Placeholder Content Image

8 clever ways to use a single sock

<p>If you often end up with odd socks after doing the washing, you’ll be pleased to know that they can find a new use around the house.</p> <p><strong>1. Protect shoes</strong></p> <p>Keep your shoes stored inside socks when you are packing your suitcase. Not only will this keep high heels or dress shoes in better condition, it will also protect your clothes from any mud on the soles of your running shoes.</p> <p><strong>2. Keep your wardrobe fresh</strong></p> <p>Fill a sock with dry coffee grounds, tie a knot in the top, and hang it up in your wardrobe. It will absorb any musty smells from the area.</p> <p><strong>3. Buff and shine your car</strong></p> <p>A sock works better than a rag to wax the car, as you can slip your hand inside and use it like a cleaning glove.</p> <p><strong>4. Remove spider webs</strong></p> <p>Slip a sock over your broom and use it to get rid of hard to reach cobwebs - without ruining your broom.</p> <p><strong>5. Keep your mobile safe</strong></p> <p>If you’re going camping, hiking, or doing some work outdoors you can protect your phone by storing it in a sock in your pocket.</p> <p><strong>6. Remove dust from indoor plants</strong></p> <p>Place a sock on your hand and sprinkle a little water on it. Use it to buff and shine the leaves of your indoor plants.</p> <p><strong>7. Use socks for moving breakables</strong></p> <p>When packing to move house, slip anything in a sock that you’re worried about getting broken or scratched. Think small vases or glass salt and peppershakers.</p> <p><strong>8. Get rid of dust from the blinds</strong></p> <p>Dampen a sock and place on your hand to get rid of dirt and dust from blinds.</p> <p>Have we missed any great uses for a sock that you would like to share with us in the comments below?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/06/remove-wrinkles-from-clothes-no-iron/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to remove wrinkles from your clothes without an iron</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/06/the-secret-to-keeping-your-whites-white/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The secret to keeping your whites white</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/8-top-laundry-tricks/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 tricks that will change the way you do laundry forever</strong></em></span></a></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

10 absolutely brilliant uses for old socks

<p>Here are ten absolutely brilliant uses for old socks.</p> <p><strong>1. Prevent floor scratches</strong></p> <p>When moving furniture at home, put socks on the feet of your chair or table legs to prevent scratching the floors.</p> <p><strong>2. Dust high places</strong></p> <p>To dust extra-tall (e.g., on ceilings) or extra-narrow (under appliances or radiators) spots, fasten a sock to the end of a yardstick or a broom, dampen, and clean (chenille socks are especially good at picking up dust).</p> <p><strong>3. Clean houseplants</strong></p> <p>Put your hand in a sock, dampen it, and use it as a mitt to clean houseplants of dust and other debris.</p> <p><strong>4. Soften laundry</strong></p> <p>To soften laundry without using fabric softener or dryer balls, take a couple of socks, put a tennis ball inside each, knot them, and throw into the dryer before running your next load of laundry.</p> <p><strong>5. Sleep mask</strong></p> <p>Fashion a sleep mask with an old sock, some flat backing fabric, and an elastic band.</p> <p><strong>6. Sticky jar cover</strong></p> <p>Keep your cupboard and refrigerator clean by deploying single socks to cover the bottoms of bottles or jars containing messy, sticky, drippy stuff like syrup, honey, molasses, and barbecue sauce.</p> <p><strong>7. Pan handle cover</strong></p> <p>Stash socks in the kitchen where they’re surprisingly useful. For starters, when cooking on the stove, slip one over the handle of your saucepan or frying pan; this will not only shield your hand from the heat but also prevent the handle from getting sticky.</p> <p><strong>8. Wrist rest</strong></p> <p>For an ergonomic wrist rest for your computer, take a sock, stuff it with filling, and sew it closed. Whether it resembles a ferret, cat, another mammal, or no animal at all is up to you and your preferences and skill.</p> <p><strong>9. Get rid of cramps</strong></p> <p>Combat aches and cramps with a DIY heating pad. Just fill a clean, dry sock (use one that’s all or mostly cotton or wool, with no embellishments) with white or brown rice (not the instant or quick-cooking kind), dried beans, flaxseed or barley. Either knot the sock or sew it shut with cotton thread, and microwave it for one minute. If it’s not hot enough, up the time in 15-second increments.</p> <p><strong>10. Stop the fog</strong></p> <p>Fill socks with silica kitty litter (which is extremely absorbent), and keep them on rear and/or front window ledge to stop windshields from fogging up.</p> <p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/uses-for-old-socks/">RD.com</a></em></p> <p><em>Written by Daryl Chen. This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/65-absolutely-brilliant-uses-for-old-socks"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Why you should never wear shoes without socks

<p><span>Next time you are about to slip on a pair of loafers without socks, you might want to rethink your decision, as research suggests that wearing shoes without socks can prove dangerous.</span></p> <p><span>The College of Podiatry has found that there has been an increase in the number of fungal infections such as Athlete’s Foot because people are wearing shoes without socks.</span></p> <p><span>Emma Stevenson, from the College of Podiatry, told </span><em><span>The Telegraph</span></em><span> of the risks involved with going without socks due to sweat levels.</span></p> <p><span>“Depending on the level of sweatiness of the foot, there may be issues with too much moisture in the feet, which can leave you vulnerable to fungal infections such as Athlete’s Foot," said Emma.</span></p> <p><span>“On average your feet will sweat half a pint a day [236ml]; that’s a lot to be pouring out straight into your shoe without it being absorbed by a sock.”</span></p> <p><strong>How to prevent Athlete’s Foot</strong></p> <p><span>Emma suggests leaving your shoes to dry for 48 hours after you wear them to prevent bacteria breeding.</span></p> <p><span>She also recommends placing tea bags in the bottom of your shoes to absorb excess moisture.</span></p> <p><span>No matter how much you love your favourite pair of shoes, it is best to not wear the same pair every day.</span></p> <p><span>How often do you wear closed-in-shoes without socks? Let us know in the comments below. </span></p>

Body

Placeholder Content Image

5 items of clothing some people loathe

<p>People no longer care about the chicken or the egg. What they do care about is weird and wacky fashion trends and if people should be “allowed” to get away with them.</p> <p>Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and since you’re the beholder, it’s your call whether these five fashion trends are winners or losers.</p> <p><strong>1. Socks with sandals</strong></p> <p>Wearing socks and sandals is a controversial fashion combination and social phenomenon that is discussed in various countries and cultures. It is sometimes considered a fashion faux pas. The footwear combination always ignites a heated debate, with some claiming that the trend goes back to roman times.</p> <p><strong>2. Phones with cases that clip to your buckle</strong></p> <p>A lot of people don’t like this phone accessory for many a reason. First of all, it invites anyone to come up and snatch your phone right off your belt, where it sits dangerously on display. Also, if you’re wearing a belt, chances are those pants have pockets. Who are you waiting on that you need to answer the phone that quickly anyway?  Inspector gadget, who wants his phone case back? Still, many say it is for safety and easy access.</p> <p><strong>3. Denim on denim</strong></p> <p>Some call it the Canadian tuxedo, others call it “unacceptable”. This trend is contended because it can occasionally work very well in some instances but look ghastly in others.</p> <p><strong>4. Convertible pants/shorts</strong></p> <p>Mums everywhere bought a pair of these convertible pants/shorts for their pre-pubescent sons in the '90s, but that’s because they were for temperamental children.</p> <p><strong>5. Foam clogs</strong></p> <p>Who doesn’t want something comfortable and breathable to get around in? Not half the population, seemingly. People mostly seem to have an issue with footwear brand, Crocs, because of their signature, bright coloured rubbers.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/reason-there-is-a-tiny-pocket-in-your-jeans/">There’s a reason why there’s a tiny pocket in your jeans</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/the-pizza-hut-clothing-line/">The pizza hut clothing line</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/infographic-on-evolution-of-the-suit/">The interesting evolution of the suit throughout the ages</a></em></strong></span></p>

Beauty & Style