No, those white spots on your dishes aren’t from your cleaning mishap. Getty Images Are residue on cleaned dishes, dry skin and hair, and color-fadedbath towelsraising your eyebrows? These unsightly indicators are enough to suspect that youre dealing with hard water in your home. Credit:Getty Images Knowing the signs of hard water is vitally important to keep your health in check and home functioning properly. DIY solutions are available to regulate the mineral content....

Its not always so simple. It’s not everyday that you find yourself discussing the nitty-gritty of hatetiquette. The History of Hat Etiquette For instance, hat etiquette is still widely upheld. Credit: CREDIT: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: RACHAEL BURROW; FLORAL DESIGN: JUNIPER AND JASMINE Etiquette stickler or not, it can be helpful to know the basics before breaking out the wide-brim. Firstly, manners around headwear go back many, many years. What Is Hat Etiquette for Men?...

Use the right method and watch your dishes sparkle. How to load the dishwasher properly is a longstanding argument in many households. Do the forks face up or down? Credit: Getty/Maren Winter / EyeEm Can the bowls overlap or should they never touch? Do you have to rinse every speck of food off your plates, or is a quick scrape enough? As dishwashers have evolved over the years, so too have the proper techniques for loading....

It can happen to the best of us. Heat 1. Fill the pot with water, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Credit: Getty Images Then, reduce the heat and keep at a low simmer until the mess loosens and floats away. Pour out the warm water, and hand wash the pan as usual to remove any remaining specks. This method works remarkably well, although it can take more than one treatment....

Your home should be an escape from the humidity. Thanks to these tricks, it can be. Those who havent spent a summer in the South dont know the true meaning of humidity. Credit:PaulMaguire/Getty When the humidity dares break into our homes, it’s equally important to be prepared. Maintain your home as a haven from summertime humidity with these 10 simple tricks and fixes. These genius contraptions help remove moisture from the air and can make a big difference incooling down the house....

With our tips, you will finally master that intimidating bow made from ribbon. Use longer or shorter pieces of ribbon to adjust the size of the bow. It’s easiest to form the first loop before cutting the ribbon from the spool. Credit:LAUREY W. GLENN The size and thickness of your loop will determine the size of your bow. Step 1: Create Bow Loops Start with a spool of ribbon of your choice....

However, Christmas cactus is in fact a true cactus, a member of the family Cactaceae. It grows naturally as an epiphyte or aerial plant, nestled in the crook of tree branches. Like other cacti, the Christmas cactus lacks leaves. Credit:Getty Images Its jointed stems are flattened and have a leaf-like appearance. Flowers buds arise from the growing tips of these stems. Christmas cacti are sensitive to changes in light and temperature....

This orange juice-Champagne cocktail is easy to make, and even easier to customize. What Are Mimosas Made Of? Mimosas are traditionally made from two ingredients: orange juice and sparkling wine. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Because this drink has so few ingredients, it’s a good idea to get good quality ingredients. In a pinch, of course, bottled orange juice will work. In the wise words of Ina Garten, Store bought is just fine....

Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a healthy helping of smooth, velvety, savory turkey gravy. We can provide that. Learn how to make this rich, savory turkey gravy. Credit:Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley The giblets infuse a lot of that classic turkey flavor, and they’re also rich in nutrients. What Are Drippings? Drippings are the leftover bits of fat that have melted away and fallen off the turkey as it cooks....

This handy trick turns a basic freezer bag into a piping bag for frosting, pastries, and more. This is when the trusty plastic bagand a pair of kitchen shearscomes in handy. Place the bag on the kitchen counter or flat work surface. Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox you’re free to also place the bag in a jar or cup with the corner pointing down. Working the bag into this shape will make it easier to apply the topping....

Frittatas often use the best seasonal ingredients. Very close to foolproof, it is not a very precise recipe that needs to be followed closely. Almost any leftover cooked vegetable can be used in the filling. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox What Is a Frittata? Frittata comes from the Italian word for fried, and its basically just an Italian-style omelet. Cooked in a skillet, it can be made with all kinds of fillings....

Those blue blooms just kept coming, clashing with her gloriousgolden euonymusand red plastic poinsettias. She didn’t need to adjust her attitude; she merely needed to adjust her soil. The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova What Makes Hydrangeas Blue Or Pink? Credit:The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova In strongly acid soil (pH below 6), flowers turn blue. In alkaline soil (pH above 7), flowers turn pink or even red. Keep in mind thatselections varyin their sensitivity to pH....

Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason I love my classic tanleathercouch. It’s easy to clean, comfortable, and an investment piece that centers the room. Here’s what you should know about the different types of leather used forcouchesand the steps for cleaning leather. Credit:Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason This should be done weekly and before deep cleaning the couch. Start at the top of the couch and wipe down each surface. Use a gentle circular motion to clean heavily soiled areas like arm and head rests....