Page 24 - News

Person installing or removing a child safety cover on a wall electrical outlet with a screwdriver

Surface-mounted electrical sockets: what you need to know

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

A noticeable development in electrical sockets is changing a great deal in our homes. If you regularly tackle DIY jobs...

Woman checking air quality monitor in bright living room with sunlight streaming through curtains

Why Your Home Feels Cold Despite the Thermostat and Radiators

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

The radiator clicks away. The thermostat reads 21°C. Still, you are on the sofa with slightly raised shoulders and cold...

Person scrubbing moss off outdoor stone tiles with cleaning brush, hot water pot, and cleaning supplies nearby.

Four Kitchen Ingredients That Tackle Patio Moss Better Than Bleach

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

Spring sunlight reaches the garden, the outdoor chairs are brought out… and there it is: a slick green coating that...

Young man heating doughnuts by a wood stove in a cozy living room with natural light.

133 Lidl jam doughnuts in a stove: Poland’s energy crisis experiment

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

Amid rising energy prices across Europe, a Polish YouTuber has tested an absurd yet genuinely intended alternative to conventional heating....

Woman testing hot tub water with digital meter on wooden deck at sunset, clipboard and device nearby.

Buying a Secondhand Spa at 55: How to Test the Pump

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

The man standing in the garden centre car park hardly fits the image of a scammer. He has grey hair,...

Person washing leafy greens and carrots in a clear bowl filled with water in a bright kitchen.

Rice Water Removes Pesticides from Vegetables: The Korean Kitchen Trick

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

In Korea, families swear by a different, remarkably simple trick. A cloudy liquid left in the cooking pot that most...

Technician using a thermal camera to inspect a radiator in a living room with two women sitting on a sofa.

Why 20°C Does Not Always Feel Like 20°C at Home

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

Both thermostats are set to 20°C. In one living room, no one needs socks and tea cools slowly on the...

Woman holding a potted plant while opening the front door of a bright home hallway.

Rosemary at the Door: Protection Against Squats and Burglaries in France

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

Although CCTV cameras and reinforced doors attract most attention, a far more modest “protector” is quietly reappearing outside homes across...

Man adding wood to a burning stove with smoke coming from a chimney outside a countryside house.

Waste Wood in the Fireplace: When Clever Recycling Becomes Toxic Smog

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

That faint sweetness in the cold air, mixed with a sharp sting that scratches at the throat. I was standing...

Person rinsing food in a sieve over a kitchen sink with a stainless steel faucet and dish soap.

How to stop your kitchen sink from blocking

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

The clatter of crockery, running water and a greasy pan left in the corner. It is a familiar late-night scene...

Person adjusting a thermostat on a wall in a sunlit room with architectural plans on a wooden table.

Brest: an energy-inefficient building reaches 23°C without heating

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

A resident of Brest’s Bellevue district has seen her daily life transformed by the complete refurbishment of her building. Here...

Person organising folded colourful clothes on a wooden dresser with jeans and jackets hanging above.

The folding in thirds trick that makes wardrobe clothes take up half the space

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

You fling open the wardrobe in a hurry, pull out a T-shirt… and an avalanche of clothes lands on your...

Man in traditional Middle Eastern attire speaking at a podium with solar panels and wind turbines in the background.

COP28: Ahmed Al Jaber Sparks Fossil Fuels Controversy

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

The role of fossil fuels has become one of the most contentious issues at the climate summit, COP28, being held...

Family of three sitting on wooden floor watching TV in a bright living room with indoor plants.

How a Solar-Powered Sand Floor Could Heat Homes

Oliver Hartwell • September 21, 2026

In laboratories thousands of miles from London and New York, an ambitious system with a decidedly low-tech name is being...

Young man adjusting thermostat on window amid a snowy winter scene outside.

Ventilating Too Much: The Hidden Drain on Heating Costs

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

In many homes, opening a window is almost automatic: throw it wide open, let fresh air in and “air the...

Person applying clear nail polish to fingernails at a wooden table with pastel nail polish bottles and flower petals.

Japanese technique: how nail sealing makes nail polish last longer

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

The Japanese technique for nail care is becoming increasingly popular among people seeking greater resistance from their nail polish during...

Wooden kitchen countertop with wall-mounted dish rack holding plates and glasses, a newspaper holder, plants, and tools.

Wall-mounted draining rack: a small change for a tidier kitchen

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

A discreet change is putting an end to all that. Anyone who cooks every day knows the issue: piles of...

Person scrubbing outdoor tiled patio with brush, bucket of soapy water, and cleaning product nearby on sunny day.

Patio cleaning: the 2-product trick with soda crystals and washing-up liquid

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

Rather than relying on a noisy machine, however, a simple combination of two everyday products is enough. As soon as...

Hands holding a hanging bird feeder tray with seeds, feeding a robin and a sparrow in a garden.

Make a Bird Feeding Station from a Wire Hanger

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

Step out onto the balcony during the first cool hours of the morning and you can already hear them: blackbirds,...

Man washing upper body with soap in a steamy bathroom with folded towels and toiletries nearby

Hands or Flannel? An Emergency Doctor Explains Shower Hygiene

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

An emergency doctor offers some clarity. In almost every home, the same question comes up in the shower: is a...

Person adjusting smart thermostat on wall next to beige sofa in modern living room with natural light

Martin Lewis: Is It Cheaper to Leave the Heating on Low All Day?

Oliver Hartwell • September 20, 2026

Across the UK, households are weighing up the same question: does it cost less to leave the heating at a...