Life & hacks facts
Tips, tricks and remedies that will change how you go about everyday tasks, for the better.
Refresh your bedroom after a break-up
If you are ready to move on from a past relationship and move onto a new one, a few ways to freshen up your bedroom include: flipping your mattress; sleeping on the other side of the bed or right down the middle; buy new sheets and pillowcases; open the windows and clean them inside and out; repaint the ceiling; add more light by changing your bulbs or bringing in a new lamp; and bring in something new – not because your ex would hate it but because you love it. Happy Starts at Home by Rebecca West
Framing mementos
Create a statement piece without spending very much money or time. Simply tear or cut a page out of a picture book or vintage novel (the start of a chapter looks the best), mount it on a piece of paper and then put it into a frame. If you want to personalise your art, choose a page that has a quote you like and underline that passage before framing. Home Is Where You Make It by Geneva Vanderzeil
Healthy skin needs fat
Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 help build cell membranes that keep the skin’s natural oil barrier intact, ensuring soft, plump skin. Include ingredients with good fat content into your diet, such as coconut, olive oil, oily fish, avocados, seaweed, chia seeds, flaxseeds/linseeds and nuts. Beauty Foods by Caroline Artiss
Make your own garden insect repellent
Crush a bulb of garlic and mix it with approximately 1 litre of water in a large saucepan. Heat the water until boiling and then turn the heat off and leave the mixture to cool. Add 1 tablespoon of natural soap, which will help the liquid stick to plant leaves, to the liquid and pour it into a jar. Label the jar and keep in the fridge. To use the mixture, fill a spray-top bottle with water and add 1 tablespoon of the garlic liquid. Spray it on plants and the surrounding soil to repel insects. Repeat the process every few days to help keep the bugs at bay. The Urban Wildlife Gardener by Emma Hardy
Replace plastic cooking utensils with wooden spoons
If you leave a plastic spoon on the stove it melts and stinks and puts toxic fumes in the air. If you leave a wooden spoon on the stove it burns a bit and from then on has a singe mark on it, which is quite cute and full of character. A Natural Year by Wendyl Nissen
Deodorising rubbish bins
Sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of rubbish bins to remove unpleasant odours. After emptying the rubbish, add some water and swill around the can. Pour the water out and leave the can to dry, and then add more baking soda for next time. Sustain by Christina Strutt