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How to Clean a Dryer Vent and Remove Lint If you’ve ever taken clothes out of the dryer and found they were still damp, you might be dealing with lint buildup. Your dryer will run much more efficiently if air can flow easily. Removing lint, which is highly combustible, also reduces the risk of fire. Take these steps to help keep your dryer lint-free. What You Need BrushFabric softener sheetVacuum cleaner Vacuum crevice attachment (optional)Dryer vent cleaning kit...

“A dirty mattress can be a hub of bacteria, as mattresses can accumulate dust mites, bacteria, mold, dead skin, dirt, and different allergens over time,” notes Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional at Two Maids and a Mop. Michael Rubino, a cleaning expert and founder of HomeCleanse, adds that keeping your mattress clean not only improves your well-being and sleep quality, but it can even improve the lifespan of the mattress and promote better indoor air quality....

Surprising Hot Spots for Bacteria Office items such as keyboards and desks can be breeding grounds for bacteria, yet these frequently touched surfaces are rarely cleaned, according to a survey by job-search site Joblist. The average respondent reported cleaning their computer mouse and keyboard fewer than two times a month and their desk about three times a month. Nearly a quarter of the 1,000 respondents also admitted to going at least one entire workday without washing their hands in one month....

Learn how to keep your family safe with these simple steps which ensure your fruits and vegetables are as clean as possible before you enjoy them. RELATED: How Long You Can Store (Almost) Anything in the Fridge and Freezer RELATED: 10 Healthy Pantry Essentials You Should Always Have on Hand, According to RDs Consume food that is heated at hot temperatures to help destroy microorganisms and other viruses, opt for peelable fruits and vegetables (as long as you wash your hands before and after); ensure cooked food is not recontaminated and remains purified before consumption; and purchase packaged foods (packed, frozen, or dried) whenever....

How to Buy a Turkey The best way to shop for a turkey is to look for one that weighs between 12 and 14 pounds. Within this weight range, your turkey is big enough to feed about eight guests with a ton of leftovers. If you’re planning on cooking a larger bird for a bigger gathering, don’t go above 15 pounds. In this case, it’s better to roast two smaller birds, which will guarantee evenly cooked and succulent perfection all around....

So what, then, do we mean by a new surprising ingredient? We’re simply suggesting that you add the sodium in a different form—instead of kosher salt, try seasoning with a splash of soy sauce. By stirring it into the eggs before they hit the pan, the saltiness gets evenly dispersed and doesn’t run the risk of clumping up, like salt. Gluten-free egg-lovers can substitute tamari. We can’t take credit for this genius tip....

After you have your cut of choice, you only need a few ingredients to cook steak. While you can always add steak sauces, rubs, and wet or dry brine, this is your guide for a basic steak. (And if you’re ready to take things up a notch, you can always use a cast-iron skillet to make a pan-seared steak at home.) How to Cook Steak Take the steak out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature....

If you’re reading this and thinking, “yeah, right—my nonstick pan could only keep foods from sticking for the first week,” we know why. It’s called nonstick cooking spray, and it can wreak havoc on your nonstick cookware. Here’s why you should never use it and what you can do instead to protect your prized pots and pans. Don’t Use Cooking Spray Using cooking spray (PAM is the most popular) is a surefire way to ruin your skillet’s nonstick coating....

The History of the Chignon The origins of this simple yet sophisticated style can be traced back to ancient Greece; it was also popular during the Victorian era, and again during World War II. These days, it’s a staple look on the red carpet, but is also a style that can easily be recreated at home, and is amazingly versatile. “It’s a classic style that’s constantly evolving and modernizing,” says Leonardo Manetti, master stylist at Rob Peetoom Salon Williamsburg....

After that, conceal only where needed, paying special attention to under the eyes in the most hollow part of the eye socket. Use a light, but buildable concealer (bonus if it’s waterproof!) and press the formula into the skin for a more natural effect, advises Bartlett. Phillips’ hack is applying some shadow underneath your eyes: “Drop the undereye eyeshadow pretty low—it opens up your eyes like you wouldn’t believe!” Finish off with a touch of highlighter in your inner corners to reflect light....

Stop plucking This is a no-brainer, but if you’ve found yourself with sparse brows, it’s time to put down the tweezers and back away from the mirror. When trying to grow back your brows, avoid any products that might be inhibiting hair growth (or actually pulling out your hairs unintentionally). Avoid brow products with drying alcohol or heavy waxes that could be “suffocating the brow or drying them out,” says Azi Sacks, a brow artist based in New York City....

How to Prepare For a Power Outage If you live in an area where power outages are common, invest in an appliance thermometer that can let you know what the temperature is in your fridge at any time. A working refrigerator should be at 40 degrees or below, as bacteria can grow at any degree above this safe temp, called the “danger zone.” Any typically refrigerated food that’s been in the danger zone for a few hours risks being contaminated with a foodborne illness....

What You Need Wrapped giftCurling ribbonTapeScissors Follow These Steps 1. Measure out the length and cut the ribbon. Use curling ribbon—the serrated type found in card shops, craft stores, and some supermarkets. To measure out the amount of ribbon you need, loosely wrap ribbon around the box about six times. Cut the ribbon, then gently slide it off the box, holding it looped together like a lasso. 2. Tie a knot in center of the lasso....

Step One: Soak the Beans Dried beans are very hard, so soaking allows them to rehydrate and soften. For 10-12 side dish servings, rinse 1 pound (about 2¼ to 2½ cups) dried navy beans or Great Northern beans in a colander (Cook Pro Stainless Steel Colander, $15, Walmart) under cool running water. Be sure to sort through the beans to remove any debris. In a large Dutch oven combine the beans and 8 cups water....

What Is Black Garlic? Black garlic is garlic that’s been kept in a consistently warm and humid environment over a long period of time. This results in dark, rich, jelly-like cloves that are capable of adding a serious punch of umami to any dish. Undergoing the Maillard reaction—a chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that results in the browning of a food—garlic transforms from a pungent, spicy allium to a mild, sweet, tangy ingredient similar to balsamic vinegar or tamarind....

Reader question: My lashes are ruined from years of lash extensions. How can I make my lashes grow faster? - Laura Irene If you weren’t inherently blessed by the eyelash gods, maintaining long lashes can feel like a perpetually uphill battle. Sure, you can resort to eyelash extensions or falsies, but that only increases the chance of your actual lashes snapping off, not to mention the ensuing dryness that contributes to more breakage....

PS: Whenever we hear the words “long-simmering,” our slow cooker comes to mind! This recipe shows you how to make pho using this appliance. That way, you get out of spending all day watching the pot. Step 1: Gather Your Pho Ingredients The first step in learning how to make pho is figuring out where you can buy the ingredients, including the vegetables, fresh herbs, rice noodles, sauces for pho, and pho spices....

How to Cook Roast Beef Before we get into the roasting times and tools needed when learning how to cook roast beef in the oven, it’s important to choose a tender cut that will benefit from this slow and dry form of cooking. Step 1: Choose Your Roast There are many cuts of beef that work well for roasting—most have the word “roast” right in their name. When purchasing, look for meat that has good color and appears moist but not wet....

How to Make a Cake Moist There are many steps in the cake-baking process where things can go awry. Follow these three simple guidelines for a moist cake. 1. Use Ingredients Called For and Measure Carefully What makes a cake moist? Precision, for one. Baking requires using exactly the ingredients called for. For example, some cakes use milk, buttermilk (or an acceptable substitute), or sour cream for liquid. These ingredients are not interchangeable....

One particular video—#tortillawrap—went viral for an excellent reason. It’s genius! The tortilla is cleverly separated into four quadrants, each containing its own ingredient. These range from traditional additions like shredded cheese, guacamole, and black beans to scrambled eggs, ramen noodles, hamburger patties, and sweet renditions with Nutella (because, TikTok). The idea is simple: Instead of layering all your ingredients in one big pile atop a tortilla, put each one in its own quadrant....