With advanced technology, is sorting your clothes by color a thing of the past? A laundry expert says yesbut maybe not the way you think! The tactic makes sense to prevent darker pigments from bleeding onto the lighter items. Credit:Jay Wilde But is it absolutely necessary? Todays technology allows washers touse cold water cyclesto clean clothesas efficiently as hot water. Not only does washing in cold water save energy, it also aids in color transfer prevention....

Frank Lee / Getty Images Americans drink an average of 491 million cups of coffee a day. It also looked at the percentage of annual income spent on coffee and the average price ofa cappuccino. Here’s what it found. Credit:Frank Lee / Getty Images Its not too surprising that the top coffee locale is Portland, Oregon. Detroit (45) has the fewest, at only 4.1 per 100,000. Dark roast loverswill feel right at home in San Francisco, where coffee drinkers like their brews super robust....

Many holiday families genuinely inquire, How to clean an artificial Christmas tree. She then runs the tap with somedish soap, and shows the bath water run. To clean a pre-wired tree, unplug the tree before cleaning for safety. Credit:Kelsey Hansen Use a dry microfiber cloth to gently clean around light bulbs and wires. But I’m speaking from the heart here … I’m not cooking eggs on it. Credit: Jay Wilde...

We got the details from a food and safety expert on the effectiveness of produce washeither homemade or store-bought. vinegar fruit wash, saltwater soaks, etc. ), it’s hard to know which to pick. Credit: Adene Sanchez/Getty Images Fortunately, it turns out the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think. Do you better Use a Fruit and Vegetable Wash? The best way towash fruitsand vegetables? Plain old tap water. That’s right, theFDA says it’s OKto simply wash your produce with water....

Washing fruit isnt just for berries. Andy Lyons We all know that we shouldwash our producebefore eating it. But when washing produce becomes a hassle due to the fruits size (hello, watermelons and cantaloupes! Credit:Andy Lyons ), are you prone to digging in without giving your fruit a rinse? Dry the melon off, and its ready to besliced and served. Gently scrub the outside of the fruit for at least 10 seconds....

Its tick seasonheres what you better know when it comes to checking and protecting your outdoor space. But almost every state has reported cases of ticks carrying Lyme disease. With an ~uptick~ in ticks comes a need for taking more preventative measuresespecially around the home. Credit:Dominique Vorillon If youve got a large backyard to protect from these pests, how do you go about it? Generally, the best way to keep ticks away is simply tomaintain your yard....

Frequent cleaning can extend your mowers life span and improve its performance. We get itaftermowing the yard, the last thing you want to do is clean your mower. However, you might benefit from taking the time. Credit:Getty Images / Robin Gentry It’s much quicker and easier to clean your mower regularly than to do a deep clean infrequently. Grass clippings, which are often wet from the start, harbor moisture. Clog Prevention The buildup of grass clippings can cause more than rust....

We asked an expert to settle this saucy age-old debate, once and for all. Jacob Fox Is there any condiment more iconically American than ketchup? So is there a right answer to this age-old question? Credit:Jacob Fox This is because pathogenic microorganisms (i.e. However, once they’re there, they can significantly impact the taste and flavor. Le references one microorganism in particular (Zygosaccharomyces rouxiito be exact) that is often used to makesoy sauce....

Is investing in gutter guards a good idea or a waste of your hard-earned cash? However, gutters don’t just catch water. Gutter guards are designed to prevent this from happening by only allowing water to enter the gutter system. Credit:Getty Images / carlofranco Use this guide to find out if you really need gutter guards and if they are worth the investment. What Are Gutter Guards? Consider these gutter guard benefits while deciding if gutter guards are right for your home....

Newcomers to baking also love that mostcookie recipescan be made with a minimum of equipment. How important is this cookie cooling rack? What can you substitute if you don’t have one? Credit: Blaine Moats Here are some straightforward answers. Do I Need a Cooling Rack to Cool Cookies? A cookie cooling rack allows air to circulate under the cookies, cooling them quickly and completely. Good news: If you don’t have a cookie cooling rack, there’s a workaround....

Good news for cheese lovers: You may not need to toss out that slightly moldy block of cheddar. But what if theres just a spot of mold, or theres a corner thats looking a little unseemly? Should you discard the whole block, or take a stab at salvage what you’re able to? Credit: DebbiSmirnoff / Getty Images What Should You Do If Your Cheese Gets Moldy? With softer foods likebreadorfruit, mold can take quite a bit of food out of commission....

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the juice of crushed apples. Filtered vs. Unfiltered After fermentation is complete, the vinegar may be filtered and pasteurized. Credit:Carson Downing Does Apple Cider Vinegar Expire? Once opened and exposed to air, the flavor and look of vinegar will slowly begin to change. Credit:Carson Downing

Find out when you should toss out this pantry staple. Its unlikely to make you sick if its expired, but it wont work as well in recipes. Here, were answering all your questions about whether or not baking soda goes bad. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES / IVANDZYUBA. But you might want to think twice before using it in your favorite recipe forcookiesorcake. Baking soda wont harm you if its expiredit just wont be as effective, Collingwood says....