Home and kitchen
How to untangle a necklace chain without breaking it
Untangle a necklace chain with a pin, a drop of oil and patience. Lay it flat, loosen the knot, and pull gently. Steps for fine chains and when to stop.
Malik Zerrouki2 min read
Got a problem? Here is the fix.
Step-by-step answers for everyday annoyances, with a product suggestion only when it genuinely helps.
Topic
Shoes and clothes
Shoes and clothes
Shoe problems: fix it, replace it or live with it
A triage table for common shoe problems, from smell and scuffs to worn soles and heel rubbing, with a fix, replace or live with it verdict for each.
Chloé Petit2 min read
Shoes and clothes
New shoes rubbing your heel: stop blisters before they start
New shoes rubbing your heel? A step-by-step fix with a free test, a heel lock lacing trick, simple padding and a clear rule for when to take them back.
Chloé Petit4 min read
Shoes and clothes
Wash trainers by hand or in the machine: which is better
Should you wash trainers by hand or in the washing machine? Hand washing is safer for most pairs. Here is when the machine is fine and how to dry them.
Chloé Petit4 min read
Shoes and clothes
Shrunk jumper: how to stretch it back
A shrunk wool jumper can often be stretched back a size with a soak in lukewarm water and conditioner. Here is how, and when to let it go.
Chloé Petit2 min read
Topic
Skin and body
Skin and body
Body lotion vs body oil for dry skin: which to use
Body lotion vs body oil for dry skin: lotion adds water, oil seals it in. Use lotion for daily dryness and oil on damp skin or very dry patches.
Chloé Petit4 min read
Editors' picks
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Topic
Home and kitchen
Home and kitchen
How to untangle a necklace chain without breaking it
Untangle a necklace chain with a pin, a drop of oil and patience. Lay it flat, loosen the knot, and pull gently. Steps for fine chains and when to stop.
Malik Zerrouki2 min read
Home and kitchen
The toaster that is not worth repairing
A column on when a cheap toaster that burns one side is better replaced than repaired, and how to tell the difference between a small fix and a dead appliance.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Home and kitchen
The pan you should stop scrubbing
Some fixes are not worth the effort. A scratched, sticky nonstick pan is one of them, and here is how to tell a fixable pan from one to replace.
Malik Zerrouki3 min read
Home and kitchen
The wobbly flat-pack shelf you should stop tightening
When a wobbly flat-pack shelf is worth fixing and when to let it go. A plain rule for loose screws, swollen board and how to decide in a minute.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Topic
Cleaning
Cleaning
Steam mop vs regular mop: which is worth buying
Steam mop vs regular mop: steam suits sealed hard floors and avoids chemicals, a regular mop is cheaper and safer for wood. A table and a floor-type rule.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Cleaning
Vinegar vs citric acid for limescale: which to use
Vinegar vs citric acid for limescale: both dissolve it. Vinegar is already in your cupboard, citric acid has no smell and rinses cleaner. Pick by job.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Cleaning
How to get red wine out of carpet: what to do right now
Red wine spilled on carpet? Blot, never rub, dab with cold water and then use a mild soap solution. Steps for fresh and dried stains, plus what not to do.
Malik Zerrouki3 min read
Cleaning
The cleaning shelf you can halve
A column on why most homes can clean well with a few products used one at a time, and how to cut the cupboard of sprays down without losing anything.
Chloé Petit4 min read