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Soft-Surface Odors in Every Room Soft surfaces trap more than dirt—they can trap odor-causing bacteria. Machine-washable items like towels, bathmats, shower curtains, and slipcovers can be cleaned with a heavy-duty, enzyme-based detergent to remove odor-causing soil. But what about things that can’t go in the washer? There are still ways to clean and freshen them: 1. Carpet Treat stains immediately and vacuum your carpet at least weekly. Between thorough steam cleanings, sprinkle the carpet with a thick layer of dry baking soda and use a soft-bristled brush to work it down into the fibers....

Maybe you’re the type to use a computer until it’s too slow to operate, then you run out and buy a new one. (It’s just a computer, right?) You may think it’s easier, or even cheaper, to let the experts handle any problems that arise, or you might not think it’s worth the effort to maintain your computer, but the illusion of convenience isn’t worth the cost, especially when a little prevention can forestall all kinds of issues....

Homemade Cranberry Sauce How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in the fridge? It depends on how you stored it. When properly stored in the fridge—in a covered glass or plastic container—homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 10 to 14 days. When properly stored in the freezer—in a covered, airtight container or freezer-safe bag—it will stay fresh-tasting for about one month. And it will still be safe to eat (though less fresh-tasting) for up to a year beyond that....

Should you tip for food delivery? You should absolutely tip food delivery drivers (or couriers or bikers, in certain cities), whether they’re delivering pizza or hot food through a third-party delivery app. While pizza delivery drivers do receive minimum wage, employees whose job it is to drive their personal vehicles to your home—people working for Uber Eats, GrubHub, Seamless, or another food delivery service—with a hot meal are also depending on that little extra money....

After taking a trip to my local fish market, Harvest Moon Market in Clifton Park, N.Y., I chatted with the head fishmonger, Doug Freeman, to learn more about what goes into buying the best possible fish and seafood. It’s imperative to understand where the fish comes from, how it was sourced and packaged, and when it was delivered to the shop. Here are some tips for buying fish at your local fishmonger or grocery store, as well as what to avoid....

What You’ll Need: Baking sodaClean clothsDistilled waterCotton swab White vinegar Spare cloth How to Clean an Iron Prevent Mineral Deposits To avoid mineral buildups in the first place, consider steam-ironing with distilled water, which doesn’t contain minerals. If using tap water, pour out any excess water left in the reservoir when you’re done ironing so the mineral deposits don’t have a chance to form.

How to clean cloth face masks Both hand washing and machine washing are suitable for cleaning cloth face masks, per CDC guidelines. If you machine wash, Whiting recommends putting your cloth mask in a mesh washing bag ($15; amazon.com) first to protect it from snagging in the machine. You can include your face covering with your next laundry load, and use regular laundry detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the face covering....

The main ingredient is the mango, of course. If yours isn’t ripe, this simple guide showing how to ripen a mango will fix that problem. Next gather a sharp knife, a peeler, and a cutting board. As with learning how to cut an avocado, learning to cut a mango requires managing a thick, inedible pit, so you want a good knife that is easy to maneuver. Fortunately, mangos have thinner skins than avocados, so peel them with a vegetable or Y-shaped peeler instead of scooping the fruit out from the skin....

For every method, start with a hoodie or sweatshirt fully zipped up, on a flat surface, with the back of the sweatshirt facing up. Hoodie Folding Method #1: Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method Marie Kondo has turned folding into an art form—and her method for creating neat bundles of clothes allows you to pop them in your drawer vertically. Hoodie Folding Method #2: The Gap Method This hoodie sweatshirt folding technique gives you a nicely squared off hoodie that’ll fit beautifully on a shelf or in a drawer....

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In a way, the work you put in acts as a seasoning. A tomato picked within a few dozen feet of your kitchen will be supremely fresh, yes, but the care you put into nurturing those summer fruits will add flavor, too. (Seriously, what’s better than biting into a perfectly ripe tomato and having juices and seeds run down your chin?) But as rewarding as they can be, figuring out how to grow tomatoes can still be tricky business....