Mama would not be having this. Now the white towels were a pale pink. Now the towels were pink and I was left pondering how someone (a Southerner, no less!) Credit: Getty Images would fail to see that a red towel in with a load of whites just might be a problem. As an adult, I more or less followed the same instructions and separated the colors. The tweetby @ZachSilberberg read: “yall wanna talk about generational divides?...

Explore the shelf life of preserves and expert recommendations for storage. Getty Images Preserves are a household staple for many families. When it comes to storing that new jar of strawberry preserves, however, whats the best method? Credit:Getty Images Preserves generally need to be refrigerated, especially after youve opened the jar. Do Preserves Need To Be Refrigerated? Garcia-Benson says preserves need to be refrigerated after being opened. Does Refrigerating Preserves Prolong The Shelf Life?...

Cavan Images / Getty Images Where do gardeners run when they feel the first warm breath of spring? To the nursery to shop for plants, of course. But suddenly, the forecast calls for an unexpected cold snap, and thosefrost-sensitive plantsneed protection from freezing temperatures. Credit:Cavan Images / Getty Images Many gardeners resort to using old bedsheets for this purpose. But doescovering plantswith sheets really protect them from freezing temperatures? Why Cover Plants During A Freeze?...

We asked the experts. They may not visit a birdbath because its too deep, dirty, or too high off the ground. The answer to this question is a definite…maybe. Credit:Getty Images But in my experience, wildlife often become acclimated to these types of deterrents. But once they figure out its not going to harm them, they likely will just ignore them. My humble opinion is that they dont scare them....

But some lights appear to draw more bugs than others. Is there any truth to the claims that yellow light bulbs keep insects away? The insects can get trapped in orbit around lights or may crash into the ground. Credit:Getty Images Having moths andmosquitoesflapping around our heads is annoying, but the harm is more significant than you might think. Insect populations are declining, which can have effects all the way up the food chain....

Skip straight to cooking instead. Some of it good advice, and some of it bad. Soaking will not speed up the cooking process by any measurable amount of time. Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood It’s worth noting that you should always have a go at use fresh beans (i.e. With good-quality fresh beans, you should have no problem cooking them, and you could skip soaking....

Check your navigational knowledge. Turns out, these thoroughfares are not categorized just on a whim arbitrarily, as you might have thought. Rather, they’re organized in terms of function and size. Credit: Getty Images/Marco Bottigelli Or, perhaps, use it as a conversation starter at your next dinner party. How’s that for confusing? Depending on where you are located, your city’s streets might run either north-to-south or east-to-west. There is no end-all decision on that....

Do I always wash herbs before I use them? If washing means giving them a quick (i.e. lazy) rinse under the kitchen sink, then yes. Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle But is that really enough? I asked the experts to find out. Should You Wash Fresh Herbs? In short, yes. Although how you wash the herbs may depend on where they come from. What To Use To Clean Fresh Herbs Dunbar recommends using aproduce washto clean herbs....

Yes, you actually doand it could save you trouble in the long run. Should You Drip Faucets In Cold Weather? Yes, according to theRed Cross, the short answer to that question is you should. Credit: Getty Images Running water through the pipeeven at a tricklehelps prevent pipes from freezing." At What Temperature Do Pipes Freeze And Burst? So what do “below temperature” numbers look like? How Do You Know If Your Pipes Are Actually Frozen?...

Take these steps before breaking out the new kitchen tools. Meet The Experts Can You Skip Washing? No, this is not a step that it’s possible for you to skip. Washing newly purchased cookware and kitchen tools before first use is strongly recommended. Food scientists categorize food safety hazards into three major categories: chemical, physical, and biological. New utensils have the potential to have all three significant food safety risks, explains Dr....

Is your home feeling muggy? Relief is on the way. Maryviolet / Getty Images When temperatures start to climb outside, so does the humidity in your home. Credit:Maryviolet / Getty Images Will A Dehumidifier Cool A Room? What Does A Dehumidifier Do? “A central air conditioning system extracts heat from inside your home and releases it outside. Credit:Maryviolet / Getty Images “The air first passes through a filter and then over a cooling coil, which removes the moisture....

Or is this a kitchen legend that needs busting? But how much of this is kitchen lore, and how much is backed by science? Omolo says, “Adding salt to water doesnt make it boil faster. Credit:Rachel Johnson At the concentrations typically used in food, it increases the boiling point.” When salt is added, the boiling point rises by a few degrees. The more salt added, the higher the boiling point....

Here’s how to tell if your buttermilk has soured. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox No doubt about itbuttermilkis a staple ingredient in Southern cooking. FromButtermilk BiscuitstoButtermilk Coleslaw, theres nothing that isnt made just a bit better by this wholesome ingredient. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox But if this beloved dairy product is already fermented, you may wonder: Does buttermilk go bad? Alabama-based dietitian Chelsea Edwards tellsSouthern Livingthat yes, buttermilk absolutely goes bad....