Search

8 places you should never keep your phone

In your pocket Keeping your phone in your pocket seems logical, but you could be doing more harm than good. According to Dr Lilly Friedman, this is actually the worst place to store your phone. “When phones are on, connected to a wireless network, and placed in a pocket, the radiation is two to seven times higher than if it were placed in a purse or holster,” she says. There is a correlation between radiation from a mobile phone and tumour growth, she adds. Plus, radiation can change the structure of DNA and affect male fertility, according to Dr Friedman. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer also found that mobile phone radiation is additionally carcinogenic to humans. Merely sitting on your phone could cause health issues such as sciatica or back problems. In your bra Some research and case studies show that keeping your phone in your bra could be linked to breast cancer due to the radiations and vibrations from the phone. That said, there is not enough evidence to establish a definite relationship between the two. Still, keeping your phone in your bra, especially a sports bra, is a bad idea due to the skin-irritating bacteria it could harbour, Muscle & Fitness reports. In your bed or under your pillow Sleeping with your phone is a bad idea for a few reasons. First, keeping your phone under your pillow could build up heat and present a potential fire hazard, especially if your phone is charging or has a defect. It’s also known that the LED light from phone screens can disrupt melatonin production and circadian rhythms, hurting your sleep quality, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And, of course, there’s also radiation to consider. The amounts of radio frequency radiation mobile phones give off are the same ones emitted from microwaves. There is also concern about the safety of mobile phone use with respect to cancer and brain tumours, per the American Cancer Society. Plugged in Keeping your phone plugged in when it has a full battery causes damage to the battery itself, according to pcmag.com. It’s not that your phone ‘overloads’ with power, but heat build-ups from stacking things on top of your phone or keeping it under your pillow, making your phone hotter and damaging your battery. Close to your face Keeping your phone close to your face means bacteria transfers to and from your phone, making your skin and phone dirtier. This combination leads to more acne, skin irritation and even wrinkles, according to Allure. Try using ear pods instead to keep the surface of your phone at a distance from your face. In your glovebox Extreme temperatures are the worst conditions for your phone. So keeping your device in your car’s glovebox during the extremely hot or cold months of the year could lead to problems. According to Time, excess heat can cause everything from data loss or corruption to battery leakage. The cold weather presents just as many issues for your device. In cold temperatures, many smartphones shut off, have display problems, shortened battery life and in rare cases screen shattering. On your beach towel Notice a theme here? The extreme sun and heat at the beach is a recipe for phone disaster. Protect your device after you finish taking beautiful beach pictures. Hot and sunny conditions could, again, cause your phone to overheat – and getting sand in your phone won’t help either. Anywhere in the bathroom Although phones could arguably be the new newspaper, it’s not a good idea to take yours into the bathroom. Even if you keep your device on a counter or away from the toilet, anything within a metre of a flushing toilet could mean bacteria or viruses in the air end up on your phone, according to a study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. “The detection of bacteria and viruses falling out onto surfaces in bathrooms after flushing indicated that they remain airborne long enough to settle on surfaces throughout the bathroom,” wrote the study authors. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/8-places-you-should-never-keep-your-phone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Technology

21 more organising tips you'll wish you knew all along

Give in to the piles “For people who chronically pile papers instead of filing them, ditch your filing cabinet. Instead, keep your piles but make them a little more structured by putting them into clear bins and then labelling them by category. It’s best if bins are transparent—either wire or acrylic—because if you’re a piler then you also probably have a visual memory. Labelling helps other people interact with your piling system.” —Kelly McMenamin and Katie McMenamin, co-authors of Organise Your Way: Simple Strategies for Every Personality Hang everything “Consider hanging almost all of your clothes. (You can use a double hanger to increase hanging space.) This helps you see everything you have so you know exactly what’s there and what you need. Drawers should be reserved for socks and underwear only.” —Kelly McMenamin and Katie McMenamin Don’t underestimate how draining clutter can be “Being surrounded by a lot of stuff can wear you down, physically and emotionally. Your home should be a reflection of items that truly hold meaning for you – either because you really like them or because there’s a special memory attached to them. Don’t hang onto unused picture frames, knick-knacks, plates, bowls, vases and other items you don’t have out on display or use. And remember, just because it’s hidden in a closet doesn’t mean it won’t add to that overwhelmed feeling you have as you still have to take care of it.” —Jeffrey Welder Note how your taste changes “Just because you loved something once doesn’t mean you still have to love it ten years later. Times change, people change, and trends change, and there’s nothing wrong with letting things go that no longer make you happy.” —Jeffrey Welder Over-the-door shoe organisers aren’t just for shoes “Hanging shoe organisers are a handy tool to keep clutter off floors and shelves, with uses for every room of your house. Try hanging one in your laundry room to organise all of your cleaning supplies. Or put one on your pantry door as the pouches are the perfect size to organise small boxes and gravy packets. Hang one in your bathroom to organise makeup and other toiletries. Use one in the playroom to keep Legos, matchbox cars, stuffed animals, and other small toys off the floor and in plain sight. Or try one in your workroom to keep all of your craft and wrapping supplies together.” —Jeffrey Welder Use the empty spaces above too “Under cabinets often end up packed to the gills (and hard to use) or half full of dead space. A simple solution is to use half shelves or stackable containers to use as much of the vertical area as you can.” —Schae Lewis and Bahar Partow Make it a game “Our clients love the ‘12-12-12 challenge.’ Each week, set a time to find 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home. It takes just a few minutes and is a fun, easy way to quickly organise 36 things in your house.” —Alison Bradley of the London Cleaning Team Throw a swap party “If you want to declutter without being wasteful, throw a party and invite friends to bring unused or unwanted items to swap. Everyone gets to go home with something new, and if you end up with leftovers, donate them to a local charity.” —Alison Bradley Shop your wardrobe “An easy way to declutter your wardrobe is to hold up each item and ask yourself, ‘Would I buy this again right now?’ If the answer is no, no matter what the reason is, out it goes.” —Hazel Thornton, professional organiser and author of Go with the Flow! The Clutter-Clearing Tool Kit for an Organised Life Question your stuff “For each item you consider bringing into the house, ask yourself three questions: Where is this going to live? Who will take care of it? Can I afford the money, time and energy it will require? If you don’t have a ready answer for any of these, then put it back.” —Hazel Thornton Start at the bottom of the pile and work up “For overwhelming paper piles, take a sheet from the bottom of the pile. The paper at the bottom is likely to be outdated, unneeded, even forgotten about, and no longer useful. That makes it easy to get rid of.” —Claire Tompkins, clutter coach and author of Five Minutes to a Relaxing Bedroom Can you handle the truth? "It’s hard to figure out what’s clutter in your own space because you’re so used to it. You take it for granted. Sometimes you can’t even see it. So pretend you’re showing a nosy visitor around. When she picks up that decorative box and asks you why you have it and if you like it, you may find yourself answering that it was left over from a white elephant sale and actually, no, you don’t even want it. The results can be surprising and liberating.” —Claire Tompkins Keep things where you actually need them “Put garbage or recycling bins where they’ll be used. If rubbish or recycling collect in the bedroom or living room, save yourself a trip and put the bins there, so you don’t have to go searching for them when you need them. Keep your shredder and recycling bin near where you process incoming mail. This allows you to take care of the paper right away rather than letting it pile up.” —Sarah Krivel, owner of Simpler Surroundings, a professional organising and productivity consulting company Cherish the memory with a photo “If you’re keeping something purely for sentimental reasons, take a picture and then give the item away. Recognise it’s the memory you cherish, not the actual item.” —Sarah Krivel Set a limit for decluttering “To avoid getting overwhelmed, I suggest to my clients to set the timer on their phones for a half hour. When the buzzer goes off they can stop! This can also be done by saying you’ll fill one bag to give away and then take a break. Often, just seeing their progress is motivation enough to keep going.” —Felice Cohen, professional organiser Get creative with repurposing old items “Sometimes something doesn’t need to be thrown out; sometimes it just needs to be used in a different way. For instance, use an empty tissue box to hold extra plastic grocery bags inside a kitchen pantry, cabinet, or closet. Or repurpose a bathroom towel rod by placing it on a garage wall to hold skateboards or longboards.” —Nancy Haworth, professional organiser, On Task Organising If you don’t love it or use it, lose it “This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing what we can talk ourselves into keeping. For instance, gifts that we received and now feel obligated to keep forever, clothing that collects dust in our wardrobe but was too expensive to just get rid of, or childhood mementos that are taking over your storage space even though you’ve never taken the time to actually look back on them. If there is something that you are holding on to, be honest with yourself. Do you love it? Do you use it? Your home is a representation of yourself, and it should only be filled with items that you enjoy and use.” —Rachel Rosenthal, professional organiser and owner of Rachel and Company Don’t forget why libraries exist “If you have a large book collection, gather all your books from around the house so you can sort through them all together. Keep the ones you will still read, still reference, or have a particular love of. The rest can be donated. Remember, you can download many books now, and libraries still exist. Once you’ve whittled down your collection, decide how you would like to display your books: by topic, by author, by size, or by colour. Shelve the keepers accordingly. Create sections like a library or bookstore would have (thriller, reference, biography, comedy) or alphabetical by author.” —Amy Trager, certified professional organiser. Organise spices alphabetically “This allows you to quickly find what your recipe calls for, as well as figure out which spices your cabinet is missing. Whether in a drawer, laying flat, or in a cabinet on tiered shelves, alphabetizing will make grabbing spices quick and putting them away just as fast. If you enjoy cooking a lot and a variety of cuisines, you can also organise spices by cuisine type: Indian, Asian, Mediterranean, baking, etc.” —Amy Trager The bye-bye box “Take all supplies off of the top of your desk – pens, sticky notes, paper clips, etc – and put them in a box to the side. As you work, take out only the things you need to use. After two weeks, you’ll know what you actually use, and whatever hasn’t been taken out of the box can be discarded or donated.” —Sara Skillen Save the instructions “It makes sense that the manual for something like a printer, television, or computer should be kept next to or under the item it goes with. Sure, you could file them away, but chances are when you need the manual you will be standing next to the malfunctioning item. So simply slip the instructions underneath, taped to the back, or next to the equipment.” —Lee Silber, author of Organising from the Right Side of the Brain Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/42-organising-tips-youll-wish-you-knew-all-along" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Creative ways to store more in your tiny bathroom

Having a small bathroom doesn’t necessarily have to mean you don’t have enough space, you just have to think outside the box! Getting creative with storage can make the smallest of bathrooms look stylish. 1. Towel racks Using vertical space will help to clear out storage spaces built into your bathroom. Invest in a wall-mounted rack for towels, using bright-coloured towels can add a pop of colour to the room as well. 2. Basket Shelves Mount a set of baskets on your bathroom wall, you can keep cosmetics here or some candles and an indoor plant for decoration. 3. Adhesive hooks Make use of the space behind your bathroom door. Attach adhesive hooks to the inside of the door to store hair dryers, brushes and accessories. 4. Roll-away cart If you’ve got a really cluttered bathroom, use a wheeled cart to store your soaps, lotions, shampoo and conditioner. It saves a cluttered sink and you can roll it in and out for convenience. 5. Dual purpose mirror A two-in-one mirror can be a lifesaver for small spaces. Store your cosmetics, health care products and toothbrushes behind a stylish mirror. Don't think you can't have it all in a tiny space! With a creative mindset, you can fit all of your goodies into your bathroom. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

7 deadly sins that lead to hoarding

If you’ve watched Enough Already! on Oprah with equal parts sympathy and fear, thinking to yourself “That better not be me one day”, then you’ll want to read on. Non-hoarders tend to picture hoarders as people who have rooms brimming with old newspapers piled to the roof and hallway cupboards that they can not open for fear of the contents swallowing them up. The word hoarder just sounds dirty. While researchers are still trying to understand the disorder, here are some clues that could signal you need to enlist some help. Every room has a “storage area” – If your dedicated storage area is so full that you need to keep the extra microwave in the living room, you may have a problem. When your storage overflows into the rest of the home and continues to grow – check yourself.  Keeping old magazines and newspapers – Do you hold on magazines and newspapers thinking, “I might like to reread that one day…” Stop it! Just get rid of them. Apart from coffee table-worthy magazines, everything should be thrown out. Besides a lot of stuff is now online.  Storing clothes you don’t wear – While it’s ok to hold onto your favourite band T-shirt from your younger years, holding onto old clothes – especially those that don’t fit or have holes in them – it just plain silly. Donate all items that fall into this category to charity immediately! Stowing away broken electronics and appliances – Don’t kid yourself, you’re never go to get around to fixing that printer or TV! Recycle or donate used electronic items that you no longer use. Storing free loot (aka junk) – Yes, yes we’ve all fallen victim to being giddy with excitement over a free key ring or pen we pocketed at a show or the RTA. But just because you got a free mug doesn’t mean it should be stashed in your drawer or kitchen never to see the light of day again. Chuck it! Your car becomes “extra” storage – If you keep more than just spare tire and pair of shoes in your car boot, then you are hoarder territory. If you need to keep DVDs and camping gear in the car because they wont fit in the house, it’s time for drop-off to the Salvos. Daily life becomes musical chairs – If there is no where to sit and eat dinner because every chair is piled high with papers and you can’t sleep comfortably because the bed is covered in clothes, seek help immediately! Image credits: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

5 foods you shouldn’t store in the fridge

There are some foods that simply cannot stand the cold and if stored in the fridge will lose their flavour, texture and freshness. These five items are best stored in your pantry rather than the refrigerator. 1. Cucumbers They’re often stored in the fridge but according to researchers at the University of California, storing the vegetable under 10°C actually causes “chilling injuries” to the cucumber. At low temperatures, the skin shrivels and pits, and the pulp turns mushy. If you like your cucumbers chilled, pop them in the fridge an hour before you want to eat so the cold won’t do damage. 2. Garlic Garlic bulbs are prone to developing shoots if stored in the fridge as the cold environment is similar to their growing conditions. It’s best to store garlic in place where it’s cool and with low humidity, like an airy pantry. 3. Chocolate The fridge may seem like the obvious place to put a melting bar of chocolate, but unfortunately it’s not. Chocolate is sensitive to sudden temperature changes and can develop a white “bloom” that spoils the smooth texture of chocolate if stored in the fridge. Store well-wrapped chocolate at room-temperature, away from strong-smelling foods. 4. Basil Do you store the herb in the fridge to extend in shelf life? As delicate Mediterranean herbs such as basil come from warm, sunny climates, the chilled fridge temperature speeds up oxidisation, turning the leaves black and ruining the herb's scent and flavour. Store fresh basil at room temperature in a jar with water. This will lengthen its shelf life and prevent premature discolouration. 5. Bread This may come as a shock to many but refrigerating bread doesn’t actually prolong its shelf life. While it may stop bread going mouldy, the cool, drying environment dehydrates the bread and speeds up the process of staling. Instead, store your bread in the freezer, which does extend the life of bread. Image: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

5 ways to save space at home

Although many of us enjoy a good de-cluttering, a more pressing problem can be finding somewhere to put the items that you decide to keep. Many homes lack the space for things that use to come standard such as linen cupboards and storage cupboards. In a lot of homes, built in wardrobes are seen as an optional extra rather than a must-have. Which means a lot of your treasure doesn’t have a permanent place to reside. Try some of our space saving ideas today, which can help you tidy away the bits and pieces that need a home. Utilise space under the bed Instead of letting dust set up house under there, invest in some plastic tubs that fit under your bed. Fill them with anything from sheets and blankets to shoes and hats. Install a low bookshelf underneath windows The area under a window is often wasted space. A small bookshelf there can hold books, games, photo albums, or even a stereo. Visit a home hardware store and look for DIY shelves. Make your bathroom mirror into a cupboard If you just have a standard mirror fitted, you could be missing out on a great spot to store your toiletries. A bathroom cabinet is not too expensive and means your basin is free of clutter. Use space saver bags to store off-season clothes These nifty little bags shrink clothes right down simply by using a vacuum cleaner to remove the air that takes up valuable space. Available from most discount stores, you can also use them for things like doonas and blankets that can take up lots of room in your linen cupboard. Add a shelf above doorways Another underutilised spot, the area above doors (especially hallways) is perfect for storing things like books or CDs. Check first that the wall is able to support a shelf before you start drilling. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

A guide to storing wine

In years gone past, many wineries would bottle and store wine for several years before selling it at optimal drinking years. Though many wineries still do this, it is becoming less and less of a common practice. At Mount Pleasant, they store many of their wines for longer periods – for instance, the <a href="http://www.mcwilliamswinescellardoor.com.au/products/1361-mount-pleasant-elizabeth-cellar-aged-semillon">Elizabeth Aged Semillon</a> and <a href="http://www.mcwilliamswinescellardoor.com.au/products/1366-mount-pleasant-lovedale-semillon">Lovedale Semillon</a> are both held for a minimum of five years. However the responsibility of cellaring has generally shifted toward the customer, under the increased desire for early drinking styled wines and the financial pressures of the Australian wine industry. With the onus of cellaring now on the customer it has led to a rise in the number of wine storage options available on the market. However, before you start on setting up your own wine cellar, it is important to consider a long-term strategy, primarily establishing which wines will deliver palate satisfaction years down the track and what wine storage system is best suited to your needs and budget. Wine style best for cellaring Aside from vintage, the grape variety is also an important consideration. As a rule of thumb, stick to what a particular wine region does best. For example, Hunter Valley semillon and shiraz; Clare Valley Riesling; Barossa Valley shiraz; Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon; Margaret River chardonnay and SSB are just a few examples. Consider the acid structure in white wines and the tannin profile in red wines. Generally speaking, these two components in wines help them stand up over time. Alternatively, let the experts guide you in the process. There is a huge range of knowledgeable wine commentators on the topic of cellaring and most of them have websites that list the appropriate length of time for cellaring each vintage of each wine. Like Mount Pleasant, most wineries also <a href="http://www.mountpleasantwines.com.au/our-wine/our-range/flagship/maurice-o-shea-shiraz-2010">provide information</a> in regard to cellaring of their wines. Just remember to stick to those people you can trust! Don’t gamble 10 years of cellaring on Wikipedia! Bottle size Cellaring wine for a wedding anniversary or grandchild’s 21st birthday is always a nice way to mark the occasion, provided you think you can resist the temptation. A good tip is to remember that bigger is better. A magnum bottle will not only allow more people to enjoy the wine but it will also age in the bottle at a slower rate. Because producers are releasing more forward drinking style wines, an aged magnum bottle will smell and taste more in tune with the flavour profile our palates are used to. Closure Without weighing into the cork versus screw cap debate, choosing wines for cellaring that have a screw cap closure will negate the possibility of any cork spoilage. Nothing could be more frustrating than waiting patiently on a bottle of wine, only to find the cork has failed! Bottles that have synthetic closures are fine for early drinking wine styles but it is best to avoid them when choosing to cellar wine for extended periods of time. Correct wine storage In order to get the most out of a wine, it is absolutely essential that you store it in the right environment. A constant temperature with little fluctuation between day and night, summer and winter, should be a high priority. A wine that is experiencing marked fluctuations in temperature will age quicker than desired. A cool temperature between 12°C to 15°C is desirable. If you reside in a warm climate, the wine is better off stored at a constant temperature around 16°C or 18°C than a temperature that is cooler, but fluctuates significantly. If bottled with a cork closure the cork will expand and contract in the neck of the bottle, altering its resilient condition, allowing oxygen to seep in and wine to leak out. A dark environment is important, especially if you are cellaring white wines. Prolonged exposure to either natural or artificial light will cause the colour of the wine to bleach in the bottle and cause premature aging of the wine, reducing its aesthetic appeal. Choosing to lie your bottles down or have them standing up is not an issue with screw-cap closures, nor is storing the wine in a slightly humid environment. However if the bottles have cork closures they must be lying down to keep the wine in contact with the cork and therefore expanded in the neck of the bottle. Bottles with a cork should also be kept in a room with 75 per cent room humidity, in order to keep the end of the cork expanded. One without the other could lead to the dreaded oxidation and leakage of wine. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

11 things you shouldn’t store in your bathroom

Medicine Don’t keep your medicine in your medicine cabinet. We’re not just saying that to be ironic. Medicines and vitamins should be stored at a room temperature, below 25°C. Keeping them in a moisture-filled room, like your bathroom, can make them less potent or cause them to go bad before their expiration date. Towels Bathrooms are the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew, and your towels are easily susceptible to these gross fungi. It’s fine to keep one towel hung up in the bathroom, as long as you swap it out once a week. Turning on an exhaust fan can help dry out the room and your damp towel faster. Bathrobe Another bit of ironic advice: keep bathrobes out of the bathroom. Just like towels, damp robes could harbour bacteria, and humidity can give them a musty odour. Let them dry in your wardrobe instead of on a hook in your bathroom. Books We get it – it can be nice to have some reading material available while you’re doing your business. But the books and magazines that are kept in the bathroom will absorb moisture, leaving you with wrinkled pages and deteriorating binding. Jewellery Jewellery boxes are generally kept on dressers and vanities for good reason. The humidity from your bathroom can make jewellery tarnish more quickly than normal, especially when it comes to sterling silver. Store your jewellery in a cool, dry place. Keeping it in an airtight bag is another effective method. Toothbrush Yes, all the rumours you’ve heard are true. A 2012 study from Manchester University in England found that your toothbrush may house more than 10 million bacteria, and a portion of that comes from faecal matter that’s sprayed around the room every time you flush the toilet. To keep your brush as germ-free as possible, rinse and air-dry it after each use, and, if you still choose to store it in the bathroom, close the toilet lid before you flush – and definitely, don’t store in next to the toilet. Makeup Leaving your prized makeup products in the bathroom exposes them to a lot of unwanted heat and moisture, which allows mould and other bacteria to spread and make your makeup go bad faster. And like toothbrushes, makeup brushes are also bound to get contaminated with faecal matter from sprayed toilet water. That’s something you definitely don’t want touching your face. Perfume Heat and perfume just don’t mix. The experts at perfume.org say that fluctuations in temperature (the kind that can occur when you take steamy showers) can destroy the molecular integrity of your fragrance and cause it to sour. Nail polish Most nail polishes will last about two years, but leaving those bottles in the bathroom can make them go bad – toss nail polish that doesn’t blend, is too thick, or looks crumbly – much faster. Again, heat and humidity are the culprits. Razor blades It’s fine to keep your current razor in the shower, but extra razor blades should be left outside of the bathroom. Otherwise, the humidity may rust or dull them before you even start to use them, Good Housekeeping reports. Drying razors after each shave can help keep them more effective longer. Non-waterproof electronics We love to sing in the shower as much as anyone, but humidity can do serious damage to your phone. If you need your tunes or morning news while you shower, invest in a shower radio (yes, they still exist) or a waterproof speaker. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/11-things-you-shouldnt-store-in-your-bathroom?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

How to ripen avocados in just 2 minutes

All you need is plastic wrap and a microwave. And an avocado. Avocados are the internet’s favourite fruit. Everywhere you click, there’s a discussion about how healthy it is, how expensive it is, and whether it’s considered a fruit or a vegetable. But whether or not you eat enough avocado toast to fill your Instagram feed, that fruit is still worth keeping in your life – for nutritional benefits and <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/13-must-follow-recipes-for-the-perfect-homemade-face-mask">beauty hacks</a>. The problem is finding the best avocado. Once ripe, it only stays good for two or three days before it’s too late. Your best bet is buying an unripe avocado and helping the process along, which saves you time and money (did we mention avocados are expensive?). Luckily, you can ripen avocados at home with some easy tricks. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8cc2df06d88a40458efb69e4343fa64f" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 280.88235294117646px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844184/avocados-2-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8cc2df06d88a40458efb69e4343fa64f" /> How to tell if an avocado is ripe First things first, how would you even know if an avocado is ripe? It’s not like you can slice it open quickly to check. It all comes down to the colour and the texture. Let’s begin with colour. Bright green: If your avocado has a bright green colour, this means that it is still around four to seven days from being ripe. Avocados this colour will typically be hard to the touch and will need to rest on the benchtop for a few days – maybe even a week – before you can eat them. Underripe avocados tend to lack flavour. Very dark green: While browsing the avocado bins at the grocery store, check for the darkest green if you think you’re going to want to eat this avocado within a day or so. You want it to be firm, but with a slight give (not too mushy). If you find this, you may have the perfect avocado on your hands. Black: Avocados that are too dark, almost black, are past ripeness. They may look a bit more wrinkled and are very soft to the touch. If you feel as if you could bruise the fruit just by holding it, the avocado is overripe. The inside will often have some brown spots and won’t taste as fresh. Sometimes colours can vary, so step two of the avocado ripeness test is touch. Gently press into the avocado to feel how hard it is. You want to make sure that the fruit is soft with a little give, but not too soft that you feel like you could morph the shape with your hands. You can also pluck off the tiny stem and see if it’s green underneath. The green colour means that the fruit is ready to eat. If you need to pull really hard to get the stem off or it won’t budge, that means it isn’t ripe yet. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72ac4d94e2d04154bdfb5fabd7a64c6f" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844185/avocados-5-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72ac4d94e2d04154bdfb5fabd7a64c6f" /> How to ripen avocados quickly How much of a time crunch are you in? Do you need the avocado ready for dinner in a few minutes? Do you want to have it with tomorrow’s lunch? Or maybe you want it for your weekend guacamole. Whatever the case, there are tricks for all time frames. A ripe avocado in just two minutes?! Yes, it is possible, thanks to this Taste of Home hack for how to ripen avocados. Cut it in half vertically and remove the pit. Wrap each half in microwave-safe plastic wrap. Microwave on high for two minutes. When they’re cool enough to hold, run the wrapped avocados under cold water so they stop cooking. Here’s another trick: Wrap the uncut fruit in tinfoil and bake on a baking sheet at 95˚C for ten minutes. (Disclaimer: If your avocado is too hard, it could take up to an hour for it to soften. Check every five minutes if it’s not ripe in ten.) Then remove your newly softened avocado. Leave it in the fridge for a few minutes to cool down. A note of warning though: this method can slightly affect the taste of the avocado, so it’s best to use only when necessary, and preferably where the avocado is only one component of a dish. If you need the avocado ready in one to two days, try placing it into a bowl or a paper bag with an apple or banana. Poke holes in the bag with a toothpick and leave it at room temperature. All of these fruits produce something called ethylene gas, which softens fruit by breaking down the internal cell walls and turning starch into sugar. The obvious and simplest way to ripen an avocado is to just allow it to happen naturally by letting it sit on the counter for a few days until it’s ready. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c9fbe55a15e142a6a0243db326195221" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.4327485380117px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844186/avocados-6-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c9fbe55a15e142a6a0243db326195221" /> How to store avocados Make sure you don’t just throw your avocados in the fridge (along with these <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/20-foods-you-shouldnt-put-in-the-fridge">other foods that shouldn’t go in your refrigerator</a>), because they’re best kept at room temperature. But on the contrary, if your avocado has reached perfect ripeness, you can throw it in the fridge to slow down the ripening process, making it last approximately one to three days. Now that you know how to ripen avocados at home, brush up on these other <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/how-to-store-fresh-food-so-it-lasts-longer">food storage guidelines that’ll help keep your food for longer.</a> This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/how-to-ripen-avocados-in-just-2-minutes">Reader’s Digest</a> Images: Reader’s Digest

Home & Garden

Woman shares genius cereal storage hack

A new kitchen hack has taken over social media by storm, with people praising the food storage trick as “brilliant”. Cereals are commonly stored in a plastic container or simply left in the packaging box. However, a UK woman has revealed the way to properly store cereal boxes to minimise the risk of going stale. In a Facebook post, Becky Holden-McGhee wrote: “It’s only taken me 40 years, but I now know the correct way to close a cereal box. “Genius. It takes seconds, no more dried up cereal and ugly torn boxes to greet me every morning.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbecky.holden.923%2Fposts%2F10163890423985508&show_text=true&width=552&height=706&appId" width="552" height="706" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Holden-McGhee told Metro.co.uk she adopted the trick from an American woman on her online feed. ”I was like, ‘that looks amazing but I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that’,” she said. “Because you see these hacks don’t you, but in reality they’re not that easy to do.” Her post has received hundreds of comments and been shared more than 110,000 times. “I can’t keep up with every single comment now because it’s gone a little bit crazy, but everyone has just been like ‘wow’ and ‘who knew?’” she told the outlet. “Loads and loads of people have shared pictures of their own cereal boxes, which is so cute.” The trick to sealing a cereal box is to fold the two small flaps on the sides and one of the long sides inside. Pinch the two sides of the box so that the sides fold in to close like a milk carton. From then, the remaining long side can be folded into the box. Image: Becky Holden McGhee/Facebook

Food & Wine

10 things in your house that a professional organiser would throw out

An expert organiser shares her list of the top 26 things she’d throw out without a second thought. 1. Flimsy kitchen utensils The wine opener that never works well enough is just one of the tosses you can make from your utensil drawer. Professional organisers would also ditch the slotted spoons and pancake turners that bend under the weight of food. And add the garlic press that is too delicate to mince a clove of garlic to the toss pile. 2. Reference material You’ll rarely find a space-hogging phone book in a professional organiser’s home. They also let go of encyclopaedia sets and textbooks; consider donating those. And unless you need the thesaurus and dictionary for playing Scrabble, pass those on, too. 3. Expired things While frozen, fresh and canned foods come to mind, these are not the only things in your home that expire. Once they reach their best by date, it’s recommended to throw out medications, vitamins and supplements. 4. Storage solutions Professional organisers love storage solutions but not every container works well. If the bin, basket or box didn’t solve your problem, then throw it out; otherwise, it just adds to your clutter. Consider passing along storage containers to a teacher who might need them. 5. Outdated technology The VCR and boom box have been replaced with more up-to-date technology, so get rid of the old stuff. Recycle floppy disks and ancient laptops, obsolete phones, VHS tapes and more through an e-waste program. 6. Parts for discarded items Toss the accessories and instruction booklets that go with things you no longer own, like the tiny bag with a spare button for the blouse you donated and the owner’s manual for the television you had ten years ago. 7. Secret stash Even professional organisers keep odd things like those plastic clips from bags of bread or rinsed out glass jars. The key is to know when you are saving too many, and they are becoming clutter. For example, if you’ve kept every rubber band from every fresh produce purchase, then it is time to throw some away. 8. Awards and trophies Just because it has your name engraved on it does not mean you have to keep it forever. Professional organisers preserve the memory by taking a photo of the accolade, then they donate the trophies, plaques, or awards of excellence through sports medal recycling programs. 9. Fad clutter You could not resist that 2 a.m. infomercial and now you’re the owner of the latest craze in kitchen appliances, workshop tools, or some other must-have item that you never use. Professional organisers remind you that keeping the item won’t bring back the money you spent; so it’s best to pass it along to an organisation or friend that will accept it. 10. Clothes hangers You’ll rarely find empty hangers taking up space in a professional organiser’s closet. Clear the clutter by returning the wire ones to the dry cleaners. Then let go of the other unused hangers like the ones with weak clips and the small hangers that don’t slide on the closet bar. Written by Handyman. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/26-things-your-house-professional-organiser-would-throw-out">Handyman</a>.

Home & Garden

ALDI madness! Shoppers are going crazy over latest freezer find

German supermarket giant ALDI has just released a must-have for any shopper looking for a good storage solution for their freezer. The bargain buy – the Crofton freezer containers – come in a pack of three in a variety of shapes and sizes priced at just $6.99. The Instagram account ALDI Lovers Australia posted the find to its 86,000 cult following writing: “Spotted these freezer containers today and they would also be awesome for meal prepping.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByM2OrmAga4/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByM2OrmAga4/" target="_blank">A post shared by Tammy - Aldi Lovers Australia (@aldiloversau)</a> on Jun 2, 2019 at 1:30am PDT </div> </blockquote> The containers, priced at just $2.33 each, have a section where you can write what is inside each container. While the affordable buy was a must-have to some customers, some of those who purchased the storage solution when they were initially released a few years back were not convinced of it’s usefulness. “I had them last year. I won’t recommend you getting them. No good,” one shopper wrote, adding they felt the lids changed shape after a few years of usage. Another customer wrote the containers were not microwavable so it “defeats the purpose". However, others recommended the product. “I’ve had mine for over a year mainly to freeze stuff and have found them fine I take the lid off and use a microwave cover anyways, so lids are no issue,” one user wrote. Another added: “I’ve had mine for ages, and they are still fine. I still recommend them.” These freezer containers are BPA free and are freezer and dishwasher safe, despite shoppers being mixed on how safe they would be going into a microwave.

Money & Banking

The new cult $69 ALDI pantry item – and fans are crazy for it

ALDI and storage fans alike are losing their minds over the store’s latest deal available for a limited time – a $69 butcher’s trolley that offers the perfect way to organise your pantry. The latest nifty Special Buys product goes on sale today throughout Australia and customers are more than ready to get their hands on the item. The pantry organiser was a massive hit back in 2016 when it was first released. However, ALDI have slashed the price this time from $149 to $69 and altered the design to suit smaller kitchens. One excited fan of the supermarket posted the image of the trolley to her Instagram page – showing the useful wheels and modern wood washed top that makes a perfect addition to a stylish home. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuQUWNJARB0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuQUWNJARB0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Have you missed my Aldi posts?? Aldi buys this Wed 27th feb: kitchen drawer liner & those clear fridge trays & turntables!! (These sell out quick so get in, they work great in the pantry too), also bags for linen storage/stacking (Adair’s have similar but more $$), some of my faves here - the Catalogue is out now. . . #aldispecialbuys #aldi #cataloguespecials #kitchenorganisation #lifeorganisation #pantry #kitchen #homedecor</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/wellorganisedlife/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> wellorganisedlife</a> (@wellorganisedlife) on Feb 23, 2019 at 10:46pm PST </div> </blockquote> “These sell out quick so get in, they work great in the pantry,” she wrote in the caption. “I love this,” one excited person replied. While another said: “It looks great.” This trolley, that closely resembles ones sold at designer stores, comes at an extremely discounted price – luxury pantry storages going for around $300. Other pantry organisers are also being sold alongside the butcher's trolley today, including fridge trays, turntables and stackable storage. Chaos is a common occurrence on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week, which is when ALDI Special Buys are released. Swipe through the gallery above to see this gorgeous butchers pantry. Will you be purchasing ALDI's latest cult kitchen item? Let us know in the comments below.

Money & Banking

Kmart excites shoppers with $39 storage solution

Shoppers are excited for Kmart's new $39 storage solution for the living area. The department store’s enthusiasts have spotted a stylish piece of furniture that could double as a functional room staple and a storage. The Anko Round Grey Footstool with Storage is a seater that comes with a removable lid for a concealable storage space. It is collapsible and measures 30cm in height and 56cm in diameter. At $39, customers have considered the footstool a bargain. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKmartAustralia%2Fvideos%2F2100351330044490%2F&show_text=0&width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> "I might have to go to Kmart and have a look," one commented on Instagram. "How good would this be for a toy storage in the lounge room?" another wrote on the retailer’s Facebook page. "This looks great! And unlike ALDI, stock will be available for awhile," one added. Claire, the founder of popular Instagram account The Kmart Lover is satisfied with her purchase. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuDizEwHZSq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuDizEwHZSq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">I love the round grey footstool with storage from @kmartaus $39 . . It is sturdy, practical and pretty. Whether you fill with throw rugs, books or kids toys it is the perfect accessory to your home. . . Also featured are the fringe cushion $8 and coffee table book $9 both from @kmartaus - the gorgeous candle is @thefrontroomcandles</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/thekmartlover/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> • C L A I R E •</a> (@thekmartlover) on Feb 18, 2019 at 11:42pm PST </div> </blockquote> "It is sturdy, practical and pretty," Claire wrote in a review of the stool. "Whether you fill with throw rugs, books or kids toys it is the perfect accessory to your home." Claire told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/interiors/kmarts-clever-39-storage-solution/news-story/d405569bb9150f7f03abb24978cd67ad">News.com.au</a> that the chair is strong enough for people to safely sit on it. "It holds me, and I weigh about 70kg, 68 on a good day!" said Claire. According to Kmart's website, the stool could carry a loading weight of up to 60 kilograms. For other seaters with storage, Kmart also offers a rectangle ottoman at the same price and a smaller square footstool for $15. Will you be getting any of these seaters with storage? Let us know in the comments.

Money & Banking

The $2 Bunnings hack that will change your life

The <a href="http://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/home/home-solutions/the-180-bunnings-hack-that-will-change-your-life/news-story/4b958bd302da7af5174b777871f5b8a8#itm=newscomau%7Chome%7Cv2-homepage-topstories%7C5%7Cheadline%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&itmt=1516163166708" target="_blank">clever folks at Kidspot</a> have uncovered a storage hack to eliminate kitchen clutter. And the best part? You only need to spend $2 to set it up in your own home! The hack, which was originally shared by mum-of-three Gina Baynham, is perfect for people who have a massive haul of coffee pods sitting around their kitchen. “I’ve tried lots of different ways of storing Nespresso pods – jars, boxes, you name it,” the mum told <a href="http://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/home/home-solutions/the-180-bunnings-hack-that-will-change-your-life/news-story/4b958bd302da7af5174b777871f5b8a8#itm=newscomau%7Chome%7Cv2-homepage-topstories%7C5%7Cheadline%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&itmt=1516163166708" target="_blank">Kidspot</a>. “Every time my husband comes home from the shop, he has bought new flavours to try and it drives me mad because I have to re-organise my storage all over again. “When I saw this idea on the Facebook group ‘Mums Who Organise’, I was so excited.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjollyjohnsonlinediscounts%2Fposts%2F1829229467375935&width=500" width="500" height="470" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> With a piece of PVC plastic that cost $2 at Bunning and a bit of ingenuity, the mum-of-three was able to fashion the perfect coffee pod storage facility in her kitchen. “The kitchen looks so uncluttered it has cleared up my bench surfaces. Next time my husband comes home from the Nespresso shop with new varieties all I will need to do is stick a few more lengths of PVC and I will have unlimited capsule storage,” <a href="http://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/home/home-solutions/the-180-bunnings-hack-that-will-change-your-life/news-story/4b958bd302da7af5174b777871f5b8a8#itm=newscomau%7Chome%7Cv2-homepage-topstories%7C5%7Cheadline%7Chomepage%7Chomepage&itmt=1516163166708" target="_blank">she told Kidspot</a>. “The only skill involved was getting the gap wide enough to slide the capsule in without it being so loose that it would fall out.” What do you think? Will you try this storage hack?

Money & Banking

Genius Kmart storage hack for grandkids' schoolbags

A Ballina mum has shared a Kmart storage hack that has gone viral. Jessica-Louise Groves, who has five children under nine, shared the photo of her new set-up to a closed Kmart parents group on Facebook. "We store it in our games/office room which is like a second lounge room in our house," Groves tells 9Honey. <img width="422" height="563" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/GgbPmoMG1VXscrH1RRRPqqaUqrc=/1024x0/smart/http%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F01%2F10%2F14%2F26%2F26229781_2010180682583036_7703149306593671211_n.jpg" class="image-resizer__image" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Groves says she needs all the space-saving and organisation tips she can get with five young children in the house – Ruby, 8, Harlan, 7, Nate, 5, Theo, 3, and Luna, 2. “The kids LOVE it!" Groves says of the "school bag station". "They love being organised like their Mumma."

Home & Garden

10 clever storage solutions to maximise space in a small bathroom

If your bathroom isn’t quite as large as you’d like it to be, there are ways to make it work harder for you. There are lots of sneaky ways to maximise the space that you do have so that you can fit everything you need in there (as well as yourself). 1. Try skinny cupboards If you can find them, a tall skinny cupboard or shelves work well as a place to keep towels, toiletries and hair dryers. 2. Use the walls Save space in your mirror above the sink by using the walls as a place to store your toothbrushes. You can buy inexpensive suction toothbrush caddies that will fit almost anywhere. 3. Add shelves to the shower In the same way you can add more suction shelving within your shower to store your shampoo and soap. 4. Use hooks rather than rails Towel rails take up a lot of valuable wall space, so try using hooks instead to store the towels and hand towels that you’re currently using. 5. Shelves shelves everywhere Above the toilet for storing extra toilet rolls, soap or scented candles. Between your sink and mirror too (if there’s space) for your toothbrushes or razor. Above the door to keep toilet paper or shower caps. 6. Ensure your mirror has a cupboard Don’t waste valuable wall space with a nice looking mirror unless it has shelves inside to store your toiletries. Renovating a new bathroom with limited space? You can even create recess cavities in the walls for your mirror shelves to sit in. 7. Fit drawers under the sink If you have a free standing sink, you may be able to fit some small drawers, baskets or shelves underneath it. 8. Keep bath items in a mesh bag If you’ve got grandkids, finding a place for their bath toys can be tricky. Try keeping them in a mesh bag and hang it from the taps when not in use. 9. Organise your items in small boxes Keep cosmetics in one box, medicines and first aid in another, hair care supplies in one box and so on. This will make the cupboards you do have feel less cluttered. 10. Add hooks inside cupboards Keep large items like hairdryers and curling irons off valuable shelf space by placing a hook for them on the inside of your cupboard. How have you overcome the trickiness of a small bathroom? We would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Home & Garden

Why you should never store eggs in the fridge door

Where do you keep your eggs? If the answer is in your fridge door’s egg rack, you might want to relocate them after reading this. According to storage expert Vlatka Lake from Space Station, it’s actually the worst place to put them. Why? Because they’re subject to a number of sudden temperature changes as the door opens and clothes, making them go bad quicker. “When it comes to eggs, there is a huge debate on where they should be kept, with some saying in the fridge and others saying on the counter,” she told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/food/4846027/this-is-the-disgusting-reason-why-you-shouldnt-store-eggs-in-the-fridge-door/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>. “The general consensus is to store eggs in the fridge, but not in the egg racks commonly found on the fridge door. Egg racks are susceptible to changes in temperature due to the fridge door opening and closing and can cause your eggs to go rotten more quickly.” Tell us in the comments below, where do you keep your eggs? Will you move them after reading this?

Food & Wine

Cleaning and storage tips from a regular procrastinator

We all know those super-organised people, don’t we? They’re up at the crack of dawn baking muffins for the school fundraiser, work nine-to-five in a high-powered job, have numerous well-turned out children and, on top of it all, their house is always perfectly clean and organised – without any paid help. Do they make you sick, or do you secretly envy them? Don’t waste your energy. Instead, watch how they do it and see what you can learn. Our homes shouldn’t be driving us mad; they should be our sanctuary. As much as I wish I could pay one of those personal organisers to come into my house and turn it upside down, I don’t have the spare budget (sigh). So I’ve learned from my clean-freak friends and I’m forever reading up about what I can do to take control of my home. Here’s what I’ve found helpful: Regular clean-ups Like many people, I’m more of a regular procrastinator than a regular cleaner, often preferring the motto “Why do it it today, if I can do it tomorrow?” However, since having kids and a home to look after, I’ve learnt the hard way that this motto isn’t really doing that much for me. I’ve often watched friends with tidy homes and wondered what their secret is. Now I know; they simply clean up as they go rather than wait for the magic fairy to come in and do it. They never wake up to a kitchen full of dirty dishes. By doing a little bit each day in bite-sized chunks – and getting other members of the household to do the same – things don’t pile up and become overwhelming. Create a roster so that everyone knows what they have to do and when. A place for everything I know Marie Kondo didn’t invent this idea, but if there’s one thing I’ve taken from her much talked-about book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, it’s the idea of having a place for everything and putting everything back there. Apply this rule to all areas of the house – from the kitchen and the laundry to the linen cupboard. Take stock of every single item you own and ensure there’s <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/storage?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-storage&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=storage" target="_blank">a place for each one</a>. Best of all? Your mornings will be transformed. No more running around the house first thing in the morning looking for your keys, your coat or the other shoe – you’ll know exactly where to find everything, and fast. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40640/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (409)"/> Use storage wisely However, good <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/storage?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-storage&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=storage" target="_blank">storage</a> with a place for everything only works if you’re managing it. Have you ever blamed your messiness on your lack of storage? I used to, but recently I finally got the new fitted wardrobes and mudroom of my dreams installed, only to find we were still messy – alas, the storage doesn’t magically tidy up for you. Of course it helps, but you still have to do the work of keeping it organised. The other members of the household need to be schooled in the simple ways of putting their things away too. Declutter sprees One of the ways our houses can drive us mad is by having too much stuff. Are you forever unable to find things – your wallet, the potato masher, your favourite pan? This is often because we can’t see the stuff we’re looking for among the chaos. If you have a family and new things regularly coming into the home, it’s important to get rid of stuff often too. Regularly – even as often as monthly – go through kitchen drawers, pantries and wardrobes and take stock of what you have, getting rid of what you’re not using. Buy less Which brings me to my next point. The less stuff we buy, the easier our things will be to organise. Shop wisely – never on a whim – and only for things you really need. Buy one expensive item of clothing over five cheap ones. If it’s all clearly visible and you can see what you actually have, you’ll be less likely to fall into the trap of buying things you already own. The things you buy will be the things you really need. This rule applies not just to the clothes hanging in your wardrobe, but to every other area of your home too, including your kitchen and food pantry. Clean up your tech With so many of us working from home these days or, at the very least, bringing work and technology home with us, we often find it creeping into all areas of the house – computer and phone cords everywhere, laptops and phones invading areas of the house that should be kept for relaxing. If you don’t have a dedicated home office space, see if you can find an area to squeeze one in, and then buy filing boxes to keep your life admin and important documents under control. Keep a separate drawer or cupboard for tech stuff – cameras, phones, laptop and all their associated chargers and cords, so you can find everything when you need it. Make lists I couldn’t do without my daily to-do list. If you create daily goals, write them down and tick them off as you go – you’re more likely to get things done and the ticking off part really adds to the feeling of satisfaction. Written by Liz Durnan. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>. To find your home essentials <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_medium=in-article-link-o60shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank">head to the Over60 Shop for high-quality offerings</a>. <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/living?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-banner-living&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/EditorialAddon/201706_Shopnow_EditorialAddon_468x60_Living.jpg" alt="Over60 Shop - Living Range"/></a>

Home & Garden

4 benefits of storage baskets

Storage baskets are hidden treasures when it comes to organising a home. Not only do they hide plenty of items inside, they are also hard working and add an aesthetic texture and warmth to any room. Whether your storage basket is handled, woven, metal, lined, coloured or lidded, here are the benefits it will bring to your home. 1. Organisation If you are having trouble in your home organising your items and finding a home for them all, then a storage basket is what you need to invest in. Instead of wasting precious time searching for your items that regularly go missing, you can put them in a storage basket to resolve your issues. Storage baskets can be placed in any room of your home and they will not look out of place. A well-organised space will also enhance productivity in rooms where people want to work and allow you to entertain guests in a more comfortable environment. 2. Easy cleaning Next time you are doing a last-minute tidy up of your house before you go out or before people come over, you can now put clutter in your storage baskets. By removing clutter, you will allow your guests to appreciate your house without being distracted by all your belongings. If you have blankets or books in your lounge room, you might want to put them in a storage basket<a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/living?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-storage&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank"></a> when you are entertaining and then take them out when you are at home relaxing. 3. Maximum safety Your guests will benefit from your storage baskets as more of your items are put away, it means that there is a less likely chance of someone dripping over an item and hurting themselves. It also means that your items will have maximum safety from little (or adult) hands that might accidentally damage it. 4. Versatility You can use your storage baskets for whatever you want and storage baskets made from jute/cotton look much neater than having all your things out in plain sight. You might want to use your storage baskets for your towels, toys, décor, cushions, clothes, plant holders and blankets. You can also use them to store your favourite hobby equipment such as your arts and craft or put them on a bookshelf to hide the clutter.

Home & Garden

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

8 places you should never keep your phone

21 more organising tips you'll wish you knew all along