Whether drizzled over gooey burrata or tossed with fresh parmesan and your favorite pasta, olive oil is a powerhouse in the kitchen. However, olive oil is more than just a recipe staple — it’s also a great house cleaner. Olive oil is organic, so you won’t have to rely on harsh chemicals while it is still flexible enough to clean various household items. Here are seven everyday items you can clean with olive oil.

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Wooden Furniture

Do you have heat rings on your wooden table from forgetting a coaster a few times too many? Olive oil can help. Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil with equal parts distilled white vinegar and coat the stained area using a paper towel. After an hour, wipe the table clean, and the stain should be gone.

Leather Furniture

Leather furniture needs to be moisturized regularly to prevent it from becoming stiff and uncomfortable. Don’t splurge on leather conditioner yet — you can make your own with olive oil. Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Apply a thin layer of the mixture to your couch with a soft cloth to soften and smooth the leather while restoring vitality.

Cast-Iron Pans

Cast-iron pans are among the handiest kitchen tools an aspiring gourmet can own, but they’re challenging to clean. Since you can’t toss cast iron into the dishwasher, remove any build-up by using olive oil. Coat your pan with equal parts olive oil and coarse salt and scrub with a cast-iron brush. This process dislodges food particles while restoring the pan’s natural sheen. Rinse the pan with hot water and dry.

Stainless Steel Kitchenware

Streaks, smudges, and scrapes quickly show on stainless steel kitchenware. You can restore that fresh-out-of-the-box shine by wiping down the steel exterior with a cleaning rag soaked in olive oil. The olive oil creates a protective barrier that temporarily prevents further smudging.

Sticky Residue

Removing the stickers from a new purchase can be challenging. Instead of painstakingly picking away the price tag with your fingernails, coat the sticker with olive oil and let it sit for several minutes. The olive oil will soften the sticker enough to be scraped off with a butter knife.

Candle Wax

Olive oil can do the job if you’re trying to clean out an old candle jar or remove spilled wax off a countertop. To wipe away stains, soak a cotton ball or clean rag in olive oil and rub the wax. To get rid of melted wax at the bottom of a candle jar, pour olive oil into the jar and let it sit for several minutes before wiping it out.

Paint Splattered Surfaces

If you’ve ever finished painting a new room and realized you’ve left splatter all over the place — the floor, the windows, and even your hands — don’t panic. Dip a clean cloth into olive oil to easily wipe paint splatter off any surface.

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Cleaning out a messy closet may be the least desirable task on your to-do list. Who wants to spend a day sorting through clothes and boxes? But when the closets that hold wardrobes, linens, board games, and more become unmanageable, it can become more stressful to continuously dig through clutter than to combat it head-on. Here’s how to reclaim your home’s storage space and keep it organized with tips that professionals swear by.

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Remove Everything From the Closet

While not everything has to go permanently, emptying your closet of all its contents is the first step to tackling clutter. Pulling every item out of storage allows you to see what’s really been packed away and gives you room to deep clean and work. Plus, getting an unencumbered view of your closet can help you plan exactly where you want items to go or make any modifications, like adding new racks or a shelving system.

Deep Clean Your Empty Space

An empty closet is a clean slate, so spruce it up by clearing away any accumulated dust bunnies. Wipe down shelves and racks, sweep or vacuum the floor, and wipe down light switches and fixtures. Musty smells haunt closets thanks to too much moisture and a lack of airflow. You can combat this issue by planning for more space between objects for air to circulate, adding a moisture absorber, and keeping the area fresh by hanging cedar wood planks or placing blocks on the floor or shelves, repelling moths and other pests.

Create “Keep,” “Toss,” and “Donate” Piles

The hardest part of organizing any space may be the tedious work of sorting. This is the time for scrutiny. Items that are broken, missing pieces, or worn out beyond use should be recycled or tossed. Other items that rarely see use and take up precious closet space can be given away, donated, or even sold. Clothing is often the most mentally taxing area to sort through, but remember the “20-80” rule — we tend to wear just 20% of our clothing 80% of the time, so keep only the items you love and wear regularly.

Organize What’s Left by Category

Grouping similar items is one of the best ways to evaluate your remaining belongings, and can help you catch duplicates. Sorting and storing similar items like tools, linens, or shoes is also about efficiency. When stored together in the same spot, your belongings become more accessible and faster to find, saving you time and frustration.

Designate a Spot for Every Item

Regardless of your closet’s contents, assign a specific spot for each item. Analyze how your belongings should be stored — a shoe rack or shoe boxes can keep an extensive footwear collection organized, while sweater bins or storage drawers may come in handy if bulky knits are a large part of your wardrobe. Storage bins, baskets, and totes can hold similar hobby items or tools together in one spot (labeling these containers also keeps boxes looking tidy and makes them easier to find). When it comes to hanging garments, small changes like upgrading a collection of hodgepodge hangers to a streamlined set of matching ones can give your closet a cleaner appearance and make hanging laundry a slightly more enjoyable chore. (Pro tip: Slim hangers also save space, allowing you to hang more.)

Tidy Regularly

Proactive tidying maintains all your hard closet organizing work and keeps clutter from piling back up. Frequently opened closets can get a daily spot-clean to keep them in check. Linen closets and less frequently used storage spaces can get worked into your normal cleaning routine — giving them a few minutes of attention once a month can keep them tidy without considerable time investment.

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No matter how hard you try to preserve frozen food, freezer burn is bound to happen. Freezer burn is the result of moisture loss. When frozen foods encounter cold, dry air, the outer layers lose moisture, causing dehydration. However, according to the USDA, freezer-burnt food is still safe to eat. But you probably won’t want to, as this thin layer of crunchy ice crystals will make the flavor and texture of the food off-putting. Most food is at risk for freezer burn, but meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, and ice cream are commonly impacted. Here’s how to avoid damaged leftovers by keeping freezer burn at bay.

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Wrap Food Tightly

The biggest culprit of freezer burn is faulty food storage. The goal is to remove as much air as possible when storing food. If using a storage container, use the smallest one possible to reduce the air inside, or try a vacuum storage system that removes all the package’s air.

According to the USDA, freezing meat and poultry in their original packaging is safe, but better choices exist. Opt for something less permeable, such as plastic Tupperware or plastic zip-top bags for freezer use. While food should be wrapped tightly, remember that food expands while it freezes because of its water content, so if stored in solid containers rather than plastic bags (for items such as soup), leave a little space for expansion.

Keep the Freezer at 0 Degrees Fahrenheit

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends running your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This is optimal for both energy consumption and food safety. At very cold temperatures, the water inside the food molecules freezes into smaller crystals, which causes less freezer burn.

Don’t Overfill or Underfill the Freezer

To keep your freezer running at an optimal temperature, ensure it’s stocked correctly. Packing a freezer to the brim causes the interior air temperature to be higher, which prolongs freeze times, increasing the risk of freezer burn. However, an empty freezer won’t maintain its temperature well, either. Avoid food spoilage and freezer burn by keeping a moderately full freezer.

Freeze Items as Quickly as Possible

The faster an item freezes, the less likely it is for freezer burn to occur. Some freezer models have a “quick freeze” shelf that will decrease freezing time. After food is completely frozen, it can be stacked for storage. Typically, freezing two to three pounds of food per 24-hour period will help maintain an adequate temperature in your freezer. Divvying items into smaller containers before freezing speeds along the process as well.

Don’t Put Piping Hot Food in the Freezer

Adding freshly boiled soup or steaming hot vegetables to the freezer will cause the interior temperature to rise, slowing freezing times and increasing freezer burn. Instead, cool leftovers down in the fridge to give them a head start. If you’re expecting to freeze many warm items at once, set the freezer to the lowest cold setting a few hours prior. This will help regulate the temperature when warm food is added.

Blanch Vegetables

Blanch fresh vegetables before freezing them to avoid freezer burn and retain vitamins and other nutrients. Blanching deactivates enzymes, which can cause loss of nutrients, changes in flavor, and other unwanted problems if left activated. To blanch, submerge the vegetables into boiling water for around two to five minutes, depending on the thickness and size of the vegetable). Then, quickly remove them and place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Chill for another five minutes and drain. Then, they are freezer-ready.

Avoid Thawing and Refreezing Food

Refreezing previously frozen food causes moisture loss, which results in freezer burn. Instead, thaw only what you will eat. If there are thawed leftovers, try putting them in the fridge and eating them within a few days instead of refreezing.

Date Frozen Foods

Write the freezing date on the food with a permanent marker or use a label maker. The longer food has been frozen, the more likely it will succumb to freezer burn. The USDA outlines suggested freezer limits for food quality. For example, soups and stews maintain their quality for two to three months, and cooked poultry lasts for around four months. (Note that food is safe to eat beyond this suggested time, but quality decreases, and instances of freezer burn increase.)

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Dishwashers make cleaning up a breeze. More than 89 million homes in the U.S. have a dishwasher, but nearly one in five households don’t use it because people simply don’t know what can — and can’t — be cleaned in the dishwasher. One way to help distinguish what can go into this appliance is the symbols on tableware indicating what is dishwasher safe. But the symbols don’t just stop at the dishwasher. There are a myriad of symbols that might crop up on tableware specifying what can go in the microwave, what can be placed in the freezer, and more. We’ve done the detective work for you and compiled a list of common flatware symbols, so you no longer have to guess.

Dishwasher Safe Symbols

There is no universal dishwasher safe symbol, but there are four that are most commonly used.

Additionally, an icon may indicate if the dishwasher-safe item should only be washed on the top rack because it’s heat-sensitive.

Other Dishware Symbols

Aside from dishwasher safe icons, there are a handful of other symbols you might see on the bottoms of your tableware.

Hand Wash Only

A hand reaching into a water tub indicates that a dish can only be hand-washed and might be damaged in the dishwasher due to high heat.

Microwave Safe

Three or four wavy lines (sometimes accompanied by “microwave” or “micro”) indicate that a dish can be microwaved. There might also be a dish depicted underneath the wavy lines.

Freezer Safe

A snowflake indicates that a dish withstands cold temperatures and can be used for freezer storage.

Temperature Maximum and Minimum

Two numbers separated by a horizontal line indicate a maximum temperature (on top) and a minimum temperature (on bottom) for safe baking and food storage. This is often seen on glass baking dishes.

Induction Cooktop Safe

A squiggly line represents a coil, indicating that something is safe to use on an induction cooktop, which uses a copper coil to generate electromagnetic energy.

Recyclable

Three arrows forming a triangle indicate that a dish is recyclable. There might be a number ranging from one to seven inside the triangle, indicating the type of plastic. Some towns only take specific plastic numbers, so check before recycling.

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Once reserved for the wealthy or attentive collector, orchids are now priced within reach of the casual shopper. While some people might regard a $9.99 orchid as a disposable plant, just a few steps above a bouquet of cut blooms that last a fraction of the time, others know that with a bit of thought and care, an orchid can become a permanent part of a home garden. But — let’s be honest — these stubborn plants are a pain to care for. Too much water and they die; not enough and they also die. But we’re here to help. Here is everything you need to know about the fickle plant and how to care for it to ensure it reblooms.

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A Brief History of Orchids

Orchids are the world’s largest plant family, with more than 28,000 species. They are part of a plant group called “epiphytes,” which don’t need soil like most other plants but take moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere. They exist primarily in tropical climates but can also be found in North America, where they are endangered due to habitat loss.  

After scientists developed ways to cultivate orchids in a lab in the 20th century, it became easier — and less expensive — to manufacture new plants. Growers in the U.S., the Netherlands, and Taiwan began growing orchids in increasing numbers, bringing down the cost of owning the exotic plant.

How to Care for an Orchid

Caring for an orchid isn’t much more complicated than caring for any other house plant, but you have to respect that an orchid’s needs might be more specific than those of your other plants. Pay attention to the four basics: light, soil, water, and food.

Don’t Expose to Too Much Light

Orchids want light but don’t want to be scorched. Windows facing east, west, and south are good options, provided the light is diffused, such as behind a curtain or partially open blinds. Avoid north-facing windows, as they likely won’t yield enough sun. You can check the amount of light the orchid receives by using a light meter and then compare that to the recommended level for the specific type of orchid. (Here’s a handy guide.) A low-tech approach is the shadow method, where you simply hold your hand between the light source and the orchid. A sharply edged shadow is too much light; no shadow means not enough.

Refrain From Potting in Soil

This is a misnomer, as orchids don’t need soil. But they do need potting material; the most common is sphagnum moss or bark chips. What’s in the pot will help determine how often watering is necessary. If you know you’re irregular in watering, choose moss, which holds onto moisture, but be careful not to overwater, which can lead to rot. Bark drains quickly, making it good for common household orchids like Phalaenopsis and Cattleya, which must be almost completely dry between waterings. The orchid should be repotted after it blooms or when you see roots climbing out of the container.

Only Water When Dry

Orchids are more likely to flower when they have adequate humidity. If you don’t want to run a humidifier, fill a tray with gravel and water to cover roughly half the gravel. Put the pot on top, ensuring it’s not sitting in water. As the water evaporates, it creates a pleasing micro-environment for the plant. When it comes to actual watering, use restraint. Most orchids want less water rather than more. A simple trick is to water the plate with three ice cubes at a time for a slow moisture release. While there is no specific cadence on when to water, the best way to know is by testing the soil for moisture. Use a moisture monitor instead of sticking your finger to check the pot — it’s more precise and less invasive. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water.

Make Sure to Fertilize

A well-nourished orchid is more likely to bloom again, so feed your orchid with fertilizer with every watering. (Be sure to water first so the fertilizer doesn’t harm the roots.) Pre-made fertilizers come in various strengths and combinations, or you can DIY your fertilizer using what you have at home: eggshells, banana peels, milk, or even black tea. There are no guarantees for fostering reblooming, but an orchid that is tended is far more likely to produce fresh flowers that are just as lovely as the ones it sported when it was purchased.

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