WE FOUND A FIX
9 Tricks to Improve Your Life*
1 Keep Soda Cold
food Wrap soft drink cans or bottles with Bubble Wrap to keep beverages refreshingly cold on hot summer days. Do the same for packages of frozen or chilled picnic foods. Even ice cream will stay firm longer if you wrap it before you leave the house.
2 Handle Car Lights with Care
auto When changing exterior light bulbs in your car, watch your hands. Many automobiles use halogen bulbs, which can get extremely hot. Hold them with gloved hands or a paper towel. That will also keep the glass free from the oils on your skin, which can create an uneven heat transfer in a bulb and cause it to fail prematurely. If you do accidentally touch the glass on a new bulb, clean it with a cloth and some rubbing alcohol.
3 Clean Up Your Desktop
technology “Organize your computer like you would your desk,” recommends tech developer Calley Nye. “Delete unnecessary files and uninstall unused apps. Having things you don’t need loaded onto your computer will slow it down and introduce vulnerabilities.”
4 Beware This Airport Germ Hot Spot
travel A group of Finnish and British scientists found more traces of flu and other viruses in the trays in the security area than in any other location in the airport—even the toilets. Noting that these trays are handled by nearly all embarking passengers and aren’t disinfected routinely at every airport, the scientists recommend using hand sanitizer before and after passing through.
5 Green Beans Are Good for Dogs
pets Green beans are the full package, according to rover.com: They’re a great source of fiber; omega-3 fatty acids; vitamins A, C, and K; folic acid; magnesium; calcium; iron; and potassium. In fact, green beans are so healthy for dogs that some people make them a sizable portion of their fur babies’ daily food regimen. Just remember not to add salt or seasoning.
6 Don’t Vacuum in a V
cleaning Vacuum horizontally on your way into a room and vertically on your way out. This pulls up the pile and releases trapped dirt better than vacuuming in a V shape.
7 Purchase a New Fridge—on Sale
shopping The Fourth of July is a hot time to buy refrigerators because retailers lower their prices to bring customers out of the sun and into their stores. In fact, some prices dip lower at this time of year than they do on Black Friday.
8 Fix Loose Hinges
home If you have a loose hinge on a door or cabinet, simply back out the screws and insert a glue-coated wooden golf tee. Once the glue has dried, cut the tee flush, and you’ve got brand-new material for the screw to bite into.
9 Get Free Skincancer Screenings
health According to the American Cancer Society, about 96,000 people will be diagnosed with some form of melanoma in 2019. Because early detection saves lives, the American Academy of Dermatology offers free skin-cancer screenings at locations around the country as part of its SPOTME program. Examine your own skin on a regular basis. If you see anything suspicious, make an appointment at one of the SPOTME centers. Go to aad.org and search for “SPOTME” to find the nearest one.