Wow Home Idea

Give all your home's trouble spots a quick refresh with these pro tips. Getty Day 1: Load up your dishwasher (not with dishes). Don't overlook the convenience of this hardworking appliance. It can take on unusual things, like your glass light-fixture globes, plastic toys, toothbrush holders, and so much more. Just choose a gentle cycle and skip the heated dry. Getty Day 2: Wash your windows when it's cloudy. Wait for an overcast day and start on the shady side of the house: Direct sun may dry the cleanser before you can wipe it off, leaving streaks. And use vertical strokes on one side of a window and horizontal ones on the other — this way, when you spot a streak, you'll know which side it's on. As for dusting, wait for a sunny day, when particles will be easier to see. Getty Day 3: Double up on doormats. You'll trap the most dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. But if they're dirty, they won't do the job: Hose off and air-dr...

It's one of the smelliest rules of physics — lifting a full bag from your trash bin creates a suction-induced struggle, and it can feel like the bag is stuck. But it's not because you've stuffed too much inside. Instead, the air pressure within the can makes the bag harder to yank out. The folks over at Porch.com revealed a two-step fix to make this chore much easier. If you drill a small hole at the bottom of the can, the pressure will be relieved (place a piece of painter's tape over the spot first to avoid cracking the plastic or metal). Bye-bye, stuck garbage (and our aching backs!). [ via Porch.com ] From: Good Housekeeping US By Caroline Picard

Getty Washing the car (and then tidying the interior!) is one of the bigger chores on your weekend to-do list. And if you're taking the time scrub down your vehicle, don't you want to make sure you're doing it correctly? Thought so. Which is why we asked our experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute about the common mistakes people make when they clean their ride: 1. You wash it in the hot sun.   Just like sunlight helps you dry off your body after a dip into the ocean, it can also dry your just-rinsed car — but too quickly. This results in water spots, says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Instead, try to do this chore in the morning or evening when the sun is less direct.  2. You use dish liquid on the exterior. Stop! Whatever you do, just stop. While dish detergent is handy in the kitchen, you shouldn't use it on your car. It's too harsh on the car's paint...

Antibacterial wipes seem like the superheroes of cleaning supplies: They're easy to grab, completely disposable, and promise a clean and disinfected counter — if (and only if!) you use them absolutely correctly.  Even though these cleaners are billed as "easy," they still require your care and attention when you use them. Make a wrong move, and all of their superpowers essentially disappear. Here's the latest proof to that point: Researchers in the United Kingdom tested how well a single disinfecting wipe killed three different types of bacteria along three consecutive stainless steel surfaces. And what they found out is disappointing, to say the least: Apparently one wipe should only be used in a small area (about a meter square) in order to kill the bacteria. If you use the wipe on a bigger surface (or switch from, say, your microwave to your countertop with the same wipe) you might be spreading the bacteria inst...

MARKO METZINGER/Studio D If you believe baby powder is only for keeping skin smooth and fresh, you're really underestimating its power. Try sprinkling it some on these household woes to unleash its full potential. 1. A knotted necklace Never waste time desperately tugging at tangled jewelry again. Loosen the knot with a little baby powder and use a pin to pull it apart. 2. Musty furniture " I like to keep drawers fresh with a sprinkle of baby powder under drawer liners," says Becky at Clean Mama. "This is especially great with antique furniture that has that old smell." 3. Greasy hair Most dry shampoos are starch-based, so baby powder has a similar effect in a pinch. Sprinkle some on your hands and massage it through your scalp to soak up excess oil. 4. A sweltering summer night Crawling into a hot, sticky bed is no one's definition of nighttime relaxation. Dust powder between your sheets to help absorb sweat and keep things cool. 5. A stuck-together de...

Getty/Dougal Waters After a long day of chasing after the kids, dashing between meetings at work, or running a million errands, the last thing you probably want to do is wash the dishes (that dinner you just slaved over disappeared so darn quickly .... sigh.) But standing over a sudsy sink might just be the best thing you can do, according to a study in the journal Mindfulness , reports the Wall Street Journal .  Apparently, if you do it just right, it'll give your exhausted brain time to detox. Here's how it works: Researchers from Florida State University did an experiment with 51 students to explore the power of meditation while washing dishes. They encouraged half of the students to focus on the sensory part of the experience (smelling the detergent, feeling the hot water, noticing the shape of the dishes). The other half just read a passage about the importance of getting the job done.  Afterwards, ...

To think you almost got rid of all those super-useful paper towel tubes, egg cartons, and tissue boxes. Courtesy of 2 Little Super Heroes Plastic Bags Instead of getting your paint tray covered in, well, paint, use a plastic bag to line it and pour the paint on top. Unlike the liners at the hardware store, this plastic-bag trick is totally free. Courtesy of One Good Thing By Jillee Baby Food Jar After you're done feeding your little guy, wash the food out and use it for your at-home spa — seriously. Wedge a sponge into the jar, the pour in nail polish remover, and stick your finger in to take off your polish. Get the tutorial at One Good Thing By Jillee » Courtesy of Cupcakes and Cashmere Ketchup Bottle The best way to make sure all your pancakes are the same size and completely round? Use a dispenser that elevates your batter-pouring skills to pro-level. Courtesy of The Clever Carrot Egg Carton Who needs a fancy cupcake holder when you have an empty egg carton? The...