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13 clever house-cleaning hacks from professional cleaners

Don't forget the doormat Doormats are your best friend when it comes to trapping dirt, so make sure you have two – one outside the house and one inside. This tip is especially helpful when there’s a lot of rain and you have wet, muddy shoes going in and out of the house. Just be sure to clean the mats regularly as dirty mats contribute to the mess. Combine tasks Kill two birds with one stone by doing similar cleaning tasks at the same time. “Clean your baseboards when you are vacuuming or washing floors, clean blinds when you are cleaning windows, etc,” suggests Becky Rapinchuk, owner of <a href="https://www.cleanmama.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CleanMama.net.</a> Skip the bucket Sometimes moving around the mop bucket only makes more of a mess thanks to the dirty water splashing around. Leslie Reichert, founder of The Green Cleaning Coach and author of The Joy Of Green Cleaning, has a bucket-less mopping technique that works wonders: a spray bottle filled with diluted cleaning solution and a microfibre mop. Or choose a mop that allows you to fill the base with water and a little floor cleaner and spray from the handle as you go. Stock up on products No, a bathroom tile cleaner shouldn’t be used to wipe down your mirrors. “The right products that actually clean go a long way to getting the job done more effectively and efficiently for you,” says McGee. Buy a soap dispenser dish brush According to Dana White, founder of <a href="https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Slob Comes Clean</a>, you can use a soap dispenser dish brush in your shower. “Mark it for the bathroom only with a permanent marker, and fill it with your favorite dish soap,” she says. “Hang it in the shower, and you can scrub the shower while you’re in it anyway. Dish soap does a great job cleaning the bathroom!” Vacuum the right way Rapinchuk recommends first vacuuming a room horizontally and then vertically to get all of the trapped dirt. Most cleaning experts agree that vacuuming slowly is also very important to ensure that vacuum picks up all the dirt particles. Define "clean" Everyone has a different idea of what “clean” actually means. Some think a sparkling floor is clean, while others are happy with just doing a load of laundry. Beth McGee, author of Get Your House Clean Now: The Home Cleaning Method Anyone Can Master, suggests asking yourself questions like how much stuff do I have and what type of home do I have to determine what clean and organised really means to you. A pillowcase can be a cleaner Obviously, you don’t want to use the pillowcase you sleep on every night, but using a pillowcase to clean your ceiling fans is a hack that you need to try ASAP. “The pillowcase holds the dust so it doesn’t fall on a table or bed,” says Reichert. “A very clean way to dust a fan.” Create a cleaning plan We all have those random cleaning bursts, but having a plan beforehand will make your cleaning process smoother. “Cleaning is really like a dance. You start high, work down and around, and carefully observe anything that needs attention,” says McGee. “As you move around, wipe light switches, door frames, baseboards, walls, working in a circle around a room and not back and forth from one thing across the room to another. Don’t get distracted, keep a smooth motion around your home.” Use your dishwasher Dishwashers are for so much more than just washing dishes. Reichert recommends using yours to dust off knickknacks like jars, toys and glass candle globes. Pretty much anything glass or ceramic should be fine going in the dishwasher, but you do want to stay away from putting meltable plastics. DIY cleaning solutions Want to know the secret to streak-free mirrors and windows? Well, it’s an easy at-home solution you can make yourself. According to Rapinchuk, all you need is: <ul> <li>1 1/2 cups water</li> <li>1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar</li> <li>1 1/2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol</li> <li>3 drops peppermint essential oil</li> </ul> Place in a spray bottle, and away you go. Clean the toilet daily If you swish your toilet every day with your cleaning brush, you’ll keep it relatively clean without a ton of hard labour. Use the water already in the toilet to swish the entire toilet bowl. Your bathroom probably gets dirtiest the fastest and is the hardest to clean. Skip the polish Of course, you need to polish your wooden furniture and hardwood floors every once in a while (once or twice a year, or when they begin to look foggy), but all you really need to keep them shiny is a dry microfibre cloth. “Your furniture will actually get less dusty without using furniture polish,” says Reichert. Prioritise “[Start] with scrubbing areas such as kitchens and baths, then moving on to de-cluttering, dusting, bedding, and finally floors,” McGee advises. “Look at your home carefully to determine what needs most attention to bring it to your idea of clean.” Speed clean Maybe you just found out your in-laws are coming over and you need to quickly tidy up the place – knowing how to speed clean will be your saviour. Make sure you hit the places that are most visible first like kitchen countertops and the bathroom. You can skimp on things like the top of the fridge and behind the coffee maker. Purchase a paintbrush Reichert uses a stiff paintbrush around her furniture to pull the dirt out without having to move all the furniture around. “You are brushing it out away from the furniture so the vacuum can suck it up,” she says. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/home-tips/clever-house-cleaning-hacks-professionals-swear?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Professional cleaner shares her holy grail products

A professional cleaner has shared her holy grail products, revealing what she would never use to clean with and what she would use for alternatives. The 22-year-old cleaner and business owner hit the cleaning aisle of her local supermarket to suggest swapping out some popular products for “better results” and to make cleaning “simple, cost effective and less toxic”. She would never use products like Ajax Spray N' Wipe, Windex glass cleaner, Easy Off soap scum remover and White King two-in-one mould and soap scum remover. The cleaner, who owns <a href="https://www.spotoncleaningsydney.com/">Spot On Cleaning Sydney</a>, first suggested swapping Ajax Spray N' Wipe for Morning Fresh washing up liquid mixed with water. She said that mixing a small amount of dishwashing liquid with water would produce better results on commonly used surfaces. She also said the solution works better than Windex to get glass surfaces sparkling without the need to buy different products. Her next tip was to swap Easy Off soap scum spray for Bar Keepers Friend, which is a 'better alternative for built up soap scum and water stains'. The woman also recommended swapping out White King two-in-one mould and soap scum spray for Selleys rapid mould killer for better, longer lasting results. Her followers were thrilled with the cleaning hacks, with one person calling her a “life saver” after following her cleaning tips. Another follower said, 'Yes! Dishwashing liquid is literally so great for cleaning so many things. Surface cleaners only leave residue when not wiped off after spraying.” Despite the flood of praise, others were concerned that using dishwashing liquid won’t have the same germ-fighting results as sprays. “But dish liquid won't kill surface germs like surface spray?” one woman asked. However the cleaner assures her it “absolutely” will, “after all it is designed to clean dishes and kill bacteria,” she wrote. Image credits: TikTok

Home & Garden

11 home improvement projects you can do yourself instead of hiring a professional

There's no better time to DIY There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a job well done – and these DIY projects will boost your handyman status. They are simple enough to do on your own without spending a lot of cash on tools and supplies. Fasten that tool belt and get started! General painting “Some DIY projects can be done by homeowners with a small investment in the right tools and a little patience. Painting is a great way to give your home a face lift, and it’s not difficult if you do some research and take your time,” says Newell Slade, general contractor. No one wants to paint a room twice, so paint like the pros and buy high quality rollers and paint and choose a paint that has a primer already in it to save time and money. “Painting can be fun and relaxing if you just let yourself take the time to do it right.” Patch and prime There’s plenty of thrifty painting tricks you can use, starting with prepping the wall for optimal coverage. You need a smooth surface for the walls to be blemish free. Even larger holes can easily be repaired with wall patch kits found at home improvement stores. The steps are quite simple and will give your new painted walls a beautiful, smooth finish. “Using a spackle knife, fill in each hole with lightweight putty and scrape the excess off the walls. Wait for the putty to dry and sand down the spot until it’s smooth. Then, prime and paint the repaired spots,” says J.B. Sassano, president of a home improvement franchise. Peel-and-stick floor Looking for an inexpensive home improvement that will make a big impact? It doesn’t get much easier than peel-and-stick flooring. “This specific tile is easier to work with and prevents adhesive from oozing through the cracks between the tiles. It can even be installed over concrete if the concrete is clean, smooth and dry,” says Monica Mangin, host of DIY series, The Weekender. If you’re feeling creative, it’s easy to create bold patterns or borders with different using a variety of patterns and colours. Peel-and-stick panels Panelled rooms are making a comeback. This time around, the trend is usually horizontal and installation doesn’t require a hammer and nails, even though the panels are made from wood. “Creating a wood accent wall offers a great way to add personality and texture to your space. You can customise your look by playing with thickness and pre-stained colours,” says Mangin. “Mixing and matching the colours and styles will provide an eye-catching piece that pop.” Penny tile A tired and worn splashback can be replaced in a day. “Penny tile is a really affordable option, especially when it comes in white, which is one of the more standard colours,” says Mangin. But you don’t necessarily have to buy more tiles to get the colours you want. Mangin says you can customise this DIY home improvement by using enamel paints to colour individual tiles and bake them in the oven to fully cure. “After the white sheets are up on the wall, decide which tiles you want to pop out and then just pop in your DIY coloured tile,” says Mangin. Plus, these tiles don’t require a tile cutter, just a utility knife to cut the mesh sheets to fit the area. Fences It’s been said that fences make good neighbours, but the price shock of hiring a pro seems worse than the dog next door who likes to do his business in your yard every morning. Whether you want privacy or need to replace a worn-out fence, it’s a project that Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal says you can do if you remember to do two important things: get a survey done to identify the correct property lines, and mark for pipes if you have underground sprinklers. However, there are certain fences that are friendlier for a DIY home improvement. “Based on my experience the easier types of fencing to install are the black aluminium-based products made to look like wrought iron,” says Clayton. “However, for fencing styles such as chain link and solid vinyl panels, I would not recommend doing it yourself – there’s quite a bit of a learning curve associated with getting them just right.” A lasting first impression A faded, outdated, or squeaky door doesn’t make a good first impression and it may not provide much in the line of security or keeping out drafts. Luckily you can create a more welcoming entrance by replacing your old door with a new one. Exterior doors are available pre-hung in a weatherstripped frame so all you need are a few tools and basic carpentry tools to install it. Depending on your budget, you can choose from steel doors which require little maintenance, or fibreglass doors that require almost none. Going with steel or fibreglass can save you money over wood, and they won’t rot or warp; the more expensive ones look just like real wood. Window screen Using packing tape may be a quick remedy for a hole or tear in the screen, but it’s not a permanent fix. Small patch kits are sold at home improvement stores and a small hole can easily be repaired in just a few minutes with the patch and a hair dryer. Larger screen tears, like from your dog’s excitement over an online delivery, can be a DIY project too, as long as the frame is in good shape. The most popular replacement material for screens is fibreglass because of its flexibility. Since you’re replacing the screen anyway you may want to get the sun-shading fabric which blocks more sun and – bonus – is stronger than fibreglass and aluminium so it’s great for pets. Light fixtures and plumbing fixtures “As long as you familiarise yourself with the basics of proper safety procedures such as turning off electricity and water when working, these are DIY home improvements worth doing,” says Brian C. McHugh, owner of McHugh Construction. For lighting, the key is knowing how much space you have to house a new light fixture. For example, ceiling fans come in various blade sizes to suit the size of your room. If you’re replacing a bathroom tap, you’ll want to buy a tap that matches the existing holes in the sink. If you don’t feel confident in your DIY skills, though, it’s better to just do the choosing yourself and leave the installation to the professionals. Caulk it up Inspecting and repairing caulk is a project you should do yearly, according to Sassano. “Using caulk to seal cracks and gaps serves multiple purposes: It lowers heating and air conditioning bills by reducing air flow into and out of the home; it prevents moisture that can cause wood rot, mould, mildew and water damage, and it keeps insects and other pests out,” he says. The project will determine which type of caulk. For example, silicone is best for the bathtub and shower area. Start by removing the old caulk, cleaning the surface, and then apply new caulk. Caulk removal tools and solutions make the project even easier. Landscaping Creating a backyard oasis can be a great way to express your creativity. A raised garden bed, adding new paver stones, or creating a perennial flower garden involves more sweat equity than expertise. You can still get some help for the heavy lifting. “Ask your local landscape supply to deliver your materials instead of renting trucks or equipment,” says McHugh. “The tools for most jobs such as shovels, rakes and a wheelbarrow are things you probably already have in your garage.” Written by Lisa Marie Conklin. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/diy-projects/11-home-improvement-projects-you-can-do-yourself-instead-of-hiring-a-professional" target="_blank" rel="noopener">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=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

20 things professional organisers would never do in their own homes

Never doing these things means less mess Clutter-busting habits make all the difference between a messy home and a tidy one. So the first thing a professional organiser does is find a place for every single thing – then keep it there. This doesn’t mean purchasing sets of matching bins or decanting all your pantry foods into clear glass containers with hand-printed labels. Rule of thumb, if an organisational system (like decanting) actually increases the time and effort you’ll have to spend keeping things tidy, ditch it. They don’t always alphabetise Instead of assuming you must always alphabetise for easy access, try storing things by frequency of use. For example, those nesting mixing bowls that you frequently reach for should be kept on a low shelf and that crystal vase that you break out every Valentine’s Day should go higher up. This goes for smaller things like spices, too. “I never alphabetise my spices, because I don’t use allspice as often as I use thyme,” explains workplace productivity expert Susie Hayman. They don’t mix dissimilar things Speaking of spices, Vicki Norris, organising expert and “life reclaimist” of Restoring Order tells us she never co-mingles sweet and savoury spices on the same shelf. Why? Because “on a bleary-eyed morning, no one wants to accidentally put chilli powder in their oatmeal instead of cinnamon!” They don’t hang onto donations To avoid letting unused things pile up, Tamah Vega of Tamah Vega Design has a rule we can all get on board with, “Never go without a donation bag in the house ready for items you no longer need.” This way the minute you decide you’re ready to donate the item, you can have it ready to go. They don’t leave computer files unnamed After downloading a file, Andrew Mellen, author of Unstuff Your Life! immediately renames it and saves it in the appropriate folder. This way you avoid wasting time trying to remember its name or where to look for it next time you need it. <div class="slide-image" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> They don’t let the mail pile up “I deal with it all as soon as I get it,” explains Jessica Dolan, owner of Room to Breathe. She sorts, tosses and shreds junk mail, then immediately deals with whatever remains. Better yet, eliminate junk mail before it even gets to you. They don't forget to run errands Move items – like those books to return to the library or returns you are taking back to the store – from house to your car trunk immediately, shares Amy Trager, certified professional organiser. “If they’re already in my car, I’m more likely to get them taken care of,” she says. Keep car clutter to a minimum too and you’ll always have room to store. They don't keep the old version Once you have made a decision to replace an item, let the original go, suggests Birdie with Birdie Brennan Custom Closets & Organising. Her rule, “never keep something that you have replaced.” That’s especially true for tech items you’ve upgraded – learn how to recycle or donate your outdated devices. They don't bunch up bags Instead of storing reusable bags in the house, Sheryl Hadley, president of Organisation & Relocation, puts them right back in her car after every use. This way you won’t forget them when you go to the store and you won’t have a messy pile of bags cluttering up your house. Win win. They don't unload handbags halfway When you switch handbags, empty the current one out completely, Vega advises. Otherwise, you might lose track of your favourite lipstick – or that licence or credit card that never made it back into your wallet. They don't use their chair as a closet “I never leave clothes lying or draped on the floor, chair, bed or treadmill,” says Betsy Fein, president of Clutterbusters. They can get wrinkled, coated in pet hair, or simply forgotten about when not stored properly. If you need space to hang gently used clothes for another wearing, try installing a few hooks on the back of your closet door. They don't clutter the bedside table Keep your bedroom clutter-free for a good night’s sleep. “I never clutter a nightstand because it’s next to where I sleep, and I need peaceful surroundings to get the best night’s rest,” says Ellen Delap, a certified professional organiser. They don't shop for organising products first When you’re preparing to organise an area of your home, don’t make buying organising products the first thing you do, says professional organiser Jodi Granok. Shop for an organising solution only after you’ve edited down and know how many and what size containers you need – or whether you already have one you can re-use. They don't just buy more containers “Never purchase a new organising bin just because the current one is full,” says Colleen Ashe, certified professional organiser. Make space in the current container by paring down what’s inside. They don't overcrowd One thing most of us don’t need help with is acquiring more stuff, so leave room for that eventuality. “Leave some room to grow in your cabinets, bins, drawers and shelves,” suggests Granok. Otherwise, you’ll outgrow your storage containers, find yourself storing stuff in random spots, and you’ll never be able to find things when you need them. They don't forget to plan for storage “I never buy anything unless I know where it’s going to live in my home,” says Standolyn Robertson, certified professional organiser and owner of Things in Place. This goes for everything from that new juicer you want to that item of clothing you’ve been eyeing. This rule of thumb will help you “buy one, let go of one” and avoid the problem of having something new and nowhere to store it. They don't forget to label “Never put unlabelled cables in a drawer or box,” says Sharon Lowenheim, a certified professional organiser. You’ll have no idea what devices they belong to when you come across them later. They don't make a mess in the pantry If you buy in bulk, take the individual items out of the giant bag. “Never leave bulk items, such as protein bars and snack foods, in large packages,” advises Laura Leist, author of Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organise Your Home & Life. She places often-used items into bins in the pantry for easy access. They don't let the dishes linger One sure way to get your day off to a bad start is to wake up to a pile of dirty dishes in the morning, says Gayle Goddard, certified professional organiser. Deal with the dishes before you go to bed, because “a spotless sink sets the tone for your house – and your day,” she says. They don't keep out of date things Don’t keep things that are past their prime; it could be unsafe to use them. This includes expired food, expired home goods, like batteries, and expired personal care items, says John Trosko, founder of OrganizingLA. This goes for expired medications, too. They don't skip the dividers Never toss things in a drawer without dividers. “By using dividers you’ll know what and how many you have,” says Kathi Burns, certified professional organiser of Add Space To Your Life. “This also saves you from going overboard buying excess items you already own but cannot find.” The dividers don’t have to be fancy – upcycled shoe boxes will do the trick. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/20-things-professional-organisers-would-never-do-in-their-own-homes?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </div>

Home & Garden

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

Ash Barty has announced a completely new career change after retiring from professional tennis. The former World No.1 <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/ash-barty-announces-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced her retirement</a> in a video interview on Instagram on March 23, thanking those who supported her along the way. After announcing that she will be <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/ash-barty-reveals-surprise-career-move" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing a book series</a> titled Little Ash as well as a memoir to be released later in the year, Ash revealed she will head to the US to play professional golf. The 25-year-old will head over to the US to play in the Icons Series which will take place at the Liberty National course in New Jersey. Ash has already been spoken highly of by Icons Series chief executive Thomas Brookes. “She’s absolutely terrific,” he told <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/what-ash-did-next-barty-to-play-in-global-golf-tournament-20220418-p5aeaa.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1650323600-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fairfax</a>. “She did a range session with Ian Poulter, who is one of our future captains in September when she was at the US Open, and she had not hit a golf ball for a while. Ian said, ‘just hit a few balls and we’ll see how you go’. “She hit this ball, I don’t know how far. And he turned around and said, ‘you’re having me on. Let’s just take it a bit deeper. Can you do me a high fade?’ And she did a high fade. Then he said, ‘can you do me a low draw?’ And she did a low draw. “He said, ‘oh my goodness, you are something else’. She’s got those skill sets within her locker. With a bit of practice she can get lower than a three or four handicap. I know she’s really, really excited to be playing in New York and she’s also really keen to bring the concept to Australia.” Ash will be captained by Ernie Els and will play in the inaugural nine-hole team match alongside boxer Carnelo Alvarez, Manchester City soccer manager Pep Guardiola and Tottenham striker Harry Kane. “I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world,” Ash said. She hopes all Aussie fans in New York and New Jersey will come out and cheer her and her teammates on. Image: Instagram

News

Professional baby namer opens up about her unique career

A professional baby namer has opened up about her unique career, and how her clients pay up to $30,000 to find them the perfect baby names. Taylor A. Humphrey, aged 33 from New York, is the founder of 'What's in a Baby Name,' a boutique consultancy that offers everything from name lists based on parents’ answers to a questionnaire to a full-service baby naming concierge. Her services start at $1,500 for a bespoke list of options and can cost thousands more, depending on the job. For the price of $10,000, she will come up with a name that 'will be on-brand with a parent's business’. Humphrey, who doesn't have children of her own but also works as a doula, is willing to go to great lengths to help parents find the ideal name, including a genealogical investigation to find old family names. She has helped name more than 100 children last year, and part of her job is counselling parents through the process. The consultant offered a glimpse into how she finds new names, saying she scans everything from film credits to street signs for inspiration. She also follows trends using the Social Security database and notes the names that are in a sharp decline due to negative associations to things like natural disasters and certain brands. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsinababynamedoula/video/6989773817275059461" data-video-id="6989773817275059461"> <section><a title="@whatsinababynamedoula" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsinababynamedoula" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@whatsinababynamedoula</a> Reply to @sastheobald 16 NYC-Inspired Baby Names! Comment Your Favorites below! <a title="babynames" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynames" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynames</a> <a title="babynameconsultant" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynameconsultant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynameconsultant</a> <a title="babynamer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/babynamer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#babynamer</a> <a title="professionalbabynamer" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/professionalbabynamer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#professionalbabynamer</a> <a title="name" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#name</a> <a title="♬ New York New York (Instrumental) - Jack Ontario Soundorchestra" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/New-York-New-York-Instrumental-6969398451083675649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ New York New York (Instrumental) - Jack Ontario Soundorchestra</a></section> </blockquote> The baby naming expert, who graduated from New York University, had tried other careers, including screenwriting, before she found her calling. 'The most exciting part of that entire venture was picking out the names of the characters,' she recalled. She fell into the baby naming business in 2015 when she launched her Instagram handle @whatsinababyname. She explained that she would share her favourite baby names and the numerology behind them. 'People were messaging me and asking me what they should name their babies,' she said. 'I think there was something about seeing the lists and people would see their names and they would think that I could help them find names for their children that could go with the ones of the other kids they had.' Humphrey said she was 'so flattered' at the time that she was 'giving out the advice for free.' It wasn't until she started studying to be a doula in 2018 that she realized she could turn the demand for her naming services into a niche business. She admitted there was some trial and error and 'a bit of ego involved' when she first started the business. Humphrey's personal services don't come cheap, but she has more than 46,700 followers on TikTok, where she gives baby naming advice for free. In one video, she responded to a follower who asked for a boy's name to go with Connor, suggesting Brady, Cooper, Foster, Greyson, and Lucas. Humphrey also gets plenty of questions from viewers who can't believe she names babies for a living. 'Believe it or not, this is my full-time job,' she said. Images: TikTok

Family & Pets

We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now

While southern Australia experienced a wet winter and a soggy spring, northern Australia has seen the opposite. Extreme fire weather in October and November led to bushfires across <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">120,000 square kilometres</a> of southern savanna regions. Significant fires continue to burn in the Kimberley, the Top End, Cape York and the northern deserts. And while recent rain across the central deserts has reduced the current fire risk, it will significantly increase fuel loads which creates the potential for large wildfires in summer. We are professional fire watchers. The lead author of this article, Rohan Fisher, <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">maps and monitors</a> fires across the tropical savannas and rangelands that comprise 70% of the Australian continent. The scale of burning we’re now seeing astounds us – almost as much as the lack of interest they generate. This continent’s fire ecology is poorly understood by most Australians, despite recent significant bushfire events close to big cities. But as we enter the Pyrocene age under worsening climate change, good fire knowledge is vitally important. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435758/original/file-20211206-15-1szo1gh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man and child walk on burnt landscape" /> On the Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia, a Kandiwal man and his child walk through country burnt by traditional fires. Such ancient methods must be expanded to help Australia survive the Pyrocene. Philip Schubert/Shutterstock <h2>In the desert, fire and water are linked</h2> Fires in arid Australia are extensive, largely unmanaged, often destructive and significantly under-reported. Improving their management involvement is crucial to both Traditional Owners and the ecological health of our continent. To improve pyro-literacy, we developed a <a href="https://savannafiremapping.com/nafi-mobile-app/">mobile app</a> to map fires across most of Australia in real-time. This year, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/extreme-heatwave-to-hit-kimberley-and-the-pilbara/100658568">Western Australia</a> and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-19/nt-heatwave-conditions-peak-record-temperatures-bom/100549312">Northern Territory</a> experienced serious heatwaves late in the year and a late start to the wet season. This provided the perfect bushfire conditions. In contrast, central Australia has experienced rare flooding rains, including at Alice Springs which recorded the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/alice-springs-wettest-november-on-record/100616212">wettest November</a> on record. This creates dangerous fuel loads heading into summer. In the desert, water and fire is coupled in both space and time. Fire burns where water flows, because that’s where fuel – in the form of vegetation – is heaviest. The below satellite image from the Pilbara illustrates this point. It shows the path of an arid-zone fire flowing like water along dry creeks and drainage lines. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434382/original/file-20211129-15-q3vm4s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> Arid-zone fire travelling along dry creeks and drainage lines. Where country is not managed for fire, it can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The incidence of previous fire also influences fire spread. Without the regular application of fire, large tracts of desert can accumulate heavy fuel loads, primed for ignition. Over a few months in 2011, our data show more than 400,000 square kilometres in central Australia burned – almost twice the size of Victoria. It was one of the <a href="https://austrangesoc.com.au/range-management-newsletter-12-2/#article_166">largest</a> single fire events in recent Australian history and coincided with the wet La Nina period in 2010-12. Watching from satellites in space, we mapped the spread of the fires in near-real time, as this video shows: <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yJJPm0cUTJ4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> A hot spot animation of the 2011 fire season in central Australia. <h2>Fire management through time</h2> For many thousands of years, Australia’s Indigenous people have skilfully burned landscapes to manage country. <a href="https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning">Most fires</a> are relatively low-intensity or “cool” and do not burn large areas. This results in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-you-have-unfinished-business-its-time-to-let-our-fire-people-care-for-this-land-135196">fine-scale mosaic</a> of different vegetation types and fuel ages, reducing the chance of large fires. Researchers have <a href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20063159465">looked back in time</a> to provide insight into fire management as it once was. This was done using aerial photography taken in the 1940s and 1950s in preparation for missile testing at Woomera in South Australia. The below aerial photo from 1953 reveals a complex mosaic of burn patterns and burn ages – a result of fine-scale land management by Traditional Owners. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434607/original/file-20211130-18-1x8y4pf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> A 1953 aerial photo of the Western Desert showing a complex fine scale fire mosaic resulting from Indigenous burning. But following the displacement of Indigenous people and the decline of traditional burning practices, fire regimes changed dramatically. The average fire size today is many orders of magnitude <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Burbidge/publication/284776990_Evidence_of_altered_fire_regimes_in_the_Western_Desert_regime_of_Australia/links/565bca3508aeafc2aac62299/Evidence-of-altered-fire-regimes-in-the-Western-Desert-regime-of-Australia.pdf">greater</a> than those set under Aboriginal management. The change has been <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/wr05032">implicated</a> in the decline and extinction of some mammals and plant species. One massive and fast-moving October fire in the Tanami desert – home to endangered bilbies – burned nearly 7,000 square kilometres over a few days, our data show. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434379/original/file-20211129-25-ilvsxy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The massive and fast-moving Tanami desert fire burnt nearly 7,000 km2 over a few days. <h2>Back to desert burning</h2> Like everywhere on this continent, fire in our vast deserts must be well-managed. Getting people back on desert country to reintroduce complex fire mosaics is difficult work but will have <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/wf20057">significant</a> benefits for both nature and Indigenous people. Challenges include building capacity amongst ranger groups and communities, overcoming legal and insurance hurdles and employing novel techniques to apply “cool” fires at a near-continental scale. The role of Indigenous ranger groups is critical here. Organisations such as <a href="https://10deserts.org/">10 Deserts</a> – a partnership between Indigenous and conservation organisations – are supporting desert fire work. <a href="https://10deserts.org/committee/peter_murray/">Peter Murray</a> is chair of the 10 Deserts project and a Ngurrara Traditional Owner from the Great Sandy Desert. On the importance of this work, he says: <blockquote> Right now, we’re working on Indigenous “right way” cultural burning as a means of preventing wildfires. We’re developing dedicated male and female ranger teams to look after the land and develop tourism. And we’re encouraging traditional owners to return to the desert to share and exchange knowledge as well as collecting and storing that knowledge to pass onto younger generations. </blockquote> <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434611/original/file-20211130-27-1i2yotw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man burning country" /> Indigenous rangers are crucial when caring for fire-prone landscapes. Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa/Gareth Catt <h2>Living in the Pyrocene</h2> As climate change worsens, we’re now living in a global fire age dubbed <a href="https://www.stephenpyne.com/disc.htm">the Pyrocene</a>. This will bring challenges across the Australian continent. Throughout remote Australia, increasing extreme fire weather will see more severe bushfires. Good fire management in these landscapes is urgently needed. In the northern tropical savannas, Indigenous-led fire management at the landscape scale is already <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-best-fire-management-system-is-in-northern-australia-and-its-led-by-indigenous-land-managers-133071">producing</a> some of the worlds best fire management outcomes. The challenge is to introduce similar scales of fire management across our vast deserts. These regions are rich with nature and culture, and they deserve far more attention than they’ve received to date. <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/172773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rohan-fisher-976329">Rohan Fisher</a>, Information Technology for Development Researcher, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neil-burrows-1295249">Neil Burrows</a>, Adjunct professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</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/we-are-professional-fire-watchers-and-were-astounded-by-the-scale-of-fires-in-remote-australia-right-now-172773">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Meet the ‘professional bridesmaid’ who once attended FOUR weddings in one weekend

Kersytn Walsh has made a business out of one of the happiest days of people’s lives - with a twist. Not only does she offer wedding planning, wedding day coordination, and MC services through her company, but she also offers <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hireabridesmaid.com.au/services" target="_blank">‘bridesmaid for hire’</a> services. As a professional bridesmaid, Kerstyn can perform her usual roles of planning, coordinating, or MCing, but can also just be by the bride’s side on the day. On her website, Kersytn explains the role of professional bridesmaids by writing, “We are the friend, the cheerleader, the hand-holder, and support system you need by your side throughout planning and preparing for your wedding! We offer the kind of support you'd expect from your bestie, AND we're not afraid of some heavy lifting!” Their services can cost as much as $9000 a ceremony, and Kerstyn has been a bridesmaid over 150 times since starting her business in 2015 after deciding a career in real estate wasn’t for her. She fell into the role after being made the host at her friend Annie’s wedding, which saw her coordinating many of the vendors and guests on the day. Kerstyn told the Daily Mail, “I've always loved performing, and I suddenly had an epiphany that I wasn't doing a job I loved.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLoRva3DPjD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLoRva3DPjD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by HIRE A BRIDESMAID (@hireabridesmaid_)</a> </div> </blockquote> Soon after, she handed in her notice and established her own business. While she volunteered her services to several friends to kickstart her business, “word spread towards the end of 2015, and it wasn't long before I was attending four weddings in two days and between 30 and 40 a year”. She estimates that she has been a professional bridesmaid at over 150 ceremonies, and she has a closet of more than 70 dresses she has saved from her numerous weddings. While the full bridesmaid package costs around $9000, on-the-day coordination is around $2000. Kerstyn explained that women often hire her to do the running around and coordination on the day so their friends and family can relax and enjoy the day. “Brides often need someone who is willing to do all the jobs - whether it's consult with the vendors or fix the speakers for the DJ. They want their friends and family to be fully present for the wedding, while I can help with chores.” Image: Instagram

Money & Banking

Professional cleaner reveals her MAJOR shower cleaning tip

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A cleaner has shared her major secret tip to get her showers sparkling clean. Under the TikTok account <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thebigcleanco?lang=en" target="_blank">The Big Clean Co</a>, a Melbourne woman has showed her method of using dishwashing liquid to get shower tiles, shower screen and metal shower handles absolutely spotless. “This shower gets cleaned weekly, if it was a deep clean, we’d brush these bits,” she wrote. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841502/shower-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c9283a99d87146219aaecb6e7984a19c" /> After wiping all of the shower surfaces down, she then showed how she rinsed the shower before drying it with a towel. “When we use dishwashing liquid, we don’t even need a glass cleaner,” she said. The clip has been viewed by more than two million people and left viewers excited to try the new cleaning hack out on their own showers. “This is so impressive,” one person wrote. “I love the tip! Thank you,” wrote another. A third said: “Going to clean my shower right now! Looks brilliant!” </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"></div> </div> </div>

Home & Garden

10 things in your house that a professional organiser would throw out

An expert organiser shares her list of the top 26 things she’d throw out without a second thought. 1. Flimsy kitchen utensils The wine opener that never works well enough is just one of the tosses you can make from your utensil drawer. Professional organisers would also ditch the slotted spoons and pancake turners that bend under the weight of food. And add the garlic press that is too delicate to mince a clove of garlic to the toss pile. 2. Reference material You’ll rarely find a space-hogging phone book in a professional organiser’s home. They also let go of encyclopaedia sets and textbooks; consider donating those. And unless you need the thesaurus and dictionary for playing Scrabble, pass those on, too. 3. Expired things While frozen, fresh and canned foods come to mind, these are not the only things in your home that expire. Once they reach their best by date, it’s recommended to throw out medications, vitamins and supplements. 4. Storage solutions Professional organisers love storage solutions but not every container works well. If the bin, basket or box didn’t solve your problem, then throw it out; otherwise, it just adds to your clutter. Consider passing along storage containers to a teacher who might need them. 5. Outdated technology The VCR and boom box have been replaced with more up-to-date technology, so get rid of the old stuff. Recycle floppy disks and ancient laptops, obsolete phones, VHS tapes and more through an e-waste program. 6. Parts for discarded items Toss the accessories and instruction booklets that go with things you no longer own, like the tiny bag with a spare button for the blouse you donated and the owner’s manual for the television you had ten years ago. 7. Secret stash Even professional organisers keep odd things like those plastic clips from bags of bread or rinsed out glass jars. The key is to know when you are saving too many, and they are becoming clutter. For example, if you’ve kept every rubber band from every fresh produce purchase, then it is time to throw some away. 8. Awards and trophies Just because it has your name engraved on it does not mean you have to keep it forever. Professional organisers preserve the memory by taking a photo of the accolade, then they donate the trophies, plaques, or awards of excellence through sports medal recycling programs. 9. Fad clutter You could not resist that 2 a.m. infomercial and now you’re the owner of the latest craze in kitchen appliances, workshop tools, or some other must-have item that you never use. Professional organisers remind you that keeping the item won’t bring back the money you spent; so it’s best to pass it along to an organisation or friend that will accept it. 10. Clothes hangers You’ll rarely find empty hangers taking up space in a professional organiser’s closet. Clear the clutter by returning the wire ones to the dry cleaners. Then let go of the other unused hangers like the ones with weak clips and the small hangers that don’t slide on the closet bar. Written by Handyman. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/26-things-your-house-professional-organiser-would-throw-out">Handyman</a>.

Home & Garden

How to paint a room like a professional

With the right preparation and techniques, even a novice can give a room a professional paintjob. Just follow our steps to getting the job done right. The key to a professional result when painting walls is preparation. Remove furniture from the room you are going to paint, cover the carpet and clean the walls with diluted sugar soap then repair any cracks or holes with filler. Mask off the trim and switch plates, pressing the tape into position with a putty knife for a good seal. Ensure the room is well ventilated and don’t work on hot days as the paint will dry quickly, making it hard to achieve a consistent coverage. TIP: Fabric dropsheets stay in place and soak up splatters better than plastic. 1. Paint the ceiling Use a brush to paint the cornices or cut in around the ceiling then a roller with an extension handle to paint the ceiling, starting at the area furthest away from the main window and working towards the light source. 2. Paint the walls Cut in one wall using a brush then paint the wall from left to right with a roller, starting from the base and rolling up then down, feathering the leading edge before reloading. Repeat to paint the entire room. 3. Finish the trim Paint the masked off trim using a brush, working along the skirting first then picture rails, painting the doors and windows last. TIP Scrape spatters off windows with a razor blade when the paint is dry. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/how-paint-room">Handyman Australia</a>.

Home & Garden

Online dating for seniors: Tips from a professional matchmaker

More and more Australians are looking to find love on the Internet – and it's easy to understand why, with the plethora of dating services available on the market today and the convenience they offer of finding potential new partners in the comfort of your home. However, this doesn't change the daunting nature of dating. Filtering through numerous profiles, creating first impressions and navigating conversations could be quite overwhelming, especially for those looking for romance later in life. Holly Bartter knows this struggle all too well. Bartter, who founded the online dating service <a href="https://www.matchsmith.com/">Matchsmith</a>, specialises in dating ‘outsourcing’ where she manages clients’ dating profiles, from bio makeovers to matching and messaging the right candidates. Bartter started her business after finding out she had a knack for setting up her friends, family and colleagues on dates. Her clientele, mostly women, range across generations, including individuals over 60 seeking a suitable partner. Bartter said her older clients tend to have a better idea of what they are looking for in a partner. "My younger clients may have more insecurities about themselves and what kind of person they want to be with," she told Over60. "They are still getting to know who they are and perhaps haven't had a significant long-term relationship yet. "Individuals over 60 have real life experience and a sense of self and identity – they understand what is really meaningful to them in a relationship and what they want." However, this does not mean that seniors have no pitfalls in online dating. According to Bartter, low screen time could disrupt the momentum with potential love interests. “Often my clients won't be online much, with other things occupying their days, so they can miss opportunities to connect and reply – and a match can be lost!” Another risk was romance scam. Last year, nearly 4,000 Australians reported losing money to dating scammers, with people aged 45 to 64 being the most affected. "Seniors can also be too trusting online at times and should be wary of stock photos online in place of actual headshots," said Bartter. "Luckily online platforms like RSVP and eHarmony are really screening against this. "But the moral of the story always is that if someone refuses to share more photos, other details or won't meet for a coffee or call you, they may not be who they say they are!" Bartter has a few words of advice to share for a thriving online dating life. For a smooth-flowing conversation, she said three things are the key: consistency and personalisation. "Make the online conversation tailored to that person," advised Bartter. "Really review the profiles of your matches and find something you'd like to learn more about." She also suggested to keep the chat light. "Have fun and be light-hearted. There is time for more serious conversation over the phone, but online just focus on being friendly and learning about the personality of your match – are they respectful? Do they answer your questions? Are they replying regularly?" she said. While you may be excited to talk further with that promising person, "always send just one introductory message," Bartter said. "Never message more than once until they have replied." Bartter said while online dating is indeed a numbers' game, it should still be an enjoyable experience. "There is someone out there for everyone at all ages, but you have to be in it to win it," she said. "And dating should always be fun – if you're not having a good time, pause and revisit later, and never feel obligated to meet someone if you don't enjoy their conversation." Are you on any online dating apps or websites at the moment? Share your stories in the comments.

Relationships

The parts of the home you’re forgetting to clean – according to a professional cleaner

It’s the kind of advice you need, but don’t want, to hear: What tiny nooks of the home are you forgetting to clean, and what are the subsequent hygiene issues associated with them? Of course, most floors get a mop and tables a wipe. But for every bench that demands a wash after dinner, there’s an equally-as-deserving shower curtain that has spent months, perhaps years, crunched in a corner and draped in festering human gunk. And therein lies the great inequality of all: not all parts of the home are made equal with regards to the ones we are willing to clean. In a recent <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/8qfm3u/professional_house_cleaners_of_reddit_what_do/">Reddit</a> thread that generated more than 7000 comments, professional cleaners shared the parts of the home most likely to be neglected when it comes to cleaning. According to the owner of professional cleaning service <a href="https://www.maidinmelbourne.com.au/">Maid in Melbourne</a>, Rita Dossis, the thread is “very accurate”. “Many of these things that you would assume people would be doing, they are not. Sometimes they look at the bigger picture and don’t notice the little things that need doing,” she says. We’ve summarised some of the most commonly ignored parts of the home, with Dossis telling us exactly what happens when they are left untouched for extended periods of time. Mould in bathrooms, on walls and around windows “There are spores that are not good for you,” Dossis says. “You need bleach to get rid of these and you should be keeping on top of it as they only multiply.” While it’s a simple tip, Dossis says not enough people are “opening [their] windows to get fresh air through the property” to avoid a build-up of mould. Cleaning around door and cupboard handles and light switches Considering how many hands are touching handles and light switches, it’s little surprise this one made the top of the list. “A simple quick wipe with a damp cloth [fixes] it up and is easier to maintain,” Dossis says. Filters on your rangehood When it comes to cleaning the filters on a rangehood, Dossis says they seem to fall in the old “out of sight, out of mind” bucket. “Put them through your dishwasher, they come out sparkling. If not [the] dishwasher, fill your sink with boiling hot water and detergent and then soak.” Shower A shower might clean you, but it certainly doesn’t clean itself, with Dossis noting it’s one of the most neglected parts of the home. “Clean this at least fortnightly, it keeps mould at bay and is much more pleasant to step into a clean shower. We had a client who thought his shower glass was opaque, after we cleaned it [spending over one hour on it] he called us to say he had not realised the glass was clear.” Toothbrush holders “Give it a good clean regularly, you don’t want to be putting your toothbrush into something that is breeding,” Dossis says. Shower curtains According to the professional cleaners of Reddit, shower curtains are one of the most neglected parts of the home when it comes to cleaning. “That’s the accumulation of body oils and fluids that has splashed off your body. You can disinfect and make a bathroom sparkle, however, the stench off the ripe curtain…,” the thread reads. The dish drying rack The dish drying rack, and particularly the bottom of it, is rarely considered in a major house clean. “Check the bottom of it,” Dossis suggests, saying, “soap scum and mould builds up”. “Replace your sponge regularly and wash your tea towels weekly,” she says. “Just because it does not look dirty doesn’t mean it’s not.” Microwaves Depending on how often you are using them, microwaves are also commonly forgotten when it comes to cleaning. Dossis says cleaning them takes only a handful of minutes. “Get a small bowl, put about one cup of water in it with maybe ½ cup white vinegar and then put on high for 4-5 minutes. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes, then open the door and wipe it out. “It’s quick, easy and gets rid of everything. If you use your microwave regularly just do this every few days. If you have put something in and it has splattered everywhere, clean it right then and there.” Written by Zara McDonald. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/">Domain.com.au.</a>

Home & Garden

Family’s hilariously bad professional photos have to be seen to be believed

When Missouri woman Pam Zaring booked a professional photographer to take pictures of her family, she was hoping for some family photos to cherish for a lifetime. However, when Pam received the finished product from the photographer, she was left speechless. Her family’s faces, including her two sons and mother, had been strangely edited to look like cartoon characters – or that’s what she’s assumed because the photographer says the editing was “intentional”. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pam.richardcoones/posts/10103240387205162" target="_blank">Pam wrote on Facebook</a>: “OK. This is NOT a joke. We paid a photographer, who claimed to be a professional, for a family photo shoot. Please see these FOR REAL photos she delivered to us.” <img width="416" height="641" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/aef0d4e2a5e5f6e453de7d3701a02b66" alt="Picture: Pam Dave Zaring" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The photographer was paid between $US200 and $US250 (between AU$250 and AU$315). “She said the shadows were really bad on the beautiful, clear, sunny day and that her professor never taught her to retouch photos,” Pam continued. “I literally have not laughed this hard in YEARS!!!!! You can’t make this stuff up.....again, this is NOT a joke.” <img width="363" height="558" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/62cde260afbc10dee769cfd730e4bda1" alt="Picture: Pam Dave Zaring" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Pam shared the family photos on her Facebook, which have gone viral with thousands of shares and comments. When some commenters raised a sceptical eyebrow as to whether a stuff up this bad could really happen, Pam was quick to reassure that the photos were legitimate. “This is not real,” wrote one commenter with Pam replying: “This IS real!!!! I kid you not!” “This is awful surely you got your money back??? Wow!” another person wrote. “Nope!! She stands by her work,” Pam replied. <img width="389" height="599" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/a281b45f611d7537cb37a321e113b666" alt="Picture: Pam Dave Zaring" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> In another comment, Pam wrote: “This is not a joke. This is legitimately the final product I received in the mail yesterday. I passed my furious mark months ago when she wouldn’t send us anything. I was fully prepared to be scammed, money gone, and no final product! So the humour was much easier to find. Trust me, at one point my blood boiled anytime I was asked about the status of our photos!!” <img width="371" height="571" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/214150b64b48f66d800fed32832b8114" alt="Picture: Pam Dave Zaring" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Thankfully, Pam and her family are able to see the humour in the situation. “This is the most expensive comedy I’ve ever paid for!!!!” she said. At least the family have photos they will remember forever – just not in the way they hoped for.

Art

6 DIY jobs best left to the professionals

Anyone who's botched a seemingly simple DIY job will know the humiliation of calling a professional in to fix it up. Jeremy Wyn-Harris from Builder's Crack says two-thirds of the posts seeking professional help on his site are from people who've either mucked a job up or underestimated the time needed to finish it properly. Undertake these common tasks with caution: 1. Flat pack assembly There's a reason why this task is said to be a relationship-tester - it requires plenty of patience and calm communication to see it through to the end. Simply reading the instructions can be a real puzzle, as can identifying the microscopic differences between screw A and screw B. Wyn-Harris says it's one of the common things people require expert help with. "Part assembled flat-pack kitchens and wardrobes are something we often see. People think it's just a matter of a screw here and there but they are notoriously complicated." Even if you're an experienced flat-packer, one small misstep can require a lot of time spent retracing your steps. Not to mention if there's a vital piece missing that's not discovered until the crucial moment. 2. Plastering Common mistakes include mixing the plaster badly, taking too long so it dries and applying it too thickly, requiring hours of sanding to fix. <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/ceiling" target="_blank">Ceilings</a> and tight spots around things like window frames and light switches are especially tricky. Watch an expert do it lightening fast and you'll wonder why anyone else would ever attempt it. 3. Tiling Troubles with tiling can start before you've even left the shop. Accurately measuring the space and estimating the quantity of <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/tiled" target="_blank">tiles</a> required is difficult unless you know exactly where cuts should be made. Underestimating the quantity required can be disastrous as there are often differences between batches, while overestimating is a total waste of money as most tile shops don't accept returns. Then there's the fact that many tiles by their nature have slight variations in colour and size. Only expert tilers know how to blend them seamlessly. Wyn-Harris says tiling is 'incredibly difficult.' "We see a lot of people getting into trouble with waterproofing and tiling, and they're things that need to be done right." 4. Painting Anyone can run a roller over a wall, but can they handle the hours of tedious prep it takes to successfully <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/painted" target="_blank">paint</a> a room? Most surfaces require cleaning, scraping, sanding, taping and patching before you get to the fun part. You'll also need to master the art of cutting-in, which requires a steady hand, a keen eye and an intimate knowledge of how your brush 'fans'. Wyn-Harris says it's a classic example of a job that is "either way harder to get the right result, or takes way longer than you'd expect." 5. Floor sanding Drum sanders are cumbersome machines that can only be moved in a constant forward motion in the direction of the grain or else they'll gouge and scratch your <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/floor" target="_blank">floor</a>. They also don't get into edges or corners so you need two other separate sanders for those jobs (an edging sander and a detail sander), as well as a stock of all the different sandpaper grits and shapes that are required for each one. This, coupled with the noise and dust mean that this could be a job left to the professionals. 6. Tree removal Felling large trees is hazardous work, that should only be attempted under expert guidance. But the root systems of even small trees can run surprisingly deep and make wrestling stumps from the ground backbreaking work. You need to be careful about the location of pipes and services before digging, and understand that the huge pile of debris you're left with at the end will look far bigger than when it was upright. Watch a professional chop down a tree and grind the stump away in under an hour you'll realise all your sweat and effort could be put to much better use. Written by Katie Newton. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Home & Garden

Take professional quality photos with your smartphone

Lisa Du is director of <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. During a recent photo-taking session a friend happened to showed me something really neat about iPhone cameras: you can adjust the brightness while taking a photo! What this means is that, whenever you’re pointing your iPhone camera towards something, and the photo appears too dark or too bright, you’ll be able to adjust the brightness to a setting that’s just right. No more dark, blurry photos! Here’s how you do it: <ol> <li>Open up your iPhone Camera by going to your menu screen and tapping on the Camera app</li> <li>Point your camera towards something that you wish to take a photo of</li> <li>Tap the screen on wherever you wish the Camera to focus</li> <li>You’ll see a yellow box with a little sun icon on the right</li> <li>Swipe upwards on your screen to make the photo brighter. The little sun icon will move upwards</li> <li>Swipe downwards on your screen to make the photo darker. The little sun icon will move downwards</li> </ol> <img width="496" height="295" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28899/ready-tech-go-in-text_496x295.jpg" alt="Ready -tech -go -in -text" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> And there you go! Now you can take your photos with the perfect lighting. This feature is available on all iOS 8 devices and above, so feel free to try this on your iPad as well! But sorry, Android users...your cameras don't have this feature yet. For more information about ReadyTechGo, visit their <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">website here</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/8-tips-for-taking-better-holiday-photos/">8 tips for taking better holiday photos</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/9-things-to-do-in-the-first-24-hours-of-your-holiday/">9 things to do in the first 24 hours of your holiday</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/06/10-places-you-should-never-take-a-holiday-snap/">10 places you should never take a holiday snap</a>

Technology

10 clever tricks from professional cleaners

A cleaner is one of life’s privileges, but even if you can’t afford one you can still use their tricks! <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mail Online</a> has put together a list of tips and tricks from professional cleaners. Here are 10 clever tips that will have you cleaning like a pro. 1. Use toothpaste as a way to clean your joggers Toothpaste isn’t only good for your pearly whites. If you’ve got a pair of joggers that are in disrepair, consider scrubbing them with toothpaste every so often. 2. Clean lounge spills with baking soda If you’ve spilled a drink on your sofa, cleaning experts think the best thing to do is sprinkling it with baking soda before rinsing it off to remove the stains. 3. Remove pain stains with a razor If as part of your home redecorations you’ve accidentally redecorated your clothes as well, a razor can be a handy way to scrape the excess stain off. 4. Clean your grater out with a potato Removing remnant cheese or carrot from a grater can be tricky, but a good way to help with this process is rubbing a potato over it to get rid of trapped food bits. 5. Use a hairdryer to get rid of water marks If you forgot to use a coaster on your wooden table, don’t distress. Simply blast a hairdryer over it (as soon as possible) and you can get rid of the mark. 6. Coca Cola for a greasy floor If you’ve spilled oil or grease on your garage floor, a splash of Coca Cola can help get rid of the stain. 7. Mouthwash for a washing machine If you’ve got a dirty washing machine, half a cup of mouthwash can help disinfect it. 8. Collect broken pieces of glass with bread This is a handy way to clear up broken glass if you don’t want to risk cutting yourself (just remember to avoid turning this bread into a sandwich). 9. Use socks with your mop If you’ve run out of sheets for your mop, simply dampen an inside-out sock with the cleaning solution and stretch it around the mop head as you normally would. 10. Use vodka for nail polish stains Spilling red polish on the carpet is a disaster, but the best way to get rid of it is pouring a spirit like vodka on the stain, then rubbing it away with a microfibre cloth. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/common-laundry-machine-mistakes/">6 common laundry machine mistakes</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/how-to-clean-a-range-hood/">The easy way to clean a greasy range hood</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/shocking-confessions-of-real-life-housekeepers/">Shocking confessions of real-life housekeepers</a>

News

How to clean your bathroom like a professional

A luxe bathroom, no matter what its state, starts with cleanliness. Sparkling tiles, a pristine shower and gleaming glass make for a five-star bathing experience every time. Give yours some love and the professional treatment with these easy DIY tips, tricks and cleaning solutions. 1. Steam clean Give your bathroom a deep cleansing treatment, spraying your tiles, bench tops and walls with a solution of one-part white vinegar and one-part water, then turn your shower taps on to hot and shut the door. Let your bathroom steam for a few minutes before wiping your surfaces down with a lint-free cloth. For a streak-free finish use a squeegee on any glass surfaces including shower recess and mirrors. 2. Shortcut to instant luxe “I love an all-white bathroom,” says Carmel Gardiner, Principal at Abel McGrath the Property People in Perth. “It’s classic, doesn’t date and always looks luxurious. Pristine white towels and a lush green fern in a beautiful pot, always make any bathroom instantly radiant and welcoming.” Nothing is uglier than an unclean white towel so be sure to keep your towels on high rotation, replacing with clean ones every few days. Edit your collection of bathroom essentials, tossing out cumbersome boxes and plastic packaging, and instead store your basics, like cotton swabs and buds, in glass canisters and arrange on top of your vanity within easy reach. “Keep the bench top clear of too many items,” agrees Gardiner. “Maybe a bottle of perfume, your pretty glass canisters and beautifully packaged hand wash to add a luxurious feel. A bathroom should feel like a retreat for you to enjoy, so keep it very minimal.” 3. Camouflage scuffmarks How you remove scuffmarks from painted walls is dependent on the type of stain you are treating. “It’s important to use a product that won’t damage your paint or the wall,” agrees Gardiner. Water-based stains like wine or dead mosquitos may only require a damp cloth for removal. Oil-based stains however, like cosmetics or cooking grease, can require a little more grunt – a sponge dipped in diluted dishwashing liquid, or for more hard core marks, sugar soap (available from hardware stores) is effective. 4. Spotless shower For a pristine shower curtain, simply put through the washing machine with a cup of white vinegar or baking soda, and hang on the line to dry. A top loader machine can be rough on some fabrics so include a white towel to protect the curtain. Meanwhile, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and immerse your showerhead nozzle, securing it in place for an overnight deep clean. Remove in morning and rinse well. For mould-free taps, use dental floss to reach hard to clean areas, before spritzing with vinegar and rinsing in warm water. <a href="http://stylizimoblog.com/" target="_blank"></a>5. Grot-free grout Dirt trapped between tiles can cause an ugly build-up and is vulnerable to bacteria growth. Once the grime has set in over time, it can be challenging to remove. Whilst bleach cleaners are effective and hygienic, a healthier option is to make up your own cleaning paste using baking soda and water and work it into the grout using an old toothbrush. Spritz with your one-part white vinegar and one-part water solution, so that it froths up, and then brush away the build-up with ease. Finish with a rinse of clean, warm water for best results. Maintain its spotlessness, by sealing grout every six months to keep moisture-free. Keep a spray bottle of the vinegar and water solution in your shower, spritzing your tiles daily to keep grime-free. Written by Elizabeth Clarke. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/things-we-do-that-make-our-cleaning-harder/">5 things we all do that make cleaning harder</a> <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/toxic-items-in-your-home/">10 toxic items in your home that might surprise you</a>

Home & Garden

Dancing toddler upstages professional performers

A video has captured the brilliant moment a little boy upstages a group of professional dancers by copying their moves – and then improving on them. At first the toddler looks like he is just enjoying the music, but soon he begins mimicking the moves of the performers like he’s been practising the choreography all his life. We think the pros might need some lessons from this groovy little boy! Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/how-to-say-no-to-babysitting-grandkids/">How to say no when you’re unable to babysit grandkids</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/important-things-to-let-little-children-do/">7 important things little children should be allowed to do</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/what-i-hate-about-being-a-grandparent-today/">Grandparenting in the 21st century</a>

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13 clever house-cleaning hacks from professional cleaners

Professional cleaner shares her holy grail products

11 home improvement projects you can do yourself instead of hiring a professional

20 things professional organisers would never do in their own homes

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

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We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now

Meet the ‘professional bridesmaid’ who once attended FOUR weddings in one weekend

Professional cleaner reveals her MAJOR shower cleaning tip

10 things in your house that a professional organiser would throw out

How to paint a room like a professional

Online dating for seniors: Tips from a professional matchmaker

The parts of the home you’re forgetting to clean – according to a professional cleaner

Family’s hilariously bad professional photos have to be seen to be believed

6 DIY jobs best left to the professionals

Take professional quality photos with your smartphone

10 clever tricks from professional cleaners

How to clean your bathroom like a professional

Dancing toddler upstages professional performers

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

13 clever house-cleaning hacks from professional cleaners

Professional cleaner shares her holy grail products

11 home improvement projects you can do yourself instead of hiring a professional

20 things professional organisers would never do in their own homes

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

Professional baby namer opens up about her unique career

We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now

Meet the ‘professional bridesmaid’ who once attended FOUR weddings in one weekend

Professional cleaner reveals her MAJOR shower cleaning tip

10 things in your house that a professional organiser would throw out

How to paint a room like a professional

Online dating for seniors: Tips from a professional matchmaker

The parts of the home you’re forgetting to clean – according to a professional cleaner

Family’s hilariously bad professional photos have to be seen to be believed

6 DIY jobs best left to the professionals

Take professional quality photos with your smartphone

10 clever tricks from professional cleaners

How to clean your bathroom like a professional

Dancing toddler upstages professional performers

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