Page 17 - News

Man in grey patterned pyjamas adjusting a thermostat on a beige wall beside a foggy window.

Switching the heating off at night: why it can raise your annual bill

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many people turn the heating off completely at night to save money – then are surprised when their annual bill...

Person drying a colourful woollen sock holding it near a warm radiator by a window with folded clothes nearby.

Clean Your Radiator With an Old Sock: The Simple Sock Trick

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

It is Sunday morning, the sky outside is hanging grey above the rooftops, and you simply want to turn up...

Person stacking fire starter cubes near a burning wood stove with a pile of logs and a bag of fire starters nearby.

Wood Briquettes: More Heat, Less Storage Space Than Firewood

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Anyone using a wood-burning stove or range will usually think first of traditional logs. However, a comparatively new fuel is...

Young man cleaning a large window in a bright bedroom with snowy outdoors visible.

Condensation and Mould on Windows: How to Prevent It

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

If you are wiping dripping-wet window frames in the morning or finding black marks on the silicone sealant, you are...

Young man applying reflective insulation foil to a home radiator in a living room.

3 Simple Tricks for a Noticeably Warmer Home

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Three simple tricks can make your home noticeably warmer. For many households, winter becomes a minor ordeal: heating bills rise,...

Person painting a white wall in a bright, empty room using a roller and paint bucket on the floor.

Bathroom Paint Blisters: Why Freshly Painted Walls Fail After 6 to 18 Months

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many DIY enthusiasts have exactly this experience: for the first few months, a newly painted bathroom looks as though it...

Woman using a paint roller to test beige paint on a wall while holding a colour swatch in a sunlit living room.

Room Contouring: Use Paint to Transform Awkward Room Proportions

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many flats look flawless in photographs yet feel somehow odd in real life: too long, too tall, too cramped or...

Person kneeling by a lit wood-burning stove, wearing gloves and adding wood pellets indoors.

Pellet Stove Spring Maintenance: Essential Checks for a Safe Heating Season

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

The heating season is almost over, temperatures are rising and the pellet stove is now humming away only occasionally. Yet...

Woman vacuuming wooden floor near window in a bright living room with sofa and cleaning supplies nearby.

Dust hotspots: curtains and ventilation grilles are often to blame

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Two overlooked areas are usually to blame. Many people put real effort into cleaning their home yet still feel that...

Person in beige sweater adjusting a wall thermostat near a steaming cup of tea and a knitted blanket on a wooden table.

The 19-Degree Rule: Why Experts Now Recommend 20 Degrees

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

For years, the 19-degree rule has been treated as the gold standard for heating – but fresh assessments from experts...

Woman in a bathrobe opening glass shower door in a modern bathroom with round mirror and wooden stool.

15-Square-Metre Studio: From Problem Bathroom to Stylish Mini-Spa

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

With little more than a few square metres, an uninspiring basin and an embarrassingly makeshift shower, the bathroom in this...

A person placing firewood into a burning wood stove with stacked logs and a metal ash bucket nearby.

Pressed Wood Briquettes: The Efficient Alternative to Traditional Firewood

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many stove owners do not realise that an unassuming wood alternative can turn their stove into a genuine heating powerhouse....

Person pouring steaming water from a pot onto a green moss garden strip on a paved patio.

Remove Patio Moss with Potato Cooking Water Instead of Chlorine

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many people reach for chlorine bleach almost automatically in spring to scrub stubborn moss from paving slabs, wood or stone....

Woman examining white fabric in a well-organised wardrobe with clothes hanging on rails and sewing tools on a wooden table.

Turn an Old Sheet into a Breathable Garment Bag for Your Wardrobe

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

When spring arrives and heavy coats, woollen jumpers and suits are put away, cheap plastic garment bags are often the...

Person adjusting a digital thermostat on a bedroom wall with soft lighting and a made bed in the background.

Should You Turn the Heating Off Completely at Night to Save Money?

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many people turn the heating off completely at night, hoping to cut their bills. But this often does not work...

Person using pliers to fix or remove a power socket on a white wall in a living room.

Remove Wall Plugs Without Damaging the Wall: The Lever Trick

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many people reach for pliers in this situation, wrench the plastic wall plug out of the wall by force and...

Woman hanging a beige laundry bag full of folded towels on a door in a bright utility room with a washing machine.

Lidl laundry bag: a clever door solution for small bathrooms

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Many people will recognise the issue: as soon as a laundry basket is placed in the bathroom, the room feels...

Person stacking split firewood on a wooden table outside a house on a sunny day.

Increase Log Heat Output with This Simple Firewood Drying Technique

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

With a few straightforward tricks, the heat output of logs can be increased considerably. Anyone who heats with wood usually...

Barefoot person walking on mixed stone, wood, and terrazzo flooring near a sofa and open design book with colour swatches.

Wood-look tiles lose their appeal in 2026: these alternatives are taking over

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Wood-look tiles were considered a reliable choice for years. In 2026, however, the trend is changing, making room for bolder...

Person holding a white pillow in front of shelves with neatly stacked coloured pillows in a home setting.

Bed Linen Chaos in the Cupboard: The Pillowcase Bag Folding Trick

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

Bed linen chaos in the cupboard, untidy piles, missing pillowcases – many people know the problem. A simple folding trick...

Couple in living room using smart thermostat and smartphone app to adjust heating settings.

France: Networked radiator thermostats required in almost every home by 2030

Oliver Hartwell • September 23, 2026

France has introduced a new law requiring networked radiator thermostats to be fitted in almost every home by 2030. Officially,...