Tausi Insider

Photo : glebchik ( Shutterstock ) Ideally, you would have cleaned your fireplace thoroughly in the spring, after you used it for the final time of the season. But if that didn’t happen—or if you want to tidy it up before using it this fall and winter—now’s the time to do it. We’ve already talked about how to clean a gas fireplace , but what about wood-burning fireplaces? Here’s what to know. How to clean a fireplace As we’ve covered in previous articles, it’s important to make sure that your fireplace and chimney are in working order before the start of winter , in order to maximize the heat in your home, and minimize any drafts—and having a clean fireplace is key. Here’s how to clean your wood-burning fireplace : Prep work No matter what time of year you clean out your fireplace, wait at least 24 after your last fire to ensure that everything has cooled down. Also, things are going to get messy, so put down a drop cloth or two (or some old sheets), wear clothes you don’t mind g...

Photo : iravgustin ( Shutterstock ) Whether you’re drinking or cooking with wine, you may not go through the entire bottle at one time. Sure, you could use a wine stopper to keep your wine fresh(ish) until you’re ready to finish it, but what if you don’t have one? As it turns out, there is a proper way to recork a bottle of wine. Here’s what to know. How long does a bottle of wine last after it’s open? Once a bottle of wine has been opened, if it is stored properly, it typically remains drinkable for between two and five more days , depending on the type of wine. Sparkling wine is a bit different: Though it will likely be flat by the next day, it can stay fresh enough to drink for up to three days, if recorked correctly. How to recork wine First, let’s start with what not to do. If you have any intention of drinking the leftover wine, don’t leave the bottle open. Even if you threw away the cork and don’t have a wine stopper, covering the top of the bottle with a piece of cling w...

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Photo : Jeff Zhou ( Shutterstock ) As convenient as buying couches online can be, there are still some advantages to shopping at brick-and-mortar retailers. First and foremost, going to stores in person means you get to try them out before making a purchase. And then, there’s the delivery situation. Yes, your online purchases will be shipped to your home, but it’ll be up to you to get them inside and up (or down) any stairs and to its final destination—where you’ll then assemble it yourself, and figure out what to do with your old couch. Though it’s not a given, some brick-and-mortar stores will not only deliver your new couch, but they’ll also haul the old one away (if you want them to). And while that may not seem like the biggest perk, if you’ve ever had to dispose of a large piece of furniture and don’t own a large vehicle, then you know that it can be a huge pain. Here are a few options, should you ever find yourself in that situation. How to get rid of your old couch To c...

Photo : Iryna Tolmachova ( Shutterstock ) Salt is great for dealing with ice outside—but s alt is terrible for your floors for the same reason. Even if you’re very much on top of making people remove their shoes when they enter your home, salty dust can still find a way onto your hardwood and other floor surfaces and could lead to permanent damage if you don’t remove it. Here’s what you need to do to get rid of it the right way. According to SFGate , salt deposits don’t emulsify with soap and water, so don’t waste your time there. What you really need is a weak acid of some kind. You need vinegar. Before moving on to the vinegar, you first need to get rid of any salt crystals. You can do this by vacuuming or sweeping. You also need to wipe up any melted snow or wetness you spot, so grab an old towel and dab it up. Don’t push it around, as any big crystals inside could scratch the floor and you could even push the water into the cracks in the floorboards, which could result in ...

Photo : namaki ( Shutterstock ) Single-use plastic is a plague upon the Earth that the more environmentally conscious among us try in vain to avoid. No matter how careful you are to bring your re useable tote and buy stuff in recyclable and compostable packaging, eventually y ou’ll need to go to the grocery store for produce, which means you’ll become responsible for at least one more single-use plastic bag. There are plenty of ways to reuse plastic bags outside the kitchen , but plastic is annoyingly useful for certain kinds of food storage, and that’s mostly what I keep mine around for. Usually, reusing a bag is as simple as shaking it out and stuffing it in the “extra bags” drawer with its siblings, but every now and then, I run into a situation that requires actual cleaning. Washing and drying plastic bags might sound like a hassle, but with the right technique, it’s pretty simple—and an excellent way to get as much use out of them as possible. Here’s how to do it. How to cl...