Noella is Associate Editor for Apartment Therapy's news and culture divisions. You can find her words in Scalawag Magazine, Healthline, them, Uproxx, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue. In her free time, she enjoys skating and listening to Solange.
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Cleaning must-haves · Timeless paint colors ... We have tips . ...Would you like simple home tips right on your phone?Flashback to New Year's Day 2020... My resolution for this year was to reduce my use of single-use plastics . And then something happened if you remember. We were catapulted into a global pandemic and suddenly my "goal" of not using plastic bottles seemed naïve and took a back seat to more pressing issues like preventing or spreading disease. But we've come a long way and being a conscious consumer is definitely one of my priorities.
Brands love to throw around the term "sustainable" so much that after a while it almost loses all meaning. Like "organic," "natural," and "clean," "sustainable" is a word that can be ambiguous and vague. One of the best ways to determine how durable a brand really is is to always read the fine print. Spend more time in the FAQ section of a brand's website. The most legitimate will answer questions about how the brand calculates its carbon footprint, where its ingredients are sustainably sourced, how they offset shipping costs, and more.
One brand that's been on my radar for a while is Uni . It is a refillable personal care line dedicated to environmental concerns such as protecting our oceans. All ingredients in Uni products are certified reef safe, which means they are not harmful on land or sea once washed into water bodies.
And of course the packaging is crucial. The aluminum bottles are refillable, so when you've used up a bottle of product, simply send it back to the uni to be refilled and then put back in the dispenser, or you can recycle via curbside recycling. . Their latest product (launched in February) is Restoring Hand Wash ($31) , which intrigued me the most since I'm a bit of a hand soap fan; I know soap is kind of oddly specific in what you really like, but what can I say?
Now let's move on to the actual review of the product. The packaging is very clean and minimalistic. One problem I always have with rechargeable products is that they claim to be simple, but actually you basically have to be a NASA engineer to put them together. Unis hand wash that you can prepare while you sleep. Simply remove the cap from the refillable bottle and screw it onto the dispenser until it clicks into place.
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As for the actual formula? It is a gel that transforms into a creamy mousse with ingredients such as Australian Kakadu Plum and a blend of marine active ingredients that moisturize and nourish the skin. I have naturally dry skin, but my hands tend to get extra dry, especially after long car rides in the LA sun. People don't realize it, but even through the windshield, your hands are directly exposed to the sun on long drives.
W+G Editorial Trade Director Gina Vaynshteyn tried the Restoring Hand Wash and was also completely impressed. "From the Dial hand soap, which I love but it dries!, to the Uni soap, it's like night and day. I didn't have any expectations because it's just...soap," she shares. "But I could immediately see the difference: the formula is strong enough to leave your hands squeaky clean, but after wiping them with a towel you feel like you've also applied hand cream. I use less hand cream at night now. because the skin on my hands feels so soft all the time."
But what I like most about the Uni Hand Soap is the scent. When it comes to bath and body products, fragrance is very important to me. I've used shampoos that weigh my hair down simply because I love the scent. The scent is very light but tart, not too sweet. I'm not a fan of floral hand soaps or citrusy scents (they always remind me of cleaning products). The scent of Uni is so fragrant and yet natural.
Now the price. It should be noted that being a conscious consumer and prioritizing sustainability is a certain privilege. Durable products are more expensive and require more time (bottle return, etc.) than their plastic counterparts. Uni's hand soap is $31 for the bottle and dispenser set and $28 for the refill. If it's not financially viable for you at the moment, that's completely understandable. But if you're looking for an entry point to reduce your carbon footprint and protect our oceans (and you can swing the price!), uni is a great place to start.
Our editors independently select these products. A purchase through our links may generate a commission for Well+Good.
Coveted for their durability, granite worktops are a popular choice for many modern kitchens. They're generally easy to clean, but certain methods can wear away the stone and make countertops more prone to staining.
So what is the best way to clean granite countertops? Experts suggest there are only two worthwhile cleaning tips , and you already have everything you need at home for one of them!
Granite is a beautiful and durable material, but it requires special care to maintain its appearance and prevent damage. These cleaning methods are recognized by experts.
(Image credit: Future/Rachael Smith)
Experts have suggested that there are only two options worth using on your prized desktops.
Warm water and dish soap: Granite countertops are best cleaned with a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap, such as Dawn Powerwash , says Ahmed Jamal, cleaning expert behind CleaningAdvisor. Just mix a few drops of soap with warm water and clean the surface with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft towel," he suggests.
A Specialty Granite Cleaner - If you're looking for a deep clean, a specialty granite cleaner is perfect for removing stains. Popular options include Granite Gold Daily Cleaner, available from Walmart - opens in a new tab , or StoneTech Revitalizer, on Amazon - opens in a new tab . "Regardless of the brand, always choose a pH-neutral cleaner for natural stone surfaces like granite," advises cleaning expert Laura Ávila.
Ahmad is a self-proclaimed "cleanliness freak" with years of experience tackling difficult cleaning projects and advising others on how to deal with the worst of messes.
As with all kitchen countertops , the key to durable surfaces is to clean up spills promptly to prevent drying out or discoloration. It's best to sop up spills with a clean, absorbent cloth, says Dr. Tali Ditye (opens in a new tab) , cleaning expert and co-founder of the home and lifestyle blog Mommyhood101.
"You can also regularly seal your granite countertops to protect them from stains and other damage," adds Tali. You can do it yourself at home with a caulking spray like this one from Amazon (opens in a new tab) or ask a professional for a more permanent option.
For a natural stone, it's best to use natural products to keep it clean, experts say. A homemade natural kitchen cleaner, for example, is gentler on your granite countertops than a harsh chemical like bleach or vinegar, which can destroy the protective finish.
You should also stay away from abrasives, even natural options like baking soda, adds Laura Avila (opens in a new tab) , cleaning expert and founder of CleaningFan. It also states that you should avoid using boiling water on granite surfaces.
While a few splatters from a pan won't do much damage, cleaning with constant heat and placing hot pots or pans directly on the granite surface can "induce a thermal shock that leads to cracking or damage," Laura warns.
Laura Avila, a keen cleaner, has years of cleaning experience and now gives her customers practical advice on how to keep their homes clean and organised.
The way you apply the cleaning solution is also important, with abrasive cloths, brushes and sponges.
"Instead, use a soft cloth or sponge to clean the surface and avoid applying too much pressure," says cleaning expert Laura Avila. "For stubborn stains or a build-up of dirt, a plastic scraper or credit card can be used to gently scrape the dirt."
After cleaning the surface, drying with a clean, soft cloth will help prevent water spots and provide a beautiful shine. Working in small, circular motions will help buff the counter without scratching it.
If your granite countertops have become dull from use, using a polishing powder can liven up the stone and make it shine. Special granite polishes help buff and fill in scratches and etches to restore the stone to its new appearance.
When cleaning granite countertops between uses, hot water and dish soap are more than enough to keep your countertops hygienic. You can also use antibacterial sprays that don't contain harsh chemicals like ammonia.
Often the best way to clean granite countertops is to use more basic ingredients and not overthink the process. Using delicate and natural ingredients is the key to a shiny finish that will stand the test of time.
When we clean, we get weird.
Don't let your home become a "bacterial war zone," warns cleaning enthusiast Angela Donal.
The 41-year-old relies on a few simple tricks to keep her home in pristine condition and keep bacteria at bay.
Her best kept secret is to clean her house "every day" and do a deep clean once a week.
"We should clean every day," the Peachy Clean founder told the South West News Service. "Cleanliness is an essential part of your life."
"Every house needs a deep cleaning for a week because of the spread of bacteria."
If there just aren't enough hours in the day, hire a professional cleaner, she advised.
His advice comes after a recent survey found that most people don't clean their homes for a month.
Donal got dirty with cleaning facts, revealing that the dirtiest item in your house is constantly next to your face.
"Probably the most affected thing in your home is your cell phone. It's ten times dirtier than some toilet seats," he explained. 'Alcohol'.
Tea towels are "famous for bacteria," said Donal, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, noting that every time he uses a towel, he disinfects it.
Sure, everyone knows the importance of washing hands, but the cleanliness freak places more importance on a healthy routine.
"Don't open doors without washing your hands or doing anything that might touch you," he advised, adding that light switches should also be cleaned regularly.
"Keep your hands away from your face to avoid viruses you could get from your hands; they spread very easily," he advised.
Donal recommends cleaning shower drain plugs , countertops, and toilets frequently, and disinfecting faucets, handles, remote controls, and sink drains weekly.
Toothbrush holders should also be washed weekly, while kitchen sponges, she says, are among the dirtiest items in the house.
Now that you've tackled everything but the kitchen sink, it's next on your to-do list.
"Instead of getting up and cleaning the sink for half an hour, put bleach in the sink, plug the plug with a kettle of boiling water," he said, then promised a germ-free sink.
But Donal isn't the first hygiene enthusiast to offer cleaning tips to the messy crowd.
Alyssa Armstrong, the founder of Alyssa's Cleaning Company, once recommended on TikTok to throw away the four common household cleaners immediately.
On the chopping block: Windex, Bona Hardwood Floor Polish, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, and every sponge that isn't a Scrub Daddy.
keep the orange peel. Rather than tossing the scented bowl in the trash or compost, you can use it for a variety of purposes around your home, including giving your kitchen a natural shine when cleaning.
Orange peels produce a natural oil called d-limonene, which is used in many cleaning products because it helps keep surfaces shiny, clean, and smelling nice. And the scrubs have antibacterial properties to kill germs around the home. So you can skip the expensive cleaners and go straight to the source. But remember: the "peel" is the entire peel of an orange: the outside is the peel, while the white inside is known as the pith.
Here are some helpful tips on using different parts of an orange peel to brighten up countertops, appliances, trash cans and more. For more household tips, check out how to kill and keep away mold in your washing machine and how to remove cat pee from your couch .
Use the bark or the outside of the bark to buff and grease stains on your refrigerator, stovetop, or faucet. (I think the fresher the orange, the better this trick works.)
You can use the pith side to rub your cutlery to make it shine like new.
Toss your orange peels in a microwave-safe bowl of water and zap for 60 seconds. The steam loosens dried food for quick cleaning, and the bowls freshen up bad odors in the microwave.
You can also use orange peel to make an all-natural utensil cleaner. Place several bowls in a jar and fill with white vinegar. Let the mixture soak for two weeks, then pour it into a spray bottle. This cleaner is ideal for stovetops, refrigerator doors, microwave ovens and stone, marble and laminate countertops.
Do not use this spray on wooden furniture as it may stain the furniture.
Orange peels contain natural oils that are great for cleaning and removing strong odors.
Does your disposition taste of rank? Grate some orange zest in the grinder and let it steep for a few minutes. Hold the disposer under hot tap water for a few seconds and the bad smell will turn into a clean citrus smell.
You can also throw some peels in the trash to deodorize.
Smelly fridges can be caused by many different problems , but to make yours smell better, make some powdered orange peel.
Dehydrate your mussels in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three hours. Then, using your food processor, grind the peels into a powder. Mix the powder with baking soda, put the mixture in a bowl and set it on the bottom of your fridge. Your fridge will never smell better.
Fill your sink with lukewarm water and pour in plenty of orange zest. Soak the jars in it and let them soak for about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. Even your dishwasher can't get glassware that shiny and clean.
Pro tip: Rubbing orange peels on coffee mugs can also remove those pesky coffee stains.
Put a drop or two of vinegar on the pulp and rub it on wooden tables and cabinets. Then wipe the surface with a clean, soft cloth to achieve a lustrous shine.
For more cleaning tips, see How to Get the Organized TikTok Fridge Look and How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet .
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Pro Tip : Some things need to be cleaned daily.[unable to get full text content]
Top 10 Muscle Car Maintenance Tips for Long Life 10 Make sure your muscle car has fuel in its tank before you leave itA cleaner revealed exactly how to give a deep clean to a dirty sink and why you should always dry it when you're done.
Kacie, who runs The Big Clean Co in Melbourne , has built a huge social network for sharing cleaning tips and tricks.
In one of her most recent videos, the housekeeper shared exactly how she deep cleaned a sink using just two products and three tools.
Scroll down for a video
"Here I clean a sink from start to finish," Kacie said in the video .
"It was a clean move and a lot of dirt has accumulated, especially around and in the drain hole."
Kacie added, "I think it turned out pretty well considering it's an old sink with a lot of scratches and scuffs."
The two products Kacie used were For All Australia and Gumption.
He has previously praised both, saying For All Australia will replace most products you can buy in supermarkets for your kitchen and bathroom.
For All is a concentrated cleaner, and because it's pH neutral and contains biodegradable surfactants, it removes nothing but the dirt you're looking for.
Just as effective, Gumption is a smooth, abrasive, slippery paste that removes embedded stains and dirt that regular cleaning products can miss to reveal an incredible shine.
The three tools Kacie used were a rag, a brush, and a magic eraser.
According to Kacie, the first thing she did was "soap up the sink with For All."
"It gets rid of all that surface dirt and leaves the sink really shiny," he said.
Once it got soaked, he simply wiped it down with a microfiber cloth.
"Made in Australia and non-toxic, you should know I use For All for everything," Kacie said.
Afterwards, Kacie said she wore a Savvy cape because the sink had "heavy stains."
She said it took some "scouring powder" to add baking soda to For All, but she decided to use common sense.
"For really stuck spots, I use a magic eraser," Kacie said.
"You can see how that puts this sink back on the money. I used an electric brush on all of the crevices, but a grout brush or even a simple toothbrush will do.
She added, "Then rinse everything out and don't forget to keep your sink dry."
"All those minerals in your tap water will stain your sink, so drying it is important." It also leaves you with the wow factor.
Kacie said cleaning her sink was "super easy" and should only take "seven minutes total."
Thousands of people who saw the video were blown away and thanked Kacie for sharing her advice.
"A great result," commented one person.
Another added, "Steel wool instead of magic eraser works well on stainless steel sinks."
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In most cases, it is a product that has been formulated for that specific purpose. For more cleaning tips (including easy, eco-friendly cleaning solutions), visit...Are corvettes reliable? One of the things that makes gearheads so special about Corvettes is their amazing reliability and relatively inexpensive maintenance despite their powerful engines and heavy-duty chassis. With proper care and regular maintenance, it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to keep your Chevrolet Corvette on the road for hundreds of thousands of miles until you're ready to pass it on or find a new home.
Corvettes actually hold their value quite well compared to other high performance cars on the market. For example , KBB says the 2021 Chevy Corvette with two passengers is expected to retain 49.5% of its value after a full 60 months of ownership , making the Corvette one of the top sports cars in KBB's annual Best Resale Value awards.
Well, that's an estimated resale value based on the typical hard-riding Corvettes they typically endure. That means your Corvette could emerge from 60 months in excellent condition and with a resale value in excess of the expected 49.5% if you take care of it during that time. Here are some simple maintenance tips to help you have a hassle-free relationship with your Corvette for years to come.
Isn't it alarming that only 58.9% of drivers say they read the driver's manual every day ? We wouldn't even recommend ignoring the user guide for your new phone (it's everyone's fault if they don't bother to read it). How much more is the Guide to a valuable asset like your Corvette?
Knowing your car thoroughly is certainly the first step to proper care. Even if you've had the car for a while, get this book. You never know what glowing moment you're going to have.
Don't know what it is? That is not right. Bushings are rubber pads (they can also be made of polyurethane or other suitable materials) that fit into your car's suspension and steering joints. Their job is to absorb road bumps, vibration and noise, as well as articulate and control the geometry of the joints. As you can imagine, Corvettes are generally driven with enthusiasm, which inevitably puts pressure on the rings over time.
As the bushings wear out, you can say goodbye to the thrilling ride you love in your Corvette, not to mention other things that can go wrong like tire wear, poor grip and, well, an accident. . Worse, your suspension could collapse due to a broken ball joint. There is no need to scare you anymore. Make it a habit to inspect your Corvette's suspension bushings.
Changing the engine oil regularly along with the filters is probably the most economical way to protect against engine wear. Take , for example, the latest Gen-III LS/LT small-block V8 engine that GM developed to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy and emissions standards.
They are powerful grinders which means a lot of the metal components get hot and spin very fast, lots of friction. It goes without saying that you must ensure that the lubricating oil for these components is healthy enough to do their job properly and avoid excessive engine wear. With modern lubricants, most engines today have recommended drain intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Since fluids aren't talked about as often as engine oil, we've decided to address them individually: clutch fluid, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. Simply put, it would take extraordinary pressure from your foot to bring your car to a stop without the aid of brake fluids.
The fluid amplifies the force of the brake pedal by depressing the calipers, which in turn press the brakes against the rotor. Because brake fluid is hygroscopic, its effectiveness diminishes over time, so it's important to change it quickly.
We'll get back to fluid issues in a moment. But first the meandering belts. This belt is responsible for the proper functioning of your Corvette's air conditioning, power steering and water pump, thus protecting your engine from overheating. In other words, you don't want that belt (aka "drive belt") to run sluggishly (so to speak), which becomes inevitable over time with cracks and wear.
It's much easier and cheaper to replace it before it breaks completely since your water pump depends on it. The Virginia Tire & Auto Store says that under ideal circumstances, your car's serpentine belt should last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. We always encourage you to check this from time to time.
And back to the subject of fluids: gear oil. It was wise of the cogs in Corvette's engineering department to upgrade the Corvette C5 to a rear gearbox, where a torque tube connects the engine to the gearbox. This was a departure from the Corvette's original front-engine/RWD design, which had the transmission bolt-on directly behind the engine.
Despite the improved weight distribution from the C5 Corvette generation onwards, the same basic maintenance routine with regular fluid changes is still required to protect the transmission from wear and ensure smooth shifts.
Corvettes make excellent everyday vehicles because Chevrolet builds and tests them specifically for everyday and race use. Aside from the limited cargo and passenger space, Corvettes are surprisingly good at everyday use despite their capabilities.
With basic maintenance, a Corvette can easily go 100,000 miles like nothing ever happened, and one of the best ways to ensure longevity is to have parts like spark plugs, ignition, and oil filters on hand for emergency repairs.
There's something cool and masculine about an SUV like the mud-covered Ford Bronco . But your Corvette is a sports car and shouldn't be given the same treatment as a Land Rover or Jeep Wrangler . So how often should you wash your Chevrolet Corvette? It depends on the environment where you drive the car most often.
Ganther recommends washing your car every two weeks if the weather is not too harsh where you live. However, if you apply a layer of wax at the end of each cleaning session, you may be able to wash it less frequently. Keeping your Corvette clean isn't just for show. In fact, it can help protect against oxidation.
And here's another fluid topic to discuss: clutch fluid. It's a good thing your Corvette probably has a separate brake fluid reservoir from the clutch fluid. Most Corvettes do this, and that's a good thing, because Corvettes are notorious for ruining their clutch fluid with dirt and contaminants.
All that rough, hard tossing (or overusing) the clutch improves the likelihood of clutch dust getting into the fluid. This can make the transition more difficult than normal. Check the condition of the liquid in the tank. If things don't look good there, simply get rid of the old fluid with a ball syringe or fluid aspirator and replace with fresh brake fluid. Simply.
Shoes that don't fit properly are bad for your feet, knees, joints and back. "Badly fitting tires" are also not indicative of your Corvette's ride quality and longevity. Armed with a tire pressure gauge, you can properly inflate your Corvette's tires to the manufacturer's recommended air pressure for your specific model.
Manufacturers design sports car tires to perform better at specific air pressures. We may have put this one at the bottom of the list, but healthy tires aren't the smallest factor in your relationship with your car. In fact, nothing else can individually and powerfully affect braking, cornering, acceleration, ride comfort and overall stability like tyres.
With these tips, don't be surprised if you rarely have to take your car to a Corvette mechanic. Even the most eco-friendly enthusiast and inexperienced car owner can do most of these maintenance routines themselves.
