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3 household items that expire sooner than you think

Milk, cheese and other fridge-dwelling food items are stamped with expiration dates that, should you choose to ignore them, will make themselves known via smell. But your house is actually peppered with items that require regular replenishment - many of which are outside of the kitchen. Thanks to this handy info, we're now aware of the many surprising household items that require a monthly or yearly upgrade. From knickknacks on your dresser to the staples in your pantry, your house is chock-full of items that can go bad. Here are a few of the most surprising. Hydrogen Peroxide Expires in: 2 months Why: Hydrogen peroxide, the versatile topical antiseptic used to prevent infection in cuts, scrapes, and minor burns, actually turns into water just two months after opening. An unopened bottle should be thrown out after one year. Kitchen spices Expires in: 1-3 years Why: Household kitchen spices, like cinnamon, cumin and basil, reportedly begin losing their lustre after just one year - both in terms of taste and smell. Brightside also claims that ground spices should be thrown out after just six months. Mosquito repellents Expires in: 3 years Why: Mosquito repellents are essentially useless after just two years, according to Brightside. You can usually tell if a bug repellent has expired by the smell - if one spray doesn't emit the pungent odour you've grown used to, it's time to throw it out. Written by Kelsey Clark. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

10 pantry items you’re probably keeping for too long

Should you toss these pantry items? It’s likely that many of the items you store in your pantry have a surprising expiration date months (or even years) from now. But just because a product hasn’t expired yet doesn’t mean that it’s in its ideal state for consumption. While you already know which foods you shouldn’t eat past the expiration date, like milk and cheese, it wouldn’t be surprising if you didn’t give a second thought about the food in your pantry. It may be worthwhile to double check the items you have had sitting in your pantry forever. And make sure you think about removing these foods that shouldn’t go in your pantry in the first place. Quinoa The shelf life of whole grains like quinoa and farro is largely dependent on their fat content. Heat, air, and moisture are the top three enemies of whole grains because the elements can negatively affect their healthy oils, which in turn can cause your grains to go rancid sitting in your pantry. “Grains should always look and smell faintly sweet or have no aroma at all,” states the Whole Grains Council. “If you detect a musty or oily scent, the grains have passed their peak.” Turmeric Your favourite ground spices like turmeric, paprika, and nutmeg generally lose their potency after about two to three years. Eating old spices isn’t harmful to your health, but they won’t add any flavour to your recipes anymore. Do a quick sniff and taste test to determine if your spice is still fresh. Baking powder The same rules for ground spices apply to baking ingredients as well. Bags of baking powder and baking soda will lose their leavening power over time, which means a sad, flat cake for you. You can test their leavening power with this easy science experiment in your kitchen: Mix baking soda with vinegar and baking powder with hot water. If they foam up and bubble, it means the ingredients are still fresh enough for baking. Nuts and seeds You’ll want to eat un-shelled nuts like almonds and peanuts within a matter of a few weeks to a few months. “Nuts and seeds typically have a high amount of oil in them and that oil will start to go rancid after a couple of months in your pantry,” Tryg Siverson, chef and co-founder of Feel Good Foods, told INSIDER. Signs of rancidity on a nut or seed include a grassy or paint-like odour and dark or oily appearance. For optimal freshness and longevity, place the nuts and seeds in a clear freezer bag and pop them in your fridge for up to a year. Tea Your tea bags should be consumed within a year because the oils in the tea will go old and give your morning cup of tea a bad flavour. The same goes for your coffee beans and grounds. According to Isabel Maples, MEd, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, you’re best off consuming beans and grounds within two to four weeks. Instant coffee lovers have a bit more time: about two months. Brown sugar An opened bag of brown sugar tends to dry up and harden from exposure to the air after four months in your pantry. Slip the brown sugar into a resealable plastic bag or airtight container to keep it soft and make it last longer. Olive oil Light and heat are not olive oil’s friends. You shouldn’t get sick from an old bottle of olive oil, but an opened bottle of the stuff can taste a bit off after six months. If you don’t use olive oil often, only buy a small bottle so you can use it before the flavour spoils. Whole grain flour Most people store their flour in the pantry, but you should actually store it in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh longer. And does flour ever expire? Whole grain flour lasts up to eight months in the fridge and up to a year in the freezer. “Whole grain flours turn rancid before white flour does,” Maples said. “It doesn’t affect food safety but does affect food quality and taste.” Potatoes The spuds typically last up to two weeks in the refrigerator and two months in the pantry. You’ll know their time is up when they start growing sprouts and developing soft black spots on the skin. Brown rice Although brown rice is a slightly healthier alternative to white rice, it doesn’t last nearly as long on your pantry shelf. “With brown rice, there is oil in its bran layer,” Siverson told INSIDER. “When that oil goes rancid, it gives brown rice a shorter shelf life of about six months. You can store it in the freezer for up to a year.” Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/10-pantry-items-youre-probably-keeping-for-too-long?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Food & Wine

How to get rid of pantry moths

If you see a small moth flying about near your pantry, or something wriggling on your flour, chances are you have a whole load of pantry moths living with you. This doesn’t mean that it’s because you keep your kitchen too messy. In fact, most pantry moths come into our homes from food that we buy at the supermarket. They tend to live in packets of flour, rice or cereal, and usually make their way in when the packs are not properly sealed. A pantry moth can live anywhere from 30 to 300 days, depending on the conditions. Lots of food and warm weather helps them to live longer. While the adult moths only live for one to two weeks, the female moth can lay 400 eggs in that short time so you may feel as though they never go away. So if you want to get rid of them for good, read on. Step 1 First you need to identify the critters. You’ll either see a small moth about 2cm in size, or little white maggots wriggling in your packets. You might also seem some fine silky webs on the corners of your food packets. Step 2 Remove everything from your pantry and check inside it. Bin anything that is suspect, especially dry foods and flours. Even if it looks OK the eggs may be hiding inside. Step 3 Do a thorough cleaning of your pantry cupboard, cleaning all of the shelves. Use hot soapy water and antibacterial spray. Check in corners as this might be where small larvae are hiding in cocoons. Step 4 Wash all of the containers that you use to hold dry goods. Use very hot water and dry well before refilling. Step 5 You can buy traps from the supermarket that contain sticky pheromones to trap any further insects. This way you will see if you have been reinfested, and you can start the process again. Another tip to keep the bugs away is to tie up a bunch of fresh bay leaves in the pantry. Have you had an infestation at your house? Share your story and let us know how you got rid of them. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/06/can-your-house-be-too-clean/">Is it possible for your house to be too clean?</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/the-simple-trick-to-organise-plastic-bags/">The simple trick to organise plastic bags</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-in-the-garden/">How to get rid of slugs in the garden</a>

Home & Garden

Why has my home been overrun by pantry moths and how do I get rid of them? An expert explains

Has your home recently been overrun by tiny grey moths, flapping erratically around your kitchen? Spotted some suspicious webs in a cereal box? You might be sharing your dried food with pantry moths (Plodia interpunctella). Although several species of moth can live and breed in our homes, the pantry moth (also known as the “Indian meal moth”) is one of the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pest-insects/stored-food-insects?page=0%2C1#:%7E:text=There%20are%20three%20major%20storage,warehouse%20moth%20(Ephestia%20cautella).&text=The%20moth%20lays%20eggs%20on,takes%20one%20to%20three%20months." target="_blank">most common</a> unwanted moth-guests. Pantry moths are found on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/124184-Plodia-interpunctella" target="_blank">every continent</a> except Antarctica. They feed on rice, grains, flour, pasta, cereals, dried fruits, spices, seeds, nuts and other dried food. Their fondness for dried foods makes them a major pest in food storage facilities. So how did they get in your house – and what can you do to get rid of them? ‘Large amounts of silk webbing and faeces’ Like other moths, pantry moths have four distinct life stages: egg, caterpillar, pupae and adult. The first sign of a pantry moth infestation is often the sight of adult moths flying in an erratic, zig-zag path around our kitchens. Pantry moth adults have grey-coloured wings with bronze or tan <a rel="noopener" href="http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/pyra/interpunctella.html" target="_blank">bands near the wing tips</a>. Although they can be annoying, adult moths do not feed at all. The trouble arises when female moths lay their eggs in or around our food. The tiny eggs hatch into barely visible cream-coloured caterpillars small enough to crawl into poorly sealed food containers. There, they begin to feed. As they grow, caterpillars produce large amounts of silk webbing and faeces, both of which can contaminate food. Once a caterpillar reaches its full size, it leaves the food in search of a safe space to make a cocoon, usually a crack, container lid, crevice or corner. Sometimes they turn up in the hinges of a pantry door. A few weeks later, an adult moth emerges from the cocoon, ready to start the cycle again. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428972/original/file-20211028-27-12glaz1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428972/original/file-20211028-27-12glaz1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A pile of almonds is seen with thin, silky webbing over it." /></a> Have you found suspicious webbing on your dried foods? Shutterstock How did pantry moths get in my house? And why are they more common lately? Unfortunately, it’s likely you brought them home yourself. Although pantry moths can enter via doors and windows, most infestations probably start when we inadvertently bring home eggs and caterpillars in our dried foods. Kitchens full of unsealed containers and spilled food create an irresistible smorgasbord for female moths looking for the ideal place to lay eggs. Like many insects, pantry moths <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022474X99000399" target="_blank">develop more quickly</a> at warmer temperatures. At warmer temperatures, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science/article/abs/some-physical-and-biological-factors-affecting-oviposition-by-plodia-interpunctella-hubner-lepidoptera-phycitidae/788E52C0C484BFB79405594A85AF580B" target="_blank">females also lay more eggs</a> and caterpillars are more likely to survive to adulthood. But prolonged exposure to temperatures <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022474X97000568" target="_blank">above 40℃</a> are lethal to eggs and caterpillars. While pantry moths can be found at any time of the year, the warm temperatures of late spring and early summer are often perfect for supporting rapid population growth. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428981/original/file-20211028-19-1apbci4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428981/original/file-20211028-19-1apbci4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Most infestations probably start when we inadvertently bring home eggs and caterpillars in our dried foods. Shutterstock How do I get rid of pantry moths? First, eliminate their sources of food. Dry goods should be stored in sealed, airtight containers with tight-fitting lids. To prevent eggs and caterpillars from hitchhiking in on purchases, place dried foods in the freezer for three to four days; this should kill any eggs and caterpillars that may be present. If you already have an infestation, carefully inspect all potential food sources including spices, cereals, grains, dry pet foods, pasta, seeds, nuts, tea, dried flowers and dried fruit. Pantry moth caterpillars are hard to see; look for the silken webbing they produce, which can cause food grains to clump together. These webbed clumps are often more conspicuous than the caterpillars themselves. Infested foods should either be discarded or placed in the freezer for three to four days to kill eggs and caterpillars. Clean up and discard any spilled foods on shelves, under toasters or behind storage containers. Even small amounts of food can support thriving caterpillar populations. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428984/original/file-20211028-23-16tobqx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428984/original/file-20211028-23-16tobqx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A man looks in his kitchen cupboards." /></a> Moth cocoons can be removed from your kitchen cupboards by wiping with a damp cloth or with a vacuum cleaner. Shutterstock Caterpillars can travel considerable distances to find a safe place to make a cocoon, so make sure to check shelves, walls, crevices and ceilings. Moth cocoons can be removed by wiping with a damp cloth or with a vacuum cleaner. Cleaning and proper food storage are the best ways to end a pantry moth outbreak. Sticky pantry moth traps are commercially available and can be used to monitor and reduce the moth population. Pantry moth traps – triangular cardboard covered with a thick sticky glue – are baited with a chemical that mimics the smell of a female pantry moth. Males are attracted to the trap and become hopelessly stuck to the glue. Since sticky traps only target males, traps are unlikely to stop an outbreak on their own; always use them with proper food storage and careful cleaning. Insecticide sprays are unlikely to be effective as pantry moth caterpillars and eggs are protected within food containers. Pantry moths are also resistant to a range of insecticides, rendering them ineffective. Insecticides should never be applied on or near food. What if I ate some pantry moth eggs or larvae? While it can be disconcerting to find tiny caterpillars in the cereal you’ve been enjoying all week, accidentally eating pantry moth caterpillars is unlikely to cause any health problems. Given how common they are in stored food, you’ve probably already unknowingly consumed many moth eggs and larvae. Thank goodness caterpillars are generally an <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39480161" target="_blank">excellent source of</a> protein!<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/170274/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tanya-latty-132">Tanya Latty</a>, Associate professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> 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/why-has-my-home-been-overrun-by-pantry-moths-and-how-do-i-get-rid-of-them-an-expert-explains-170274">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Mum's $20 pantry hack makes it "the happiest place on Earth"

A mum has showcased her incredible method to storing typically “messy” packages of food in her pantry, and it’s unlike anything you have ever seen. Mother-of-two Emma took to Facebook to reveal how she hangs various chips and lollies packets on special “coathangers” in her cupboard. “Thought I’d share my kitchen cupboards with you,” shared Emma on the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/129087881339780/" target="_blank">Mrs Hinch Made Me Do it</a> Facebook page. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836134/pantry-hack.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/61c6ac9d761943cb89c4eb406d0eb29e" /> “Yes I have beans and pasta, my mum sent me because for some reason she thought we would starve without them in lockdown!” Emma admits that while her pantry may look as perfect as can be, she has “other cupboards with different food in but they are not as pretty”. It is believed Emma used tension rod curtain rods as well as shower curtain hooks with clips to create a “coathanger” effect. “I’d love to live in your sweets cupboard,” wrote one excited person Another added: “Your lolly cupboard is the happiest place on Earth.”

Home Hints & Tips

5 foods you should never keep in your pantry

Tomato sauce Your pantry may be stocked with tomato sauce you bought the last time it was a sale, but it always should go in the fridge after you open it. “In the old days, a lot of us used to keep tomato sauce in the pantry,” Lydia Buchtmann, spokeswoman for the Food Safety Information Council, told HuffPost Australia. “But since then these products have gotten a lot healthier, so they’ve got less unhealthy preservatives in them like salt.” Dijon mustard Although your favourite sausage condiment won’t spoil if it’s kept in the pantry, keeping it in the fridge removes any risk of your Dijon losing the flavour you love. Plus, it’ll last longer if it’s refrigerated. Bananas Surprised? You may be used to keeping your bananas in prime pantry real estate, but if you keep them there, they just keep ripening. When they’re ready to eat, put them in the fridge, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says. If the peels turn brown, they’ll still be good to eat. Food storage is one of the factors as to why professional chefs never order these foods at restaurants. Salami You already know to keep raw meat like chicken and beef in the fridge (or the freezer if you’re not using it right away), and the same applies for cured meat like salami. In a 2006 study, researchers found that 23 per cent of the tested 1020 dry Italian salami contained the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Pure maple syrup If you love syrup, why would you eat anything other than the 100 per cent pure maple stuff? However, unlike syrup that’s only maple-flavoured, this pure kind must be kept in the refrigerator to prevent mould. Store it in the freezer (don’t worry, it won’t freeze solid), and it’ll keep indefinitely. Written by Claire Nowak. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/15-foods-you-should-never-keep-in-your-pantry?slide=allhttps://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/15-foods-you-should-never-keep-in-your-pantry?slide=all">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Caring

Fierce debate sparked on Facebook: Does jam belong in the fridge or pantry?

What started off as an innocent debate over a breakfast staple soon turned into a fiery dispute with thousands of social media users weighing in. Mandy-lee Anderson of Coffs Harbour, Australia, asked the question, “Does jam belong in the fridge or the cupboard?” on her Facebook page after she was in a disagreement with her husband. While Mrs Andersen believed the condiment should be stored in the fridge, her husband had opposing views and said that jam belongs in the cupboard. When the couple tried to settle the argument through social media, they didn’t anticipate the overwhelming amount of responses to follow with over a thousand people chiming in. “Because it is a preserve it doesn’t need a fridge, so it is just a personal choice,” one person said. One person took knife habits into consideration when deciding where the item should be kept. “If your jam has lots of crumbs and butter getting into it, then I would keep it in the fridge.” Others questioned whether Mr Andersen’s nationality had anything to do with his decision, as he is a New Zealand national. “In a cold climate it makes no sense to me – but in Queensland, I understand because it’s so hot so you would keep it in the fridge, but I just don’t like my jam cold, that’s all,” Mr Andersen told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/where-to-store-jam-the-fridge-or-pantry/news-story/f51af51d26b7f09f212abde4f3f77130" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. Do you store jam in the fridge or the cupboard? Let us know in the comments below.

Food & Wine

Top tips for keeping your pantry in order

There is something about opening the pantry when it’s just been cleaned and organised that fills you with a sense of calm. Having a well organised, totally functional pantry is a must-have in this busy day and age. All it takes is an hour of your time, some matching containers and a little pantry inspiration. I am a firm believer that if you can see everything, you won’t waste it. Shallow= shelving will stop you from stockpiling cans; simple, clear containers will tell you when you are running low on items, and baskets are handy for odd-shaped packets that are a little tricky to decanter. I like to keep everything together – my herbs, spices and baking items, such as flour and sugars, all lined up neatly, a section for tea, and so on. Doing this makes it much easier to find what I am looking for in a hurry. Learn to love labels I can’t be the only one who’s confused plain (all-purpose) flour with self-raising flour, or icing (confectioners’) sugar with cornflour. Poor labelling can cause some real issues in the kitchen, so there’s no excuse not to label your jars, especially when there are so many free templates on the internet to get you started. Creative labelling <ul> <li>Hang a simple piece of brown card from the lid and neatly write the contents in thick black marker.</li> <li>Paint a square on the outside of your jars with blackboard paint and label them with chalk.</li> <li>Write directly on the jar with a marker in neat, cursive writing.</li> <li>Match your labels to your kitchen colour scheme to ensure continuity.</li> </ul> Tips for a neat pantry <ul> <li>When buying containers for your pantry, stick to the same size, style and look. Consistency with your containers will create an inviting sense of order.</li> <li>Label, label, label!</li> <li>Group similar items, especially oils and condiments, together so that you can see everything at once.</li> <li>Never store more than two layers deep. If you can’t see it, you won’t use it.</li> <li>Invest in good lighting for a walk-in pantry. Searching in the dark is no fun.</li> <li>Tidy weekly to avoid your pantry getting disorganised.</li> <li>Having a collection of baskets on the floor of a walk in pantry is a neat and tidy way to store big packets and odd-shaped containers.</li> <li>A plastic-sleeved folder will solve your recipe mess. Simply slip cut-outs into a plastic sleeve and file away. Do the same with takeaway menus.</li> </ul> <img width="208" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819914/chyka-home-cvr_208x280.jpg" alt="Chyka Home CVR" style="float: right;"/>This is an edited extract from Chyka Home by Chyka Keebaugh published by Hardie Grant Books NZ$44.99 and is available in stores nationally. Image credits: Lisa Atkinson and Armelle Habib

Home & Garden

The pantry staple experts say you should eat every day

A new study has found that three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) a day can prevent chronic disease and cancer. Brown University associate professor of medicine Dr Mary Flynn also found that three serves of EVOO with a plant-based diet can also help with weight loss. Dr Flynn, a specialist in breast and prostate cancer, studied the impact of a plant-based EVOO diet on prostate cancer and found that it was “extremely effective” at improving biomarkers for cancer and cardiovascular disease. The diet includes three tablespoons of EVOO a day to account for four to five servings of health fats that include nuts, olive and avocado. It also includes six to seven serves of wholegrain starch, minimum of four servings of vegetables, up to three servings of fruit, up to two optional servings of dairy and eggs, and 350g maximum of meat, poultry or seafood per week. The diet recommends for the red meat to be entirely eliminated, but if not, recommends no more than 170g a month. The diet removes cured meats, vegetable oils and margarine and mayonnaise with vegetable seed oils – saying they have an increased cancer risk. Dr Flynn compared the EVOO plant-based diet with the diet recommended by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Prostate Cancer Foundation diet recommends decreasing carbohydrates, sugar, high fat food, charred meats, while allowing vegetable oil, margarine and salad dressings but no EVOO. Men followed the two diets for eights weeks and then picked the one they wanted to follow for six months. Dr Flynn’s results showed that people with diets, including daily EVOO consumption, had lower rates of most chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancers, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for prostate cancer patients,” Dr Flynn said. “A plant-based EVOO diet improves insulin function and lowers fasting insulin and glucose levels, protects against weight gain and reduces the risk of various cancers. “EVOO has been shown to decrease a number of risk factors for chronic diseases including inflammation, blood pressure, body weight, blood levels of insulin and glucose, oxidation and blood coagulation,” Dr Flynn said. “The diet isn’t just for cancer patients or prevention, it’s for everyone wanting to live a healthy life and prevent the risk of disease,” Dr Flynn said.

Caring

Woman’s $100 Kmart pantry makeover has to be seen to be believed

A Brisbane teacher has become the envy of thousands of Aussies after she revealed her stunning pantry makeover on the Kmart Mums Australia Facebook group. Kathie Ginman, 52, was inspired to revamp her cupboard after reading the best-selling book <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-marie-kondo%2Fprod9781607747307.html" target="_blank">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo</a>. Three garbage bags, three trips to Kmart, two days and $100 later, her pantry became every neat freak’s dream. <img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816467/4a33662400000578-5502337-image-a-1_1521071159796_499x665.jpg" alt="4A33662400000578-5502337-image -a -1_1521071159796" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> “Two days. Three trips to Kmart. Three garbage bags. Family think I have issues,” Kathie wrote. “House is a mess. Found seven jars of cranberry sauce at the back! Thanks Kmart.” Her newly-ultra-organised pantry drew endless praise from other members of the group, who said the finished product “looks amazing”. “Wanna come do mine?” one person asked. And they weren’t the only ones – some members claimed they would even pay Kathie to revamp their space. Earlier this year, 26-year-old Iryna Federico <a href="http://www.fromgreatbeginnings.com/diy-command-centre/" target="_blank">unveiled her jaw-dropping walk-in pantry</a>, which she says took two years and almost $3,000 worth of Kmart, IKEA and Costco items to complete. <img width="500" height="595" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816466/4a33672c00000578-5502337-image-a-10_1521071233557_500x595.jpg" alt="4A33672C00000578-5502337-image -a -10_1521071233557" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Tell us in the comments below, what does your pantry look like? Would you ever go to extreme lengths like this to get it organised? Image credit: Kathie Ginman/Facebook.

Home & Garden

7 year old boy collects over 10,000 food items for charity

Kaden is a 7-year-old boy from Texas who is the founder of “Mac & Cheese and Pancakes”, an initiative that donates children-friendly foods to the local food pantry. Before he started his food initiative, Kaden had been donating for nearly three years to his local food charity, Helping Hands of Rockwell County. Diana, Kaden’s mum, explained to The Huffington Post that this has been a cause close to Kaden’s heart from an early age. “Kaden has a wonderful heart. He came to me at 4 years old, while still in preschool, and mentioned that he wanted to start a ‘company’ to feed the poor,” Diana said. “My husband and I are still not sure what he heard or witnessed to feel this way at such a young age.” They took Kaden to the food pantry and donated some items that were in their kitchen. Kaden enjoyed the trip so much that he regularly asked to revisit and moved from just dropping off food to touring the pantry. As Kaden spent more time at the food pantry, he felt compassion for the families waiting to receive food and asked about the young children who were in need. “He also was very aware that many of the food items were not items that those kids could look forward too. Many areas of the shelves sat empty and desperately needed donations in order to get the particular food to the people in need. He grew to have a special place in his heart to take care of those young kids that he had seen waiting on their next meals,” explained Diana. On the February 2 2017, Kaden launched his food initiative by creating an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/1HAT2VXYKRGNC">Amazon wish list</a> with foods that children would be happy eating. The Amazon wish list allows anyone to donate to the cause and the food items are shipped directly to the local pantry. Kaden also rallied his school, extracurricular, church, family and friend circles to all get on board with his vision and has received a great response from his community. On February 19, approximately 10,300 items had been donated to “Mac & Cheese and Pancakes”. Although Kaden has reached an incredible benchmark, he will continue to work on his initiative to do all he can to reduce children in his area going without food. Image credit: Mac & Cheese and Pancakes Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2017/02/elderly-woman-donates-five-pound-note-worth-50000-to-charity/">Woman donates five-pound note, worth £50,000, to charity</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/02/nigerian-boy-left-for-dead-starts-school-a-year-later/">Nigerian boy left for dead starts school a year later</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2017/01/volunteering-on-a-floating-hospital-in-africa/">Volunteering on a floating hospital in Africa</a>

Money & Banking

Try these 10 dandruff remedies from your pantry

There’s no need to spend your hard earned cash on anti-dandruff shampoo (which, let’s face it, doesn’t work for everyone). Have a look in the kitchen instead and you’ll find that a stack of home remedies is already in your pantry cupboard. 1. Tea tree oil A lot of anti-dandruff treatments contain tea tree oil, and with good reason. This oil can help reduce the flaking and itchiness of dandruff, so just add a capful to your regular bottle of shampoo. 2. Aloe vera Not just for sunburn! Pure aloe vera gel from a plant or in a tube can be rubbed onto wet hair to relieve the itchy scalp that often accompanies dandruff. Then wash as normal. 3. Lemon juice Fresh lemon juice is a nice-smelling treatment for a sore scalp. Rub onto wet hair then allow to sit for a couple of minutes before washing out. Best to avoid this one if your skin is quite raw as the juice might sting. 4. Olive oil Just like the treatment for a baby’s cradle cap, olive oil can help sooth the scalp too. Wet your hair and warm the oil up a little bit first. Rub the oil in and wrap in a towel or shower cap. Leave for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse out with a mild shampoo. 5. Salt Yes, really. The grains of salt will help to act as a scrub to remove dry skin from your scalp. Apply a handful to wet hair and give it a good scrub with your fingertips before rinsing well. 6. Apple cider vinegar Not just for salad dressing, this vinegar is great at fixing up the pH balance of your hair, which can cause the itch. Simply mix 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar with the same amount of water. Pour onto your wet hair, rub in, and leave for 5 minutes to soak before rinsing well. 7. Mouth wash The alcohol in mouth wash is anti-fungal, meaning it will help reduce the fungus that causes dandruff in the first place. After shampooing with your everyday shampoo, towel dry your hair. Then mix 1/3 cup mouth wash with the same amount of water. Apply to your hair, rubbing in well. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse off. 8. Aspirin You may not have known this, but aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in many anti-dandruff shampoos. All you need to do is crush two aspirin in a bowl with the back of a spoon and add it to your normal amount of shampoo you use to wash your hair. Leave it to soak for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. 9. Baking soda Is there anything this stuff can’t do? Add a ¼ cup of baking soda to a cupful of warm water and mix well. Then rub into wet hair, scrub, and rinse off. 10. Coconut oil Another store cupboard staple with so many uses. This remedy not only smells good, it helps to put back the natural oils that your hair needs when suffering from dandruff. Rub the oil into your hands and then apply to damp hair. Try to leave it for at least half an hour before washing out. Do you have any other home remedies for getting rid of dandruff? Related Links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/tips-for-dealing-with-scalp-sensitivity-and-dandruff/">Tips for dealing with scalp sensitivity and dandruff</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/05/home-remedies-for-split-ends/">Home remedies for split ends</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/the-trick-to-washing-hair-more-effectively/">The trick to washing hair more effectively</a>

Beauty & Style

10 common foods that will never expire

Expiration dates can be so confusing these days, but with the foodstuffs in the list below you don’t need to worry. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a> has put together a list of 10 common foods that you can still use, even if you’ve had them sitting in your pantry since the 60s. The reason? They’re never going to go off. 1. Honey Even though it might change colour and become crystallised after a certain amount of time, honey stays safe to eat indefinitely, which just might put those bees out of business. 2. Rice Brown rice has a higher oil content which can make it go off, but as long as it’s kept in an airtight container any type of white rice from jasmine to basmati should keep fine. 3. White vinegar Don’t be afraid to buy bulk when it comes to white vinegar as it keeps fresh forever and is quite a useful ingredient when it comes to dressings and marinades. 4. Vanilla extract Pure vanilla extract will stay fresh, but this isn’t true for the imitation brands. So it’s worth forking out a little more for a bottle of vanilla extract that won’t expire. 5. Salt A bowl of hot chips would be lost without it, and the ever-important seasoning that is salt will stay fresh as the day you purchased it for years and years and years. 6. Sugar Sugar doesn’t spoil as it doesn’t support bacterial growth, but you have to be careful and store it in an airtight container to keep bugs and moisture out. 7. Hard liquor While some varieties of hard liquor might lose their aroma slightly over time, most types of hard liquor will stay good as long as you keep it in a cool, dark place. 8. Dried beans While the ones that have been sitting in your cupboard since the 60s will take a while to soften when cooked, beans actually don’t lose their nutritional value with age. 9. Instant coffee Keep instant coffee in the freezer and it will last forever, sealed or not. 10. Maple syrup A stack of pancakes wouldn’t be complete without this popular condiment, and just like instant coffee if you keep it frozen it would keep forever. Do you use any of these food on a common basis? Let us know in the comments. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/how-to-encourage-kids-to-love-cooking/">5 reasons why it’s important to let kids loose in the kitchen</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/bananas-under-threat-of-extinction/">Bananas under threat of extinction</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/08/tricks-for-the-perfect-roast-potato/">Heston Blumenthal’s 10 tricks for the perfect roast potato</a>

Home & Garden

5 household cleaners hiding in your pantry

We have forgotten that sometimes the simple answer to a cleaning dilemma is already in a cupboard. There are several reasons to love home-sourced cleaning products, not least because they are generally non-toxic, inexpensive, easy on the environment and on our bodies to boot. Vinegar No home-sourced cleaning kit would be complete without it. Vinegar, especially the white and apple cider varieties, is a home-cleaning all-rounder with uses in every room of the house. Our forebears used it to polish up their brass and pewter but more modern applications include removing ballpoint pen marks from painted walls, polishing up stainless steel, or even cleaning modern appliances like computers and printers (use a cloth only). A friend whose children suffer from eczema swears that ditching fabric softener in place of vinegar has offered her children some relief and has the added bonus of cleaning her machine on the way through. And no, the laundry didn't come out smelling like a jar of gherkins. Some hardcore vinegar aficionados say it can even be used to keep frosty car windows at bay. Toothpaste It's not only teeth that toothpaste can get sparkling clean. Toothpaste is just the thing for cleaning trainers and even diamonds. Yes, diamonds. Did you know that it's a great solution for removing that crayon artwork, or even scuff marks on your floor? Toothpaste, not the gel varieties, is mildly abrasive and so can be quite gentle on surfaces. In fact, carpet stains can also be treated with toothpaste, though it's a good idea to test a hidden patch first to make sure you don't have any unexpected, expensive-to-fix side effects. Baking soda Baking soda is just the thing for making Hokey Pokey and it's that crazy chemical reaction you get during the cooking process along with the fine gritty texture that earns it a place in our home-cleaning arsenal. A box of baking soda costs just a few dollars and, as with most things, the bigger the box, the smaller the cost per 100g. Baking soda has long been a friend in the laundry and you can still count on it to help your whites get whiter. But have you also got plastic containers that just refuse to let go of that tomato sauce orange stain? Well, baking soda to the rescue. Use it to freshen up plasticware, the fridge, sinks, bathroom surfaces and even carpets. Lemon juice When life gives you lemons, make a green cleaner. Lemon juice's usefulness lies primarily in the kitchen as it has both antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It acts as a good, environmentally-friendly alternative to bleach, as those of you who once used it to lighten your hair can testify. Try using it to freshen up your microwave by simply mixing juice and water together, and heating in the microwave until boiling. Let it stand inside for a few minutes to let the freshness permeate throughout. Alternatively, put a lemon down the waste disposal as both the oils and juice will help remove any stinky leftovers. Olive oil Like all of the other the items on this list, olive oil has too many non-food related functions to list. Of course, it can be used to clean ourselves as well as our home, but if you're looking for a nifty trick to help get your place spick and span, then feel secure knowing this oil can help you repair scratches in leather furniture, polish up wooden items when mixed with vinegar and even help remove grease from your hands when used along with salt. Believe it. Written by Colleen Simpson. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-sharpen-knife-with-mug/">Genius trick to sharpen knives without sharpener</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-keep-food-for-longer/">15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/dirty-home-items/">5 surprisingly dirty things in your house</a>

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Try these 10 dandruff remedies from your pantry

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5 household cleaners hiding in your pantry