How Often to Clean Hardwood Floors Melissa Witulski, the business operations manager for Merry Maids, suggests quick regular cleanings a couple times per week to keep your floors from getting too dirty. “The best way to clean hardwood floors is to use a microfiber dust mop to remove dust, dirt, and whatever other particles were brought into your home,” Witulski says. “The microfiber dust mop will not scratch your floors as some vacuums might....

Often used in Western cuisine as a meat and dairy replacement (think tofu burgers, soy milk, and frozen ice cream alternatives), soy has been a staple in Eastern cuisines for thousands of years. Tempeh, a type of fermented tofu, first appeared hundreds of years ago, invented in the region now known as Indonesia. More recently, tempeh has become popular in America as a meat substitute that is easy to flavor and cook with....

First, grab a pair of fish tweezers (they’re available at most kitchenware stores). These stainless steel fish tweezers with wide, rectangular ends are the most effective at grasping the tiny, slippery bones. Needle-nose pliers can also be used, just make sure their inner surface isn’t grooved (the bones will slip through). If you’re in a pinch, a pair of clean cosmetic tweezers will work, too. Locate pinbones by placing the fillet skin-side down on a surface and running your finger up and down the length of it....

Tap water is fine to use in a humidifier, but if you want to avoid the descaling routine below, consider filling the tank with distilled water. Distilled water doesn’t contain minerals, so it won’t leave any residue on the sides or bottom of the humidifier. To disinfect the machine, let a solution of water and a small amount of bleach sit in the tank for 20 minutes, then rinse the machine until the smell of bleach is completely gone....

A diffuser is a plastic attachment for your hair dryer that helps keep the natural curl pattern. It’s a game-changer when it comes to heat-styling curly hair. But use it incorrectly, and you can end up with frizzy and undefined hair. People make several common mistakes when using a diffuser. Here, we spoke with three celebrity hairstylists to help steer us straight away from these five diffuser mishaps. If you need to dry your wet hair just a bit, Michael Dueñas, a celebrity hairstylist and consulting creative director, says you can scrunch it a couple of times with a micro-fiber towel to soak up some of the water, but be gentle....

So what can you do to protect your eyes from this damage, which can lead to redness and blurred vision, and even eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration? Wearing sunglasses is an obvious choice—but your stylish pair may not be protecting your eyes as well as you think. Here’s how to tell if you’re wearing the best kind. Look for the best protection—with the right label. All sunglasses should have labels that indicate their protection level....

So how can you avoid “face mask face”? We consulted a dermatologist, tanning expert, and senior researcher at Medicare to find out how to handle uneven lines without compromising your safety. How to Avoid Face Mask Tan Lines Like a lot of skin issues, face mask tan lines can be prevented with good SPF practices, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen. Apply facial SPF before putting on your mask, and reapply religiously throughout the day....

There is no shortage of ways for how to cook brats, but grilling them ensures charred bits that add complexity and offer that char-grilled flavor we love about a good (and simple) cookout. Brats are convenient and require next-to-no prep, and are guaranteed to be seasoned perfectly throughout without having to fuss with a marinade like in other common grilling options. Plus, fresh brats, like other sausages, come off the grill juicy and tender and are basically impossible to mess up as long as you cook them over moderate heat....

Micro Thanksgiving Ideas If the recipe requires baking, here’s your time to shine! Use ramekins, mini pie tins, small bundt cake molds, or other small oven-proof dishes to create single-serving sides (like mac and cheese, creamed spinach, mini pies, or green bean casserole). They look super cute, too. Pop them in the oven as needed, or even freeze some for a fresh holiday meal whenever you want. Because it’s just you, consider mixing your prep work into your Thanksgiving week meal plan....

Charcuterie boards are one of my favorite ways to serve up themed foods at a party. I’ve already shared a Mexican charcuterie board, a summer charcuterie board, and my personal favorite – a breakfast charcuterie board – so I thought it was time to do a red white and blue one for the fourth for one of my favorite holidays! One of the reasons charcuterie boards are so popular right now is because they’re pretty....

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until the first day of spring (March 19 in 2020) to start your lawn care efforts. Spring lawn care tips are great in March and April, but February can also be a good time to start putting them to work, especially in warmer climates—but not always. Temperatures may be rising, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can go out and start seeding or fertilizing your yard right away....

For general period pain, consider this your 101 guide to relieving symptoms and feeling better every month. What causes period pain? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an estimated 50 percent of women who menstruate experience period pain at least one to two days per month. Of course, the intensity varies by person, with some women experiencing manageable cramps or a slight headache, while others struggle to get out of bed....

Before we jump in, let’s begin by defining what ripening is. This process is the result of fruit releasing a gas called ethylene, which effectively starts the course of decay. Ripening is caused by the breakdown of cell walls, conversion of starches to sugars, and the disappearance of acids in a piece of produce. All of these processes make a peach or pear more palatable—it’ll feel softer and taste sweeter with less acid, starch, and softer cell walls—only up to a point (when it gets rotten)....

How to Store Strawberries When stored properly in the refrigerator using one of the below methods, strawberries should stay fresh for up to one week. Always examine your berries for mold and other signs of spoilage before eating them. How to Store Cut Strawberries If pre-cutting your strawberries before storing them is more convenient, you can use any of the above storing methods to keep cut strawberries fresh. You can also wrap them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil....

How to Buy Watermelon The first step to preserving your watermelon’s freshness: buying a nice watermelon. No matter what size or seed quantity you’re going for, you want a watermelon with a firm exterior. If you can press your finger into it, it’s no good. Try finding a watermelon free of dents and cuts, which can also lead to overrippening. When you tap your watermelon, it should sound hollow, like a drum....

I’ve known about Tata Harper for years, mainly for its high quality products and the undeniably gorgeous packaging. Not to mention the thousands of shoppers who rave about this brand. And as a shopping writer, I wanted to ensure that I was getting a thorough experience with the cleanser, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer, all which I’ve been consistently using for a month, and spoiler alert: I love them and will continue using these products....

My quest to master the frizz has included serums, creams, masks, and more, but it took Drybar’s Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush to really give me a chance of winning the fight for smoother, more manageable hair. Part of the problem—beyond my hair’s natural inclination to frizz and the high-humidity areas I live in—is that I want my morning routine to be quick and simple. Yes, I used to take a round-brush and hair dryer to my hair post-shower, but I’d also take shortcuts like not separating my hair properly into small sections, with frizzy results....

It;s also the main ingredient used in injectables, thanks to its ability to make the skin look plumper and more youthful. The catch? Fillers can rack up thousands of dollars in the office (read: not the most cost-effective route to anti-aging). That’s why when Shiseido announced they were launching an at-home topical system made with advanced hyaluronic acid that’s supposed to mimic the results of filler, I was instantly intrigued....

I had never considered cleaning as a means of philosophical expression, but then I read about Swedish death cleaning and I realized right away that this was the tactic I needed to get my life—and my clutter-prone family—organized once and for all. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson ($13, amazon.com) describes a way to organize your earthly possessions before you die so that your family won’t have to fight or stress over what to do with the things you leave behind....

At first, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. How could something designed like that possibly have more than 3,000 five-star ratings? And by “like that,” I mean the seemingly gravity-defying curved metal frame that’s supposed to hold a person up to 265 pounds up by a hook. It seemed like it might be too good to be true. To buy: $230; amazon.com. For a bonus feature, I bought this LED-lit version for $20 more....