Search

Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans upset by US election results

An Italian village in Sardinia, Italy is offering one-euro homes to Americans seeking a new start following the results of the 2024 U.S election that saw Donald Trump being re-elected as president. Ollolai has long been trying to persuade outsiders to move in to revive the community after decades of depopulation. Now, it's selling dilapidated houses for as little as one euro — just over a US dollar or $AU1.60 — to entice Americans to move abroad. Following the November 5 outcome, they have launched a website aimed at potential American expats, offering cheap homes in hopes that those disappointed by the result and seeking a fresh start will snap up one of their empty properties. "Are you worned (sic) out by global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities?" the website read. "It's time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia." Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN that the website was specifically created to attract American voters in the wake of the presidential elections. The mayor loves the United States and is convinced Americans would be the best people to revive the community. "We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all," he said. "We can't of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card." The village is offering three tiers of accommodation: Free temporary homes to certain digital nomads, ($1.6) homes in need of renovations, and ready-to-occupy houses for prices up to $160,000. The mayor also set up a special team to guide interested buyers through every step of the process including finding contractors, builders and navigating required paperwork. "Of course, we can't specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he's the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country," Columbo added. "We have specifically created this website now to meet US post-elections relocation needs. The first edition of our digital nomad scheme which launched last year was already solely for Americans." Photos and plans of available empty properties will soon be uploaded to the website. The website has since received nearly 38,000 requests for information on houses, with most of them coming from the United States In the past century, Ollolai's population has shrunk from 2,250 to 1,300 with only a handful of babies born each year. Over the last few years, this has dropped 1,150 residents. Image: Shutterstock

International Travel

Original Bee Gees star passes away aged 78

Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen has passed away aged 78. News of his death was posted on the official Facebook page of tribute band Best of the Bee Gees. “It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” they began. “He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect. “Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace.” Petersen who was one of the original members of Australian band Bee Gees was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, has been credited for contributing to the band's rise to global superstardom. He was the band's first drummer and performed some of their most beloved songs including Massachusetts, To Love Somebody and Words. Petersen attended the same school in Redcliffe, Queensland as bandmates and brothers Barry Robin and Maurice Gibb, where he first developed an interest in music. After graduating, Petersen moved to the UK to break into the film industry, before he joined the Bee Gees in the 60's becoming the first non-Gibb brother to join the group. “There was an understanding that when the Gibbs’ arrived in England, that if the film thing didn’t work out, I’d join their band,” Petersen told Geelong Independent in 2022. “So I became the fourth Bee Gee, and that was obviously a big turning point in my life.” He left the band after the first phase of their career, just before they reached peak stardom in the '70s disco era, due to conflicts with the group's then-manager Robert Stigwood. Petersen moved back to Australia with his family in 1974, and in 2019 he joined the tribute group Best of the Bee Gees. His death comes after Maurice's sudden death in 2003, which prompted the Bee Gees to retire after 45 years. Robin later died in 2012 aged 62, leaving Barry, Vince Melouney and Geoff Bridgford as the last surviving members of the group. Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne Newfield and their sons Jaime, born in 1971, and Ben, born in 1976. Image: Everett Collection/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Full House star's devastating cancer diagnosis

Dave Coulier has revealed his devastating cancer diagnosis The Full House star told the US Today show about his "roller coaster" health struggle on Wednesday. After finding out that he was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he said it felt like "I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you," according to Page Six. Coulier, whose first symptom was a lump in his groin, noted that he was “on pins and needles for a few days” while waiting to hear whether the disease had spread “to any major organs or [his] blood or bones or anything.” While waiting for his results, the 65-year-old actor told his wife, Melissa Coulier that he accepted his fate. “I’m OK with whatever the news [is] going to be no matter how devastating. … I’ve had an incredible life. I’ve had the most amazing people in my life. This has been an extraordinary journey, and I’m OK if this is the end of the journey”. Fortunately the cancer has not moved outside of his lymphatic system, and since then the actor has started chemotherapy, which he said was “intense” and “scared the daylights” out of him. “There [are] days where I feel unbelievable,” he said. “Then there’s other days where … I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be”. Coulier is expected to finish treatment in February 2025 after undergoing six rounds of chemo every three weeks. While the diagnosis was initially shocking, the actor has assured his fans that the curability rate is promising. Image: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

What’s the difference between liquid and powder laundry detergent? It’s not just the obvious

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> When shopping for a laundry detergent, the array of choices is baffling. All of the products will likely get your laundry somewhat cleaner. But what gets the best outcome for your clothes and your budget? Do you want whiter whites? Do you need enzymes? And what’s the difference between a powder and liquid detergent? As is often the case, knowing more about the chemistry involved will help you answer those questions. <h2>What is a detergent?</h2> The active ingredients in both laundry powders and liquids are “surfactants”, also known as detergents (hence the product name). These are typically charged or “ionic” molecules that have two distinct parts to their structure. One part interacts well with water and the other interacts with oils. This useful property allows surfactants to lift grease and grime from fabrics and suspend it in the water. Surfactants can also form bubbles. Metal salts dissolved in your water can limit the performance of the surfactants. So-called hard water contains lots of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts which can readily form soap scum. Modern laundry detergents therefore contain phosphates, water softeners and other metal “sequestrants” to stop the formation of soap scum. Phosphates can cause algal blooms in fresh water environments. This is why modern detergent formulations <a href="https://accord.asn.au/sustainability/phosphorus-standard/">contain smaller amounts of phosphates</a>. Many products also contain optical brighteners. These chemicals absorb ultraviolet light and release blue light, which provides the “whiter white” or “brighter colour” phenomenon. Laundry detergents typically contain fragrances. These aren’t essential to the chemistry of cleaning, but give the impression the clothes are fresh. Lastly, some laundry detergents contain enzymes – more on those later. <h2>What’s in laundry powder?</h2> While detergents and ingredients to avoid soap scum are the most important components, they aren’t the most abundant. The main ingredients in powders are salts (like sodium sulfate) that add bulk and stop the powder from clumping. Another common salt added to laundry powders is sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda. Washing soda (a chemical cousin of <a href="https://theconversation.com/vinegar-and-baking-soda-a-cleaning-hack-or-just-a-bunch-of-fizz-225177">baking soda</a>) helps to chemically modify grease and grime so they dissolve in water. Laundry powders also frequently contain oxidising agents like sodium percarbonate. This is a stable combination of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. An additive known as tetraacetylethylenediamine activates the percarbonate to give a mild bleaching effect. Chemically, powders have an advantage – their components can be formulated and mixed but kept separate in a solid form. (You can usually see different types of granules in your laundry powder.) <h2>What’s in laundry liquid?</h2> The main ingredient of laundry liquid is water. The remaining ingredients have to be carefully considered. They must be stable in the bottle and then work together in the wash. These include similar ingredients to the powders, such as alkaline salts, metal sequestrants, water softeners and surfactants. The surfactants in liquid products are often listed as “ionic” (charged) and “non-ionic” (non-charged). Non-ionic surfactants can be liquid by default, which makes them inappropriate for powdered formulations. Non-ionic surfactants are good at suspending oils in water and don’t form soap scum. Liquid detergents also contain preservatives to prevent the growth of microbes spoiling the mixture. There are also microbial implications for inside the washing machine. Liquid products can’t contain the peroxides (mild bleaching agents) found in powdered products. Peroxides kill microbes. The absence of peroxides in liquid detergents makes it more likely for <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/1/195#B15-molecules-27-00195">mould biofilms to form</a> in the machine and for bacteria to be transferred between items of clothing. As an alternative to peroxides, liquids will typically contain only optical brighteners. Liquids do have one advantage over powders – they can be added directly to stains prior to placing the item in the wash. A recent “convenience” version of liquid formulas are highly concentrated detergent pods. Colourful and bearing a resemblance to sweet treats, these products have been found to be <a href="https://poisoncenters.org/track/laundry-detergent-packets">dangerous to young children and people with cognitive impairment</a>. Pods also remove the option to add less detergent if you’re running a smaller load or just want to use less detergent in general. <h2>So, what about enzymes?</h2> Enzymes are naturally evolved proteins included in laundry products to remove specific stains. Chemically, they are catalysts – things that speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes are named for the molecules they work on, followed by the ending “-ase”. For example, lipase breaks down fats (lipids), protease breaks down protein, while amylase and mannanase break down starches and sugars. These enzymes are derived from organisms found in cool climate regions, which helps them function at the low temperature of washing water. Running an excessively hot wash cycle can damage or denature the enzyme structure, stopping them from assisting in your wash. Think of an egg white <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-the-perfect-pavlova-according-to-chemistry-experts-196485">changing from translucent to white while cooked</a> – that’s protein denaturing. If your detergent contains enzymes, the washing temperature should be neither too hot nor too cold. As a guide, temperatures of 15–20°C are used in <a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/557d8ab5-4e75-41a4-a901-1548be7f685d_en">standard laundry tests</a>. <h2>Is powder or liquid better?</h2> We make consumer choices guided by performance, psychology, cost, scent, environmental considerations and convenience. It’s worth experimenting with different products to find what works best for you and fits your needs, household budget and environmental considerations, such as having <a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-can-some-plastics-be-recycled-but-others-cant-229270">recyclable packaging</a>. Personally, I wash at 20°C with half the recommended dose of a pleasant-smelling laundry powder, packaged in recyclable cardboard, and containing a wide range of enzymes and an activated peroxide source. Knowing a little chemistry can go a long way to getting your clothes clean. However, laundry detergent manufacturers don’t always disclose the full list of ingredients on their product packaging. If you want more information on what’s in your product, you have to look at the product website. You can also dig a little deeper by reading documents called <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-tiktok-trend-has-people-drinking-toxic-borax-an-expert-explains-the-risks-and-how-to-read-product-labels-210278">safety data sheets</a> (SDS). Every product containing potentially hazardous chemicals must have an SDS.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239850/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-liquid-and-powder-laundry-detergent-its-not-just-the-obvious-239850">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

"I’m coming home from a party, and I don’t want to end up getting arrested": do driving apps help people break road rules?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/verity-truelove-1237331">Verity Truelove</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-nicolls-1299069">Michelle Nicolls</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/oscar-oviedo-trespalacios-1417150">Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/delft-university-of-technology-1040">Delft University of Technology</a> Apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze can tell drivers when they are approaching speed cameras or random breath testing stations. Countries such as Germany, France and Switzerland have banned apps from displaying these enforcement locations. But what effect are these apps having in Australia – are they helping drivers break road rules? Our new <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753524002972">paper</a>, published in the journal Safety Science, examined this question. We found this technology can, in some cases, contribute to people thinking they are invincible on the roads. However, we also found they can sometimes help people drive more safely. <h2>Being made aware of enforcement can help road safety</h2> We conducted focus groups and interviews with a total of 58 drivers from Queensland, to understand how the use of this technology influences perceptions of being caught for breaking road rules. One driver told us: "If I know it’s coming up, I’ll put my phone down. If I was, say, texting or checking something, but then like once a good few 100 metres away, I sort of pick it up again, depending though." Another said: "It sort of depends where I am driving, I guess. Like, if I am driving on a country road and there is a speed camera there I would probably slow down for the speed camera and then sort of speed up again once I am sort of past that; it sort of depends on the circumstances." We also found that, for some people, being made aware of enforcement locations can help drivers better regulate their speed. This helped them comply with road rules more consistently. Waze also shows the speed limit in the area, which further assisted some drivers to stick to the speed limit. One driver told us: "I’m a bit careful if I just look at the speedo and just double check that I’m on the right amount of speed." Another said: "It just gives you a warning like, ‘OK, you need to check your speed.’ Just to double-check you’re going on the right speed perhaps or when it’s a camera coming up." <h2>Concerning behaviours</h2> Concerningly, we also found some drivers who use these apps are looking at and touching their screens more than they otherwise would. This can distract drivers and increase their <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753524001097">risk of crashing</a>. One driver told us they post traffic updates on the app they use while driving, “which I know is wrong.” Another said: "Just hit the button on the phone. Just two steps after I go past the camera." Another driver told us: "It’s so helpful […] Especially if it’s, say, late night and I’m coming home from a party, and I don’t want to end up getting arrested." One driver said: "I probably feel slightly more invincible, which is probably not a good thing." When asked why these apps are used, one driver said: "I guess the drug and the drink-driving." <h2>Apps can help and hinder road safety</h2> We know breaking road rules significantly contributes to <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/safety-and-mobility/global-status-report-on-road-safety-2023">crashes and road fatalities</a>, with deaths on Australian roads continuing to <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/road_deaths_australia_monthly_bulletins">increase</a> over time. On the one hand, when drivers are aware of enforcement measures like cameras and police, they are more likely to stop breaking the rules in those areas. That’s particularly true for behaviours such as speeding and using a phone while driving, we found. Using apps that flag where cameras and police are located also means drivers would be more exposed to enforcement activities than they otherwise would be on a normal drive. On the other hand, our results suggest some drivers are using these applications to break road rules more often in places where they think they won’t be caught. These apps are also not always completely accurate. For instance, even though Waze can display some police operation locations such as roadside breath testing, it can’t capture all on-road police activities. Further, camera locations are not always up to date or accurate. <h2>Weighing benefits against risks</h2> While these apps do have some benefits, it’s important to weigh these against the risks. It’s also important to recognise traffic enforcement isn’t just there to make you comply with road rules at a specific point; it is meant to remind you of the constant risk of being caught and to encourage consistent rule compliance. The goal is to ensure that drivers are following the traffic rules across the entire network, not just in isolated spots. With road fatalities at some of the <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/road_deaths_australia_monthly_bulletins">highest rates we’ve seen in recent years</a>, we need everyone to work together to stop more preventable deaths and injuries.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237664/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/verity-truelove-1237331">Verity Truelove</a>, Senior Research Fellow in Road Safety Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-nicolls-1299069">Michelle Nicolls</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/oscar-oviedo-trespalacios-1417150">Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios</a>, A/Professor Responsible Risk Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/delft-university-of-technology-1040">Delft University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-coming-home-from-a-party-and-i-dont-want-to-end-up-getting-arrested-do-driving-apps-help-people-break-road-rules-237664">original article</a>.

Legal

Dawson's Creek star reveals cancer diagnosis

American actor James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, assuring his fans he is "feeling good" since coming to terms with the news. The Dawson’s Creek star, who played the titular character Dawson Leery, announced the news to <a href="https://people.com/james-van-der-beek-diagnosed-with-colorectal-cancer-exclusive-8738844" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> magazine, saying he had been dealing with the diagnosis "privately". “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the 47-year-old told the publication. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.” No further details regarding his diagnosis or treatment were shared. Van Der Beek has six children with his wife Kimberly, with his most recent Instagram post sharing photos of the family dressed up and going trick or treating. While the post did not mention is diagnosis, many flocked to the comments to share their well wishes. One fan wrote, "Just saw the people article. Best wishes for good health James. Takes a lot of courage strength to share something that personal." Another person added, "Positive thoughts, prayers and love to and your whole family at this time! ❤️huge fan of yours all around!" Image credits: Shutterstock

Caring

Beloved Friends, Tootsie and Mr Mom star passes away

Teri Garr, the beloved actress known for her iconic roles in classic films such as Young Frankenstein and Tootsie and her appearances on Friends, has passed away at the age of 79. Her death, confirmed by her publicist Heidi Schaeffer, occurred on Tuesday in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends. Garr's passing follows a long battle with multiple sclerosis, a condition she publicly disclosed in 2002 to raise awareness about the disease and its impact on daily life. Born Terry Ann Garr in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1944, Teri grew up in a theatrical family; her father was a vaudeville performer and her mother a Rockette. This background set the stage for Garr's early career, which began as a background dancer in Elvis Presley films during the 1960s. Her breakout role came in 1974 when she starred as Inga, the charming lab assistant to Gene Wilder's character in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. The film became a cornerstone of American comedy, showcasing Garr's unique blend of humour and warmth. Garr further solidified her place in cinematic history with her performance in Tootsie in 1982, where she portrayed the vulnerable actress friend of Dustin Hoffman’s character. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Critics praised her ability to balance comedy with emotional depth, with film critic Pauline Kael calling her "the funniest neurotic dizzy dame on the screen" at that time. Despite her success, Garr faced significant challenges due to her health. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during the filming of Tootsie, a struggle she detailed in her memoir, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood. In it, she described MS as a "sneaky disease," one that complicated her life and career but did not define it. “My body had a trick or two up its sleeve," she wrote. "A stumble here, a tingling finger there. I was trained as a dancer and knew better than to indulge the random aches and pains that visited now and then. Being a successful Hollywood actress may be challenging, but little did I know that the very body that had always been my calling card would betray me.” Garr became an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, using her platform to inspire others facing similar challenges. Throughout her career, Garr appeared in over 140 film and TV projects. She was known for her roles in Mr. Mom, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and various television shows including Friends, where she played Phoebe's birth mother. Her playful spirit and comedic timing made her a favourite among audiences and fellow actors alike. In recent years, Garr had limited her appearances due to health issues but remained an influential figure in Hollywood. Tributes have poured in from fans and colleagues alike, celebrating her legacy as a pioneer for women in comedy and an inspiration for those battling chronic illnesses. Teri Garr leaves behind a rich legacy filled with laughter and heart. She is survived by her daughter Molly O'Neil and grandson Tyryn. Her contributions to film and television will be remembered fondly by generations to come. Images: CNN \ Fox Studios

Caring

What washing machine settings can I use to make my clothes last longer?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alessandra-sutti-1513345">Alessandra Sutti</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amol-patil-1513347">Amol Patil</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/maryam-naebe-1513346">Maryam Naebe</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface, the astronauts on the International Space Station live a pretty normal social life, if not for one thing: they happily wear their unwashed clothes <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-interns-take-space-washing-machine-designs-for-a-spin/">for days and weeks at a time</a>. They can’t do their laundry <a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Keeping_your_underwear_clean_on_the_Moon">just yet</a> because water is scarce up there. But down here on Earth, washing clothes is a large part of our lives. <a href="https://bigee.net/media/filer_public/2013/03/28/bigee_domestic_washing_machines_worldwide_potential_20130328.pdf">It’s estimated</a> that a volume of water equivalent to 21,000 Olympic swimming pools is used every day for domestic laundry worldwide. Fibres from our clothes make their way into the environment via the air (during use or in the dryer), water (washing) and soil (lint rubbish in landfill). Most of this fibre loss is invisible – we often only notice our favourite clothing is “disappearing” when it’s too late. How can you ensure your favourite outfit will outlast your wish to wear it? Simple question, complex answer. <h2>Washing machines are not gentle</h2> When you clean the filters in your washing machine and dryer, how often do you stop to think that the lint you’re holding <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk-laundry-releases-microfibres-weighing-the-equivalent-of-1-500-buses-each-year-199712">was, in fact, your clothes</a>? Laundering is harsh on our clothes, and <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250346">research confirms this</a>. Several factors play a role: the type of washing machine, the washing cycle, detergents, temperature, time, and the type of fabric and yarn construction. There are two types of domestic washing machines: top-loader and front-loader. Mechanical agitation (the way the machine moves the clothes around) is one of the things that helps ease dirt off the fabric. Top-loaders have a vertical, bucket-like basket with a paddle, which sloshes clothes around in a large volume of water. Front-loaders have a horizontal bucket which rotates, exposing the clothes to a smaller volume of water – it takes advantage of gravity, not paddles. Top-loading machines <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12541-010-0047-7">tend to be more aggressive</a> towards fabrics than front-loaders due to the different mechanical action and larger volumes of water. Washing machine panels also present many choices. Shorter, low-temperature programs <a href="https://clevercare.info/more-eco-temperature-tips">are usually sufficient for everyday stains</a>. Choose longer or <a href="https://iprefer30.eu/animations/UK/wash-brochure-uk.pdf">high-temperature programs</a> only for clothing you have concerns about (healthcare uniforms, washable nappies, etc.). Generally, washing machine programs are carefully selected combinations of water volume, agitation intensity and temperature recommended by the manufacturer. They take into consideration the type of fabric and its level of cleanliness. Select the wrong program and you can say goodbye to your favourite top. For example, high temperatures or harsh agitation may cause some fibres to weaken and break, causing holes in the garment. <h2>Some fabrics lose fibres more easily than others</h2> At a microscopic level, the fabric in our clothes is made of yarns – individual fibres twisted together. The nature and length of the fibres, the way they are twisted and the way the yarns form the fabric can determine how many fibres will be lost during a wash. In general, if you want to lose fewer fibres, you should wash less frequently, but some fabrics are affected more than others. Open fabric structures (knits) with loose yarns <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98836-6">can lose more fibres</a> than tighter ones. Some sports clothing, like running shirts, are made of continuous filament yarn. These fibres are less likely to come loose in the wash. Cotton fibres are only a few centimetres long. Twisted tightly together into a yarn, they can still escape. Wool fibres are also short, but have an additional feature: scales, which make wool clothes much more delicate. Wool fibres can come loose like cotton ones, but also tangle with each other during the wash due to their scales. This last aspect is what causes wool garments to shrink when <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/004051756403400303">exposed to heat</a> and agitation. <h2>Go easy on the chemicals</h2> The type of detergent and other products you use also makes a difference. Detergents contain a soap component, enzymes to make stains easier to remove at low temperature, and fragrances. Some contain harsher compounds, such as bleaching or whitening agents. Modern detergents are very effective at <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/laundry-detergents/review-and-compare/laundry-detergents">removing stains such as food</a>, and you don’t need to use much. An incorrect choice of wash cycles, laundry detergent and bleaching additives could cause disaster. Certain products, like bleach, can <a href="https://site.extension.uga.edu/textiles/textile-basics/understand-your-fibers/">damage some fibres like wool and silk</a>. Meanwhile, research on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749120366872?via%3Dihub">fabric softeners and other treatments</a> <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233332&type=printable">continues</a> – there’s no one-size-fits-all answer about their potential impact on our clothes. <h2>Just skip laundry day</h2> So, how to ensure your clothes last longer? The main tip is to wash them less often. When it’s time for a wash, carefully read and follow the care labels. In the future, our washing machines will <a href="https://www.teknoscienze.com/tks_article/trends-in-laundry-by-2030/">recognise fabrics and select the wash cycle</a>. For now, that’s our responsibility. And the next time you throw your shirt into the dirty laundry basket, stop. Think of the astronauts orbiting above Earth and ask yourself: if they can go without clean laundry for a few days, maybe I can too? (Although we don’t recommend just burning your dirty undies, either.)<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224064/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1j6KLP492E?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alessandra-sutti-1513345">Alessandra Sutti</a>, Associate Professor, Institute for Frontier Materials, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amol-patil-1513347">Amol Patil</a>, Research Engineer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/maryam-naebe-1513346">Maryam Naebe</a>, Associate professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-washing-machine-settings-can-i-use-to-make-my-clothes-last-longer-224064">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Broadway star files for divorce amid Hugh Jackman rumour

Broadway star Sutton Foster has filed for divorce from her screenwriter husband, Ted Griffin, after ten years of marriage. The 49-year-old actress filed for uncontested divorce in New York County Supreme Court on Tuesday, according to Page Six. The pair got married in Santa Barbara in 2014, and adopted their daughter Emily three years later. Page Six reports that rumours about Foster's marriage being on the rocks began circulating in Broadway circles when she starred in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman. They also said that multiple sources have claimed the pair have fallen in love. “They are 100 per cent together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together,” a source previously told Page Six. The publication claims that their relationship is going strong, but they have been staying out of the public eye and keeping it under wraps. “They are still together,” a source told Page Six. “They go out of their way to hide it, but it’s common knowledge.” Jackman filed for divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness, after 27 years of marriage, in September 2023. Furness and Jackman released a joint statement at the time, saying: “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” Neither Jackman or Foster have commented on the reports. Image: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/ Shutterstock Editorial

Relationships

"One of the greatest men": Tarzan star dies at age 86

Tarzan star Ron Ely has died at the age of 86. The news of his passing was confirmed in an emotional statement by his daughter Kirsten, who wrote, “The world has lost one of the greatest men it has ever known – and I have lost my dad." “My father was someone that people called a hero. He was an actor, writer, coach, mentor, family man and leader. He created a powerful wave of positive influence wherever he went. The impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person – there was something truly magical about him. This is how the world knew him.” “I knew him as my dad – and what a heaven sent honour that has been. To me, he hung the moon.” “My father’s life story was one of relentless perseverance, unending dedication to his family and friends, courage to do what was right, and willing sacrifice to facilitate the dreams of those he loved,” Kirsten continued. “It was also a story of joy and love – something everyone close to him had the privilege of experiencing. Once you knew my father’s love, the world grew to be a brighter and more meaningful place.” “I am doing my best to walk this path of loss with the strength and grace that I know he would want for me,” she added. “My greatest comfort is knowing that my dad is with my momma and my brother. It is also my greatest sadness because I miss them all so much that it’s etched into my soul. I will proudly carry all of my favourite pieces of them – lovingly cemented into my heart – until we all meet again.” Ely first one to fame in the 1960s with his role as Tarzan in the NBC TV series, which ran from 1966 to 1968. He later returned for Universal’s Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze in 1975, and took on guest roles on some of TV’s biggest shows, including Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and Superboy. Ely is survived by his daughters, Kirstin and Kaitland. In 2019, his son, Cameron, was shot and killed by Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies after allegedly stabbing his mother, Ely’s wife, to death. Image credits: Matthew Rettenmund / Banner/Kobal / Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Baywatch star dies after lengthy health battle

Baywatch actor Michael Newman has died at the age of 68 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. The actor, who played lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on Baywatch in the 1990s, was diagnosed with the neurological condition 18 years ago, and died “from heart complications” on Sunday evening “surrounded by his family and friends.” His death was confirmed Tuesday by Newman’s close friend, Matt Felker, who recently directed the Hulu docu-series about Baywatch. “I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said, ‘You’re just in time,’” Felker told <a href="https://people.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People.</a> Newman was the only Baywatch cast member who was a real-life lifeguard. He appeared on 150 episodes of the show, the most of anyone except David Hasselhoff. While starring on Baywatch, he continued to work as a full-time firefighter and returned to the job after the show ended in 2001, until he retired after 25 years. Newman was 50 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2006, as he spoke about living with the disease just months ago. “This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom,” Newman told People in August. “My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the centre of my life,” he added. “I am cherishing the days that I get to be on this earth with family and friends,” he went on. “I’m taking life seriously.” Newman spent the final years of his life raising money with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson’s. The late star is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sarah, their children Chris and Emily, and their 1-year-old granddaughter, Charlie. Image credits: SplashNews.com/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

One Direction star passes away aged 31

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has reportedly been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, in Argentina, according to local newspaper La Nacion. The 31-year-old is believed to have fallen from the third floor of a hotel at around 5pm local time the newspaper said, citing emergency services. According to La Nacion the local police station was called by the hotel manager who reported "an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol". It is reported that Payne fell from around 13 or 14 metres and suffered "very serious injuries incompatible with life." Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system SAME (El Sistema de Atención Médica de Emergencias), told local TV that Payne had fallen into a courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighbourhood. “At 17.11, a SAME team arrived and confirmed the man’s death. We later learned that he was a singer in a musical group. “Unfortunately, he had injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall, so we had to confirm his death. There was no possibility of resuscitation.” Payne was one of the founding members of One Direction, one of the most loved boy bands of the past decade. He auditioned first as a solo act for the UK reality series The X Factor in 2008, before being eliminated. In 2010 he auditioned again and was grouped with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik by the judges to form One Direction. Image: SplashNews.com/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

5 items you’re cleaning too much

Cleaning the house is no easy feat. To make life a little easier for you, here are five items you are probably cleaning more than you need to. 1. Clothes worn once For particular items of clothing such as gym gear, shirts and tights it is fine to wash clothes after every wear. However, most other items can be worn up to three times advises Carolyn Forte, the director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Over-washing and over-drying fabrics can cause fading and wear,” she said. Studies have also shown that it is ideal to wash bath towels after three uses. 2. Dinner plates Instead of spending time rinsing your plates before putting them in the dishwasher, just make sure all the food is scrapped off. "Pre-washing dishes is a waste of time and energy,” said Carolyn. "If you aren't running it right away, let the dishwasher rinse them with a 'rinse only' cycle." 3. Light Fixtures It can be tempting to dust your light fixtures every week but Carolyn advises saving your strength from a different household task. She advises that you can get away with cleaning light fixtures once a month. 4. Jackets In the cooler months jackets are worn every day. However, this necessity only needs to be washed every three months. Jackets don’t usually come into contact with skin cells or natural oils, which allows them to go longer between washes than other clothes. 5. Curtains Curtains need to be washed if you get any marks on them but if they are in pristine condition, according to Carolyn they only need to be cleaned once a year. Image credits: Shutterstock

Home & Garden

10 rules every good house guest follows

You've been invited to stay in somebody else's house. You're instantly told "make yourself at home!" But you can't really, can you? Here's the unsaid rules of being a houseguest you just can't break. 1. Not arriving on time Always provide your itinerary to your host before you arrive. If your flight or train is delayed, give them real-time updates. Google Map your journey in advance so you know exactly how to get to their house. It's awfully inconvenient as a host to be waiting to give a guest keys, but have them arrive two hours late because of an excuse like "I got lost". 2. Turning up empty handed You don't need to bring much, but when staying at someone's house you need to arrive with a token of appreciation. A bottle of wine, some chocolates, or a kitsch little jar of jam you made. Turning up empty handed is expected by the host, but all good houseguests know a small gift is the right way to kick things off. 3. Keeping your shoes on Perhaps you live in a shoes-on house when you're at home, but unless told so, you should never keep them on when staying at another's. Especially if you only see your host walking around bare foot, or in socks/slippers. Houseguests bring in extra dirt, fluff, and marks – the most conscious you can be of that, the better. 4. Turning down food When you're staying in somebody else's home, you must eat what you are served. Hosts go to a lot of effort to make you feel welcome and cooking for you is a big part of that. If you have any dietary requirements, say so before you arrive and offer to bring a bag of shopping. Your host will probably refuse, but you've laid the groundwork for happy mealtimes for the duration of your stay. 5. Not cleaning up Picture this: you're staying with a friend, and they're at work all day while you mooch around their house. The dishwasher is full but you don't know where anything goes in the cupboards. You pile your dirties in the sink, and your friend comes home to find them. Cue instant aggression that will forever remain unspoken. Avoid being a bad guest by cleaning up when you're a houseguest – even if you put things back in the wrong place. 6. Not asking to use laundry facilities One of the most difficult things about travelling is getting your laundry done. When a washing machine and dryer become available, it's natural to want to jump on them. But you must ask your host first. They will always say yes – everybody understands what it's like to have to wear inside-out underwear when you've had no laundry facilities for a week – but it's just polite to ask. 7. Asking your host to quiet down When staying in somebody else's house, there's a high chance of noises you're not used to. That could mean your host watching TV at midnight when you've got to be up early, or them talking loudly on the phone at 6AM while you're asleep. But you can't say anything about it. If you are noise-sensitive, always bring quality earplugs. 8. Bringing lovers home We get it, maybe you're in an exciting new city and the options for a little sexy time are pinging at your phone every few minutes. But you cannot, under any circumstances, invite a new lover over to somebody's house when you're staying there. Even if you have their house to yourself, it's just a breach of respect. If you want to hook up, go to their place. 9. Leaving the bed unmade Hosts generally accept there'll be some clean-up after you're gone. But don't leave the guest bed unmade, or your dirty sheets on it. Strip them off on your final morning, and either fold them nicely, or put them in the washing machine (this is one situation where you don't need their permission to use their laundry). Remake the bed with or without clean sheets if possible. 10. Not saying thank you It doesn't have to be a formal written letter (though that would be nice, wouldn't it). But you must thank your hosts after you leave with a note, an e-mail, or even a text. It's something so easy to forget to do once you're gone, but ensures the host feels their hospitality has been appreciated. And if you've not broken any of the other rules, you'll definitely get invited back. Image credits: Shutterstock Written by Lee Suckling. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Home & Garden

Why Lisa Marie Presley kept son's body at home for two months after his death

Lisa Marie Presley was so heartbroken by the loss of her only son, Benjamin Keough, at just 27-years-old in 2020, that she kept his body in her home for two months after his death. The star revealed this in her memoir From Here to the Great Unknown, which was finished by her daughter Riley Keough after the 54-year-old’s death in January 2023, according to Page Six. In the book, Lisa Marie opened up about the extent of her grief, saying that she had to force herself to "fight" to stay alive for her remaining children, and one of the ways she coped was not saying goodbye to Benjamin right away. “My house has a separate casitas bedroom and I kept Ben Ben in there for two months. There is no law in the state of California that you have to bury someone immediately,” Lisa Marie wrote. “I found a very empathetic funeral homeowner. I told her that having my dad in the house after he died was incredibly helpful because I could go and spend time with him and talk to him. She said, ‘We’ll bring Ben Ben to you.’” The room was kept at around 12 degrees celsius to preserve his body, and the star continued saying that she felt “fortunate that there was a way that I could still parent him, delay it a bit longer so that I could become okay with laying him to rest.” Another reason why she decided to keep his body was because she wasn't sure whether to bury him in Hawaii or at Graceland, the Memphis estate where Elvis died and is buried. At one point, Riley and Lisa Marie decided to honour Benjamin by getting matching tattoos of his name, which was inscribed in the same place where Benjamin had his tattoos. Riley recalled the odd moment Lisa Marie brought in the tattoo artist into her home. “Lisa Marie Presley had just asked this poor man to look at the body of her dead son, which happened to be right next to us in the casitas. I’ve had an extremely absurd life, but this moment is in the top five," Riley wrote in the memoir. Lisa Marie acknowledged that it was odd, and soon after the tattoo day, they "got the vibe" that Benjamin wanted to be laid to rest. “Even my mum said that she could feel him talking to her, saying ‘This is insane, Mum, what are you doing? What the f**k!” The family held a funeral for Benjamin in Malibu, and he was buried at Graceland alongside Elvis, and now Lisa Marie as well. Image: Copetti/Photofab/ Shutterstock Editorial

Family & Pets

Harry Potter stars pay tribute to Dame Maggie Smith

The stars of the Harry Potter franchise have paid tribute to Dame Maggie Smith, after the Oscar-winning actress passed away on Friday at the age of 89. Smith, who played the role of Professor McGonagall throughout the eight movies, was honoured by dozens of her co-stars, including Harry Potter himself: Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe shared a statement to Entertainment Weekly, writing, "She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny." "I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie." Emma Watson also shared a tribute on Instagram alongside the two actresses working together, reflecting on Smith's impact on set. She said, "When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie's legend — the woman I was fortunate to share space with. It is only as I've become an adult that I've come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness." "She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring. Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own. Thank you for all of your kindness. I'll miss you." Rupert Grint also shared a photo of the pair together, referencing a particular fan favourite scene from the fourth Harry Potter film, writing, "Heartbroken to hear about Maggie. She was so special, always hilarious and always kind. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I'll miss you, Maggie. Sending all my love to her family." Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black in the franchise, shared a statement with Entertainment Weekly on Maggie's passing, praising her acting talents, saying, "Maggie Smith, one of the true Greats along with [Laurence] Olivier and [John] Gielgud… those who saw her dazzling talent on the stage say they can never forget her. Her magnificent film performances remain for all to see and enjoy. Such an artist comes along about every other generation. If one is lucky." The news of Maggie Smith's passing was confirmed by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens who said in a statement, “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September." “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.” Image credits: Warner Brothers/Paul Marriott/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Iconic Days of Our Lives star dies aged 70

Drake Hogestyn has passed away aged 70. The Days of Our Lives actor, known for his long-running role as John Black passed away on Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement shared by his family on Instagram. “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn,” the statement began. “He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination.” “After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He was the most amazing husband, father, papa and actor. He loved performing for the ‘Days’ audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business. We love him and we will miss him all the Days of our Lives.” Hogestyn first appeared on the iconic US soap opera in 1986, and played John Black for 38 years. In a statement to Soap Opera Digest, Days Of Our Lives executive producer Ken Corday remembered the actor, who appeared in more than 4,200 episodes of the show. “This is a very difficult one for all of us,” he said. “Hogey was the ultimate team player and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.” His co-stars and colleagues have also paid their respects on social media. “I’m so saddened by this news,” tweeted Kassie DePaiva, who played Eve on the soap. “One of the kindest people I have ever worked with. What an amazing life he lived. He will be missed. He made the world a better place.” Fellow veteran soap star Nancy Lee Grahn, who plays Alexis on General Hospital tweeted: “My deepest condolences to Drake Hogestyn’s family, friends and fans. What a lovely, lovely gracious man.” Image: SplashNews.com/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Is it worth selling my house if I’m going into aged care?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/colin-zhang-1234147">Colin Zhang</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> For senior Australians who cannot live independently at home, residential aged care can provide accommodation, personal care and general health care. People usually think this is expensive. And many assume they need to sell their home to pay for a lump-sum deposit. But that’s not necessarily the case. Here’s what you need to consider. <h2>You may get some financial support</h2> Fees for residential aged care are complex and can be confusing. Some are for your daily care, some are means-tested, some are for your accommodation and some pay for extras, such as cable TV. But it’s easier to think of these fees as falling into two categories: <ul> <li> an “entry deposit”, which is usually more than <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/06/eighth-report-on-the-funding-and-financing-of-the-aged-care-industry-july-2020-eighth-report-on-the-funding-and-financing-of-the-aged-care-industry-may-2020.pdf">$A300,000</a>, and is refunded when you leave aged care </li> <li> daily “<a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees">ongoing fees</a>”, which are $52.71-$300 a day, or more. These cover the basic daily fee, which everyone pays, and the means-tested care fee. </li> </ul> To find out how much government support you’ll receive for both these categories, you will have a “<a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/income-and-means-assessments/#aged-care-home">means test</a>” to assess your income and assets. This means test is similar (but different) to the means test for the aged pension. Generally speaking, the lower your aged-care means test amount, the more government support you’ll receive for aged care. With full support, you don’t need to pay an “entry deposit”. But you still need to pay the basic daily fee (currently, <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-costs-and-fees">$52.71</a> a day), equivalent to 85% of your aged pension. If you get partial support, you pay less for your “entry deposit” and ongoing fees. <h2>You don’t need a lump sum</h2> You don’t have to pay for your “entry deposit” as a lump sum. You can choose to pay a rental-style daily cost instead. This is calculated as follows: you multiply the amount of the required “entry deposit” by the maximum permissible interest rate. This rate is set by government and is currently at <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/schedule-of-fees-and-charges-for-residential-and-home-care-schedule-from-20-march-2021_0.pdf">4.01%</a> per year for new residents. Then you divide that sum by 365 to give a daily rate. This option is like borrowing money to pay for your “entry deposit” via an interest-only loan. You can also pay for your “entry deposit” with a combination of a lump sum and a daily rental cost. As it’s not compulsory to pay a lump sum for your “entry deposit”, you have different options for dealing with your family home. <h2>Option 1: keep your house and rent it out</h2> This allows you to use the rental-style daily cost to finance your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> you could have more income from rent. This can help pay for the rental-style daily cost and “ongoing fees” of aged care </li> <li> you might have a special sentimental attachment to your family house. So keeping it might be a less confronting option </li> <li> keeping an expensive family house will not heavily impact your residential aged care cost. That’s because any value of your family house above <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/schedule-of-fees-and-charges-for-residential-and-home-care-schedule-from-20-march-2021_0.pdf">$173,075.20</a> will be excluded from your <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/aged-care-entry-requirements-providers/residential-care/residential-aged-care-means-assessment">means test</a> </li> <li> you can still access the capital gains of your house, as house prices rise. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li> your rental income needs to be included in the means test for your aged pension. So you might get less aged pension </li> <li> you might need to pay income tax on the rental income </li> <li> compared to the lump sum payment, choosing the rental-style daily cost means you will end up <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/seek-help-when-weighing-up-how-to-pay-for-your-aged-care-20191202-p53g16.html">paying more</a> </li> <li> you are subject to a changing rental market. </li> </ul> <h2>Option 2: keep your house and rent it out, with a twist</h2> If you have some savings, you can use a combination of a lump sum and daily rental cost to pay for your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> like option 1, you can keep your house and have a steady income </li> <li> the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the pension means test. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li> like option 1, you could have less pension income, higher age-care costs and need to pay more income tax </li> <li> you have less liquid assets (assets you could quickly sell or access), which could be handy in an emergency. </li> </ul> <h2>Option 3: sell your house</h2> If you sell your house, you can use all or part of the proceeds to pay for your “entry deposit”. Pros <ul> <li> if you have any money left over after selling your house and paying for your “entry deposit”, you can invest the rest </li> <li> as your “entry deposit” is exempt from your aged pension means test, it means more pension income. </li> </ul> Cons <ul> <li>if you have money left over after selling your house, this will be included in the aged-care means test. So you can end up with less financial support for aged care.</li> </ul> <h2>In a nutshell</h2> Keeping your house and renting it out (option 1 or 2) can give you a better income stream, which you can use to cover other living costs. And if you’re not concerned about having access to liquid assets in an emergency, option 2 can be better for you than option 1. But selling your house (option 3) avoids you being exposed to a changing rental market, particularly if the economy is going into recession. It also gives you more capital, and you don’t need to pay a rental-style daily cost. <hr /> This article is general in nature, and should not be considered financial advice. For advice tailored to your individual situation and your personal finances, please see a qualified financial planner. Correction: this article previously stated the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the aged-care means test, as a pro of option 2. In fact, the amount of lump sum deposit will not be counted as an asset in the pension means test.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/161674/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/colin-zhang-1234147">Colin Zhang</a>, Lecturer, Department of Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-worth-selling-my-house-if-im-going-into-aged-care-161674">original article</a>.

Retirement Income

"World's biggest" amber nugget worth over $1 million used as doorstop for decades

An elderly woman in Romania has unknowingly used one of the largest known amber nuggets in the world - worth over €1 million ($1.6 million) - as her doorstop for decades. The woman found the stone in the bed of a stream in Colti, a village in the southeast Romania, and used it as her doorstop for years without realising its value. Members of her family also reported that thieves had once broken into her home, but only stole a few pieces of gold jewelry, missing the seemingly insignificant rock. “In their frantic search for valuables, they overlooked the real treasure that was there before their eyes,” they said. It wasn't until after the woman died in 1991 that a relative who inherited her home suspected the doorstop might be more than meets the eye - and he was right. When he sold the amber to the Romanian state, experts at the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland appraised the rock and found that the amber is likely between around 38 and 70 million years old. “Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level,” Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, told local news outlet El Pais. The expert also claimed that the amber is one of the largest pieces in the world and the largest of its kind weighing a hefty 3.5-kilograms. It has now been classified as a national treasure of Romania, and can be found in the Provincial Museum of Buzau, where it has been since 2022. Romania is one of the countries with significant deposits of amber, with Buzau County being one of the areas where you can find these beautiful stones in abundance. The protected area also contains the old Stramba amber mine, which was very productive during the first half of the 21st century, before it was shut down by the communist regime as it was considered unprofitable. Image: Buzău County Museum

Home & Garden

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday. A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to The Sun. Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.” They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. “It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. “She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety. “The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny. “She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.” Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. “Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week. “Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.” Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends. Images: news.com.au

Caring

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans upset by US election results

Original Bee Gees star passes away aged 78

Full House star's devastating cancer diagnosis

What’s the difference between liquid and powder laundry detergent? It’s not just the obvious

"I’m coming home from a party, and I don’t want to end up getting arrested": do driving apps help people break road rules?

Dawson's Creek star reveals cancer diagnosis

Beloved Friends, Tootsie and Mr Mom star passes away

What washing machine settings can I use to make my clothes last longer?

Broadway star files for divorce amid Hugh Jackman rumour

"One of the greatest men": Tarzan star dies at age 86

Baywatch star dies after lengthy health battle

One Direction star passes away aged 31

5 items you’re cleaning too much

10 rules every good house guest follows

Why Lisa Marie Presley kept son's body at home for two months after his death

Harry Potter stars pay tribute to Dame Maggie Smith

Iconic Days of Our Lives star dies aged 70

Is it worth selling my house if I’m going into aged care?

"World's biggest" amber nugget worth over $1 million used as doorstop for decades

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star