Search

Clever hack for banishing fruit flies from your kitchen

There’s nothing worse than trying to keep a clean kitchen, only to be greeted by a swarm of pesky fruit flies. Once they arrive, it seems like nothing will ever work to get rid of them. According to Good Housekeeping, fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time and even worse, those eggs hatch within 24 hours. Now one clever Sydney woman has revealed her genius hack for bidding them farewell once and for all, with a cheap and effective method that she happened to come across quite by chance. “I realised I could use red wine when I left a glass out and came back in the morning and it had a bunch of flies in it,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/fruit-fly-hack2.jpg" alt="" width="584" height="299" /> “I didn’t realise that wine would work so well – I’d tried traps with apple cider vinegar and dish soap before but it’s never worked as well as this." Fruit flies are attracted to ripe and rotting fruit and vegetables, things like beer and wine, bins and cleaning rags, so the mixture was the perfect solution. She first took a glass jar and filled it three-quarters of the way up with water. While from the photos it might look like there is a lot of wine in the mixture, it’s actually 90% water. She then added a few splashes of red wine and some dish soap. Then, she sealed the top of the jar with glad wrap and poked a few holes in the top with a fork. She then secured the whole thing together with a rubber band to keep it all in place. Now, the jar with the mixture lives on her windowsill next to her fruit bowl and the results speak for themselves! Images: Yahoo

Food & Wine

Simple trick to banish spiders from your home

If you’re not a fan of creepy crawly spiders in your house, there is a simple way to deter them that doesn’t involve calling for pest control. You may not know this, but spiders dislike the smell of peppermint and will not make their home in a place where it is present. So first just give the house and garden a once over to remove spider webs. Then grab a spray bottle and add a cup of water and 15-20 drops of pure peppermint oil. Shake well and then spray it on all of the entrances to your home such as windowsills, doorframes, or anywhere that spiders tend to hang out. Once the spiders detect the scent it’s believed that they will head for another house to take shelter in. A perfect result for those of us who don’t want spiders at home but also don’t want to harm them. Have you tried this old-fashioned trick to keep spiders away? Let us know your experience in the comments.

Home & Garden

4 natural ways to banish facial hair

When it comes to hair, it seems that us ladies want it all long and luscious on top with minimal hair everywhere else. Unwanted facial hair can be a result of hormones (especially as estrogen levels change around the menopause) as well as genetics, medications and other medical issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The good news is there are plenty of ways to deal with the issue using natural products that you probably already have in the house. 1. Honey and sugar wax All you need is sugar, water and honey for this homemade wax. How to: <ol> <li>In a small saucepan on a medium heat, place two teaspoons of brown or white sugar, a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of water.</li> <li>Stir for around 30 seconds until it starts to bubble and go darker. Set aside to cool.</li> <li>When cool enough to touch, use a plastic spoon to apply it to the hair on the face.</li> <li>Put a strip of cloth over the wax and use your finger to smooth it out in the direction of the hair growth.</li> <li>Rip off the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth.</li> </ol> 2. Chickpea flour face mask Available from health food stores and some supermarkets, chickpea flour (also known as gram flour or besan) is a great way to remove unwanted fine hair. How to: <ol> <li>In a small bowl, bring together 2 tablespoons chickpea flour, 1 tablespoon of cream, 1 ½ teaspoons of milk, and ¾ teaspoons of ground turmeric.</li> <li>Mix well and use your fingers to apply the face pack. Leave on for 20 minutes until dry, then scrub off with a damp face washer.</li> <li>Repeat three to four times per week for up to a month to see results.</li> </ol> 3. Spearmint tea Often unwanted hair is due to an excessive production of androgen in the body. Spearmint tea is a popular method for regulating the hormones and is regularly used in Turkey. How to: <ol> <li>Boil and pour water for a cup of tea.</li> <li>Add a teaspoon of dried spearmint or 5 leaves of fresh spearmint leaves.</li> <li>Allow to steep for 10 minutes before drinking.</li> <li>Repeat twice a day</li> </ol> 4. Lemon juice and honey face scrub The stickiness of this scrub will help you to remove fine facial hair. Lemon juice cleanses the skin while also lightening the hair, while the honey helps to soften the hair, making it easier to remove. How to: <ol> <li>In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of honey.</li> <li>Use the fingers to apply to your face and allow to dry for 20 minutes.</li> <li>Use a warm face washer to scrub the mixture off the face.</li> <li>Repeat twice a week for up to 3 months. </li> </ol> Have you used any natural methods for removing facial hair? We would love to hear your tips in the comments. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/problem-with-all-natural-skincare-products/">The problem with “all-natural” skincare products</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/ways-to-make-your-perfume-last-longer/">6 ways to make your perfume last longer</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/5-of-the-most-elegant-accessories/">5 of the most elegant accessories</a>

Beauty & Style

New twisting plane seat design could banish discomfort

It is an age old question that never seems to be solved. How can airlines make travel more comfortable? Well, the answer might finally be here. London-based, award-winning design firm, Factorydesign have come up with a brilliant concept for the humble airline seat that "twists" with the passengers' movements. The patented design mimics the human spine and allows for movement - therefore avoiding pressure build up, as well as featuring a vertical spine structure with "ribs". <img width="499" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/13118/plane-seat-hero_499x280.jpg" alt="Plane Seat Hero" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Designer Adam White thought up the idea while travelling on a 14-hour flight from Japan to the UK, Aircraft Interiors International reports. "There has been considerable debate about economy class seating in the media, and many concepts which don't actually seem to have considered the needs of the passenger," White told the website. "This design is completely centred around improving the passenger journey experience. From your shoulders to your thighs, the seat follows your profile as you move." White went into more detail about the idea while speaking to Skift. "The real breakthrough of the idea was that all previous seats were based on, essentially, a series of hinges and by putting a spine into the seat, it allows the freedom of movement, twists and turns, without creating pressure points." he said. <img width="498" height="455" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/13119/plane-seat-in-text_498x455.jpg" alt="Plane Seat In Text" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 'If you cross your legs, you get a very strong pressure point under your thigh at the edge of the seat. In a Twister seat, the seat twists down at that point, and relieves pressure." The idea was presented to government funded awards. Four working prototypes were created and the company hopes to entice manufacturing partners on board. Image credit: Factorydesign First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/12/spot-the-cat-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you spot the cat hidden in this picture?</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/6-clever-uses-for-silica-gel-bags/">6 clever uses for silica gel bags</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/abandoned-puppy-rescued-on-christmas-eve/">Abandoned puppy rescued on Christmas Eve doesn’t look like this anymore</a>

News

7 ways to banish negative thoughts

If you find yourself getting caught up in thoughts about “what if” or “if only” these can become negative thought patterns that can lead to depression and anxiety. Although it’s common to have negative thoughts sometimes, if you regularly focus on them it can stop you from enjoying your life. So if you’re interested in turning your thoughts in a more positive direction, you can follow our ideas below to reduce the negative thoughts that could be holding you back from your true potential. 1. Observe the negative ideas First of all you need to work out when you are having these negative thoughts in order to get them out of your head. Some common ones that you might have include the idea that everything is black or white with no middle ground; taking on the blame when things go wrong, even when things are not necessarily your fault; focusing only on the negatives in any situation without seeing the positive side; and always assuming that the worst is going to happen. 2. Take action against negative thoughts Once you notice these types of thoughts creeping in, try to think objectively so that you don’t get caught up in a negative spiral. What advice would you offer a friend who came to you with the same thoughts? More than likely you would give her a logical answer like “there’s no need to blame yourself for things that are out of your control.” You can apply this to your own situation and think of other reasons why things have not turned out the way you had planned. 3. Limit the thoughts Often it is difficult to just stop the negative thought altogether. Instead, allow yourself a five-minute session with it before you take a break from dwelling on it and get on with your day. 4. Be kind to yourself It’s easy to feel down in the dumps when we compare ourselves to other people or some unattainable goal. Notice when you are doing this, and give yourself a break. You are human after all. Try to think of a positive quality when you are caught up in the negatives, as this can help you see from another point of view. 5. Be thankful for what you do have Even when you are going through a difficult time, there are usually still parts of your life that you can be grateful for. Gratitude can give your mood a real boost, and if you write it down you can even refer back to your notes later for a quick lift. 6. Write down your good points It’s too easy to get caught up in what you aren’t happy with about your life. By making a list of your strengths and talents you can help to kick those negative thoughts out of your mind. Plus you can refer back to it when you need a boost. 7. Ask for help If you find that your thoughts are holding you back from what you need to do each day it might be time to source some professional support. Taking part in counselling or joining a support group can help to reduce the anxiety that you feel and allow you to make a positive action plan for the future.

Mind

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property