State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University.
Using a relatively quick and easy ten-smell test, Devanand evaluated 150 patients with minimal to mild cognitive impairment every six months, and 63 healthy subjects annually, for an average follow-up of five years.
However, Devanand cautioned that these results are very preliminary and that it's difficult to accurately diagnose who is going to get Alzheimer's over time.
Scientists hope this "scratch and sniff" test will improve diagnoses, so patients can begin taking antidementia drugs long before Alzheimer's would normally be diagnosed.
The inability to recognize these scents appears to show which people are developing dementia as opposed to those suffering simple mental decline due to aging, says Dr D.P. Devanand of the New york State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University.
Using a relatively quick and easy ten-smell test, Devanand evaluated 150 patients with minimal to mild cognitive impairment every six months, and 63 healthy subjects annually, for an average follow-up of five years.
However, Devanand cautioned that these results are very preliminary and that it's difficult to accurately diagnose who is going to get Alzheimer's over time.
Scientists hope this "scratch and sniff" test will improve diagnoses, so patients can begin taking antidementia drugs long before Alzheimer's would normally be diagnosed.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Body Language
They say the eyes are the window to the soul, What secrets do other body parts reveal about your?
A University of Alberta study found the shorter a man's index finger is compared to his ring finger, the more likely he'll be physically aggressive. There's a correlation between finger length and the amount of testosterone you exposed to in the womb; more testosterone may mean a shorter index finger.
Studies show, for men, a long ring finger and symmetrical hands indicate fertility. Women are more likely to be fertile if their ring finger is shorter than their index finger.
From the time of Confucius, Chinese doctors have used face reading as a diagnostic aid. Their findings include deductions that people whose eyebrows are thick are more driven and may be more aggressive, while people with thin lips tend to be workaholics.
A University of Alberta study found the shorter a man's index finger is compared to his ring finger, the more likely he'll be physically aggressive. There's a correlation between finger length and the amount of testosterone you exposed to in the womb; more testosterone may mean a shorter index finger.
Studies show, for men, a long ring finger and symmetrical hands indicate fertility. Women are more likely to be fertile if their ring finger is shorter than their index finger.
From the time of Confucius, Chinese doctors have used face reading as a diagnostic aid. Their findings include deductions that people whose eyebrows are thick are more driven and may be more aggressive, while people with thin lips tend to be workaholics.
How To Talk To Anyone
Be a Social Success at every party - try these tips from Leil Lowndes, relationship expert and author of Always n the Kitchen at Parties.
Never give one-word answers. If your asked what you do, expand on your response so it can start a conversation, for example "I'm a social worker and I work with adopted children."
Leave out "uh-huh," Encourage people to keep on speaking by asking questions about what they're saying.
Choose the right questions. Avoid "where?" or "when?" - they tend to promote one-line answers. Use "why?", "how?" or "tell me more."
Sound "dazzled" even if the conversation is dull. A great conversationalist makes everyone feel appreciated.
Never give one-word answers. If your asked what you do, expand on your response so it can start a conversation, for example "I'm a social worker and I work with adopted children."
Leave out "uh-huh," Encourage people to keep on speaking by asking questions about what they're saying.
Choose the right questions. Avoid "where?" or "when?" - they tend to promote one-line answers. Use "why?", "how?" or "tell me more."
Sound "dazzled" even if the conversation is dull. A great conversationalist makes everyone feel appreciated.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Exercise In A Pill
NO TIME for the gym? No problem: Oral drugs may one day allow anyone to extend many of the benefits of exercise. As reported in the journal Cell, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California found that using drugs to simultaneously trigger two muscle-signalling pathways - usually activated by exercise - enhanced training and endurance in mice.
Professor Ronald M. Evans and his team found the drug GW1516 activated the "PPAR delta" pathway, resulting in improved resistance to weight gain and insulin response. When Coupled with training (four weeks of up to 50 minutes a day on a treadmill), endurance rose by 77 percent over exercise alone.
And after four weeks on another drug, AICAR - which triggers the "AMPK" pathway and, says Evans, "puts a turbocharge on PPAR delta" sedentary mice ran 44 percent longer than those not given the drug.
Researchers suggest these "exercise mimetic" drugs could be useful for conditions such as metabolic disorders, muscle diseases and obesity, for which exercise is beneficial.
Professor Ronald M. Evans and his team found the drug GW1516 activated the "PPAR delta" pathway, resulting in improved resistance to weight gain and insulin response. When Coupled with training (four weeks of up to 50 minutes a day on a treadmill), endurance rose by 77 percent over exercise alone.
And after four weeks on another drug, AICAR - which triggers the "AMPK" pathway and, says Evans, "puts a turbocharge on PPAR delta" sedentary mice ran 44 percent longer than those not given the drug.
Researchers suggest these "exercise mimetic" drugs could be useful for conditions such as metabolic disorders, muscle diseases and obesity, for which exercise is beneficial.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Final Frontier
Late last year, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson unveiled the world's first commercial spacecraft. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two (SS2) is planning to begin passenger flights between 2011 and 2012, with 300 adventurers from around the world already signed up for the 2 1/2-hour journeys at $200,000 each. Designed as the most luxurious private jet in the world, the "mothership" will carry six passengers and two pilots to a height of 50,000 feet (15km) before SS2 is released and launched to the edge of space. Virgin Galactic eventually hopes to reduce the ticket price to a more affordable level. Said Branson at the launch, "We hope to create thousands of astronauts over the next few years and bring alive their dream of seeing the majestic beauty of our planet from above, the stars in all their glory and the amazing sensation of weightlessness."
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Get Wired - The Green Way
1. UNPLUG
This is a no-brainer: unplug all power cords, including phone chargers, when not in use. Even if your phone isn't connected, the charger will continue draining power if it's plugged in.
2. THINK ALTERNATIVE
Speaking of charging your mobile, don't just rely on wall outlets. Try solar chargers that will juice up your phone while you catch some rays. Or rely on brute force, with a hand-crank charger - you can save electricity and get some exercise!
3. SHOP WISELY
Do your research. When buying anything that uses electricity, look out for the familiar ENERGY STAR® sticker. It is an indication that the device meets specific international standards for energy efficiency.
4. UPGRADE
Buying a new PC can actually be an environmentally smart move. Newer PCs are generally better designed and more energy efficient than older models. (This is, sadly, not true for mobiles, as more people switch from regular handsets to smartphones - the latter consume more energy with shorter battery lives.)
5. RECYLE
But don't throw out your old PC or any electronics! No matter how dusty or damaged, old gadgets should never end up in landfills (electronic components may contain eco-unfriendly materials). If it still works, donate it to charity. If not, find a local recycling programme specialising in electronics.
Start saving electricity and money right now - with the added bonus of doing your bit for environment!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wonder Web
Intimidated by technology?
Don't be. A new study shows that everyday computer tasks such as doing searches on the internet are good brain-training exercises.
When researchers at UCLA looked at older adults who had only recently learnt to use the Internet, they found a surge of activity in key decision-making and reasoning centres of the brain.
"People with minimal experience performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change and enhance brain activity," says Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institiute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior UCLA.
The researchers found that browsing the web was superior to simple tasks such as reading. Searching online requires constant decision-making and the ability to hold information in working memory, says Small . "[It] appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry not activated during reading."
Don't be. A new study shows that everyday computer tasks such as doing searches on the internet are good brain-training exercises.
When researchers at UCLA looked at older adults who had only recently learnt to use the Internet, they found a surge of activity in key decision-making and reasoning centres of the brain.
"People with minimal experience performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change and enhance brain activity," says Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institiute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior UCLA.
The researchers found that browsing the web was superior to simple tasks such as reading. Searching online requires constant decision-making and the ability to hold information in working memory, says Small . "[It] appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry not activated during reading."
Menopause as Cholesterol Trigger
New evidence shows menopause not the natural ageing process - to be behind the sharp rise in cholesterol seen in women in meidlife.
As women approach menopause, many show striking increase in cholesterol levels, which in turn increase risk for later heart disease, says Professor Karen Matthews, an epidemiologist from the University of Pittsburgh. In nearly every woman studied, cholesterol levels jumped around the time of menopause. LDL, or bad cholesterol, rose by almost 10% in the two years surrounding the final menstrual period.
Midlife is a great time to take stock and make sure that you are at a healthy weight, getting plenty of exercise and not smoking, says Matthews.
As women approach menopause, many show striking increase in cholesterol levels, which in turn increase risk for later heart disease, says Professor Karen Matthews, an epidemiologist from the University of Pittsburgh. In nearly every woman studied, cholesterol levels jumped around the time of menopause. LDL, or bad cholesterol, rose by almost 10% in the two years surrounding the final menstrual period.
Midlife is a great time to take stock and make sure that you are at a healthy weight, getting plenty of exercise and not smoking, says Matthews.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Sleep Tight No Matter Your Age
JUST AS sleep is crucial to the health of adults, new research suggests that lack of sleep may affect teen's health, too.
Ohio researchers found that otherwise healthy teens who slept less than 6.5 hours a night were 2.5 times more likely than those who slept longer to have elevated blood pressure.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Want To Prevent Peanut Allergies? EAT PEANUTS
IF YOU WERE ever worried that treating your four-month-old nephew to peanut butter might have been a health hazard, you ( and he) may be safe: New research casts doubt on the notion that infants and new mothers should avoid eating peanuts to prevent the development of a food allergy.
The study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, reveals that children who were not given peanuts during infancy and early childhood were ten times more likely to develop peanut allergy than children who were exposed to peanuts.
While the researchers suggest dietary guidelines that advise against peanuts during pregnancy, breastfeeding and infancy could be linked to the higher number of peanut allergies in recent years, they caution that further evidence is needed before recommendations are changed.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Nose Knows
Do you prefer the whiff of frying bacon or freshly mown grass?
It seems certain aromas have the power to stir up strong emotions and even change our mood. A new study of 4000 people in the UK looked at the scents that appeal to us most. Freshly baked bread topped the list. Interestingly, while women claim certain smells make them happy because they're homely or remind them of someone they love, guys prefer exciting and invigorating aromas. Still 94% of men admitted they wanted their homes to smell nice.
According to Dr. Pamela Dalton, the link between smell and memory is very strong. "Smell has the power to revive the past and transport us to a happy time or place, or remind us of a special person, evoking feelings of nostalgia comfort,"
TOP SMELLS THAT MAKE US HAPPY
It seems certain aromas have the power to stir up strong emotions and even change our mood. A new study of 4000 people in the UK looked at the scents that appeal to us most. Freshly baked bread topped the list. Interestingly, while women claim certain smells make them happy because they're homely or remind them of someone they love, guys prefer exciting and invigorating aromas. Still 94% of men admitted they wanted their homes to smell nice.
According to Dr. Pamela Dalton, the link between smell and memory is very strong. "Smell has the power to revive the past and transport us to a happy time or place, or remind us of a special person, evoking feelings of nostalgia comfort,"
TOP SMELLS THAT MAKE US HAPPY
- Freshly baked bread
- Clean sheets
- Freshly mown grass
- Fresh flowers
- Freshly ground coffee
- Fresh air after rainfall
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Bottoms Up For Your Bones
Move over, milk: One study of men and post-menopausal women found those who drank one to two glasses of beer or wine daily had bones that were up to 8% more dense than those of teetotallers. Lead researcher Katherine Tucker of Tufts University says beer is very high in silicon, a trace mineral that promotes bone formation, and wine's full of resveratrol, an antioxidant shown in animal studies to protect against bone loss. But remember: Excess alcohol can harm your bone - and the rest of you.
Don't Like Fish?
It's a top source of omega-3 fatty acids, which studies show can reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart attack - but what if you don't like the flavour of fish?
A study from England suggests that you may get nearly as much benefit from plant foods that contain alpha-linolenic acid, a substance that your body converts into omega-3. Blood tests on women who eat fish and those who don't suggest that fish-avoiders become more efficient at converting alpha-linolenic acids into omega-3, boasting and omega-3 count only 10% lower than fish-eaters. The best sources of this acid? Canola and soybean oils, walnuts, tofu and flaxseed.
A study from England suggests that you may get nearly as much benefit from plant foods that contain alpha-linolenic acid, a substance that your body converts into omega-3. Blood tests on women who eat fish and those who don't suggest that fish-avoiders become more efficient at converting alpha-linolenic acids into omega-3, boasting and omega-3 count only 10% lower than fish-eaters. The best sources of this acid? Canola and soybean oils, walnuts, tofu and flaxseed.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Simple Tips for Better Vision
Our eyes are two of our most precious possessions yet, all too easily, we can take good eyesight for granted. Protect your peepers with these low-effort actions:
1. Always wear eye protection when swimming or doing carpentry.
2. Aim your car vents down at your feet, not at your eyes. Air-conditioned air, which is dry, sucks moisture out of the eyes like a sponge, so direct the airflow away from your face. Serious dryness can lead to corneal abrasions and even blindness
3. Eat fish twice a week. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids proven to reduce the risk of dry-eye syndrome. If you can't stand fish, try fish-oil supplements.
4. Cook with red onions, not yellow. Red onions contain more quercetin that is thought to protect against cataracts.
5. Wear a large hat or cap along with your sunglasses. A wide-brimmed hat will block roughly 50 percent of UV radiation and reduce the UV rays that may enter your eyes from above or around the shades.
6. Put on sunglasses when ever you leave the house. Not only will they block out the harsh glare of the sun, but they'll also protect your eyes from the drying effects of wind.
Monday, June 21, 2010
A Jab for Your Gums
Gum disease is one of the most common diseases globally, but with a vaccine on the horizon, this figure is likely to be slashed. A CSL vaccine - a world first - has been in development for the past ten years and has just enetered trials. An antibiotic gel to treat those with existing infection is being developed alongside the vaccine.
Professor Eric Reynolds, head of the University of Melbourne's dental school, said being able to prevent the disease will be a huge step forward for oral health. "Periodontitis is a serious disease and dentists face a major challenge in treating it, because most people will not know they have the disease until it's too late and the infection has progressed to advanced stages."
Professor Eric Reynolds, head of the University of Melbourne's dental school, said being able to prevent the disease will be a huge step forward for oral health. "Periodontitis is a serious disease and dentists face a major challenge in treating it, because most people will not know they have the disease until it's too late and the infection has progressed to advanced stages."
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Hidden Cost of Gum Disease
New link found to head and neck cancer
The dangers of gum disease go beyond the mouth. It has been linked to heart disease, and more recent studies suggest it may also be a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and now head and neck cancers. When researchers at the State University of New York examined X-rays of patients with periodontitis, they found that for each millimetre of alveolar bone (the ridge of bone that surrounds the roots of teeth and holds them in place) lost, the risk of head and neck cancer increased more than fourfold. "Gum disease causes chronic inflammation in the oral cavity," says Dr Mine Tezal, who led the research. "inflammation causes genetic changes in the mucosa (the tissue lining the mouth) and can ultimately lead to cancer."
The dangers of gum disease go beyond the mouth. It has been linked to heart disease, and more recent studies suggest it may also be a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and now head and neck cancers. When researchers at the State University of New York examined X-rays of patients with periodontitis, they found that for each millimetre of alveolar bone (the ridge of bone that surrounds the roots of teeth and holds them in place) lost, the risk of head and neck cancer increased more than fourfold. "Gum disease causes chronic inflammation in the oral cavity," says Dr Mine Tezal, who led the research. "inflammation causes genetic changes in the mucosa (the tissue lining the mouth) and can ultimately lead to cancer."
Why Dads Can't Dance
OLDER MEN now have the perfect excuse when they make fools of themselves on the dance floor. Dr Peter Lovatt, a UK psychologist - and dancer - compared the dance style and confidence of almost 14,000 people. He found that the way we dance changes as a function of our age and gender. While the dancing confidence of men rises steadily through the late teens and 20s before plateauing in the early 30s, once over the age of 60 confidence levels suddenly shoot up. Plus middle-aged men typically use larger, less coordinated movements than their younger counterparts. Why? Dr. Lovatt suggest it's because they are past their natural reproductive age and the awkward moves keep fertile young women at bay (not to mention clear the way for younger men). "From an evolutionary perspective it's not ideal for younger women to fin them attractive."
Meanwhile, "Dr Dance" is conducting a follow-up study to investigate why some people are confident on the dance floor, while others refuse to even wiggle their hips. So if you are a bit shy, what's the good doctors advice?" Dancing is a natural expression of who you are. Don't try to copy the movements of others. Just relax, move freely and, most of all, have fun."
Meanwhile, "Dr Dance" is conducting a follow-up study to investigate why some people are confident on the dance floor, while others refuse to even wiggle their hips. So if you are a bit shy, what's the good doctors advice?" Dancing is a natural expression of who you are. Don't try to copy the movements of others. Just relax, move freely and, most of all, have fun."
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