BusinessVoice News Network

When lawn care season is over, be sure to stow that mower correctly. Clean the deck with a garden hose to remove all grass and use a paint scraper on that caked-on crud. Remove the battery if it’s electric or run the gas engine until the tank is empty, and then add some stabilized fuel and run it again to prevent damage from old gas sitting in the engine all winter long. Source Link

It’s important to know when your personal information is surfacing on the web and a Google feature makes it easier to track. “Results About You” lets you set alerts for when your email, home address or phone number appear on Google. You can also flag any search results that include your social security number or credit card numbers, medical records or login credentials. Source Link

Losing your luggage is no fun, but you can reduce the odds of being separated from your travel belongings. Use a luggage tag with up-to-date contact information and label the inside of the bag as well. Remove old baggage tags that might confuse handlers and make your bag stand out with a distinct luggage tag, belt or ribbon to prevent someone else from mistakenly grabbing it. Source Link

What could you do with an extra $1,500 a year? That’s how much food the typical family throws away annually but you can reduce that waste with simple steps like checking to see what you already have before you grocery shop and understanding that “sell by” dates don’t mean you can’t eat it later. And freeze and save leftovers that you don’t eat. Source Link

Deep breathing has benefits for digestion. Breathing from your diaphragm activates your parasympathetic nervous system and that helps basic bodily functions like digestion operate smoothly and efficiently. You’re breathing from your diaphragm when you place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly and feel the hand on your belly move with each breath. Source Link

The psychology behind buying online might make a laptop a better way to shop than using your phone. That’s because many big purchases like airline tickets take you through multiple steps and phone users are less likely to back out or open other options to compare in real time. And phone use is often more casual and less focused than working a laptop. Source Link

Sleep experts say using your phone or tablet before bedtime is a no-no, but there’s an exception to that rule. You should do things that help ease you into sleep, and if using an app on your phone or even clearing an email inbox is relaxing, you can make it part of your pre-bedtime routine. Source Link

Odds are you moved your child out of a car booster seat before they were ready. A study found that four out of five parents ditched the booster seat before a child was big enough to ride with just a seat belt. And three out of four parents didn’t know that kids need to ride in booster seats until they’re at least 4-foot-9-inches tall. Source Link

Many of us have a desk drawer full of old dead phones but be careful they don’t come back to life in a bad way. Old batteries can swell up and may catch fire, so remove any phone like this and dispose of it safely. If you plan to keep an old phone as a backup, charge the battery to 50% and then turn the phone off and check that charge every six months. Source Link

These classic first aid moves need some updating. Do pinch your nose but don’t tip your head back with a nosebleed because that lets the blood run down your throat. Skip the ice or butter and use cool water to treat a burn. And don’t rinse off a tooth that’s been knocked out. Put it in a cup of milk and take it to the dentist. Source Link 

No one wants to pay a parking ticket that’s dropped on your windshield by a scammer who’s trying to steal your credit card information, so don’t use the contact web address on the ticket. Instead, go to your city’s official parking website where you can look up any tickets using the car’s license plate number. Source Link

You can spend less money and help your clothes last longer by not using dryer sheets. They use a waxy substance that makes clothes feel softer but also can build-up and damage a garment and your dryer. The better choice is a reusable wool or plastic dryer ball or make your own by crumpling a piece of aluminum foil into the size of a tennis ball. Source Link

It’s a popular Halloween prank and there’s a right way to clean up after a tree’s been toilet papered. If it’s dry, you can pull the paper down with a long pole or use a leaf blower to remove it from taller branches. And don’t delay, because if it gets wet, you’ll have to live with a TP’ed tree until all that paper dries. Source Link

Your dishwasher needs some help getting things clean and the solution may be in the soft drink aisle at the grocery store. A monthly acid bath using unsweetened powdered lemon Kool-Aid can help remove lime scale, soap scum and other stains. Put one package in each detergent cup and run the empty dishwasher for a complete cycle. Source Link

Here’s a quick list of familiar food myths. All fat is not bad, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables can be just as nutritious as fresh, plant-based milks are not more healthy than cow’s milk, and eating soy-based foods will not increase the risk of breast cancer. And roasted, baked or air-fried white potatoes eaten with the skin on are a healthy, affordable food. Source Link

Location is the key to getting the best performance from your home router. A wired connection near your workspace is best, and WiFi works better with fewer walls between you and the router. Move the router out into the open and use the 5 gigahertz channel for faster speeds when you’re closer and 2.4 gigahertz when you’re further away from the router. Source Link

A few easy steps can make that next airline flight go smoother. Get to the airport early but instead of sitting at the gate, take a walk around the terminal for exercise but avoid the overpriced restaurants and bars. And take it slow if you want to enjoy a drink on the plane. The low cabin pressure means less oxygen and one drink in the air can equal two on the ground. Source Link

The gut microbiome affects everything from your immune system to brain function and you can help to keep it balanced with a few simple steps. Drink plenty of water, get more fiber and avoid ultra-processed foods with lots of added sugar and sodium. And rather than taking probiotic supplements, eat probiotic-rich foods like plain yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut. Source Link