At Home Daily

No matter how much careful planning you do, it's inevitable that a few annoying weeds will start popping up in your garden.

Many people are working from home, practicing social distancing, and avoiding unnecessary trips to prevent the virus from spreading. But social distancing doesn't mean you should lock yourself in your home all day.

No matter how big they are, closets never seem to have enough storage space.

For many of us, it’s impossible to imagine the workday—or any other day—starting without some form of caffeine. It is, as a recent study notes, the most widely consumed psychotropic substance in the world. Caffeine wakes us up, sure, but we know that it has other effects on our brains. What exactly those effects are, though, is still being discovered.

Spring is finally here, but unfortunately, so is flea and tick season. But don't worry, just because the critters are out and about, it doesn't mean your pet has to be itchy and uncomfortable for the upcoming months. We spoke with several veterinarians to learn how to protect pets from these pests best and what to do if they end up becoming unwelcome visitors. For flea control, you can choose between oral or topical meds or a collar.

If you’ve ever booked a trip with your parents as an adult (and chances are you have since as much as 40% of leisure travel now is multigenerational, according to Family Travel Association), you may have found planning it all a bit trickier than coordinating a trip with your spouse or with friends. AARP’s new 2020 Travel Trends report lays out many ways that Millennials and Boomers differ when they travel, all of which can affect how you plan a trip together.

Nearly one of every three American adults has high cholesterol, and particularly high levels of LDL, the “bad" cholesterol that plays a role in the fatty buildup and narrowing of arteries (aka atherosclerosis). Chances are you or someone you're close to has this diagnosis and wants to take steps to lower cholesterol. There are many beneficial medications for this, and the research that’s looked at people taking these medications long-term is good.

When it comes to a monthly budget, most of us have a pretty solid understanding of where the majority of our household money goes: housing, utilities, insurance, etc. But we’re also guilty of indulging in the occasional smoothie or scented candle. And it turns out we’re not alone. In fact, Americans are spending up to $5,400 a year on impulse buys.

During any type of emergency (but especially during a pandemic) some people hoard supplies, whether that be toilet paper, canned goods, or cleaning essentials. And unless companies place limits on bulk purchases, it can be difficult to prevent. But before you panic about running out of disinfecting wipes or sanitizer, take a deep breath. Home organization and cleaning experts explain there are many ways to make your cleaning products stretch further and last longer.

Doing laundry might seem like a straightforward task, but how you load the machine can make a big difference in how clean your clothes and linens emerge from the wash. A few crucial steps can help prevent damage to fabrics, reduce fading, protect your washing machine, and ensure the most effective clean. By avoiding these common laundry mistakes, such as overloading the machine and using too much detergent, you can extend the life of your clothes and your washer.

A lot of favorite garden vegetables, such as beans, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes (technically fruits!), are annuals. They complete their life cycles in a single growing season, so you have to plant them year after year. There aren't many true perennial vegetable garden plants, and the ones that are can vary slightly by region, but there are a few out there that don't need to be replanted every year.

Spring has always been peak gardening season, as plants begin growing again after winter. But this year, people are digging in the dirt for a new reason: the return of victory gardens. If the term victory gardens is new to you, the concept actually dates back to World War I when the National War Garden Commission encouraged Americans to grow their own fruits and vegetables, both to feed the troops as well as themselves.

Some of the filthiest spots in your kitchen are probably the items you use most frequently. Common kitchen essentials, including sponges, dish rags, and cutting boards, can become breeding grounds for germs and bacteria if you don't keep them clean. Because these objects often come in contact with your food, dishware, or hands, waiting too long to clean or replace them can even be potentially harmful to your health.

We’ll be the first to admit that we hate handwashing dishes. It makes more sense to save a few minutes (not to mention water and money) by sticking your plates in the dishwasher instead. But did you know your dishwasher's cleaning capabilities go beyond dishes? There are actually tons of surprising things you can clean in your dishwasher, which means you can avoid handwashing even more household items.

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, we’re assuming you can probably be found reaching for your French press or stopping at Starbucks for an iced coffee as part of your daily morning routine. But if you rely on caffeine to get through the day, you’ve probably experienced that dreaded afternoon slump that only more coffee can fix. After meeting certified tea master Lisa Marie Gennawey, the founder and owner of J’enwey Tea Co.

The faux meat trend is so widespread you'll find Impossible Burgers and Beyond Meat on fast-food menus and plant-based “ground beef” look-alikes in meat cases of large grocers nationwide. And they’re not just for vegans and vegetarians. Nearly one in four Americans is trying to decrease meat intake, with health being the top reason for the diet change in 70% of participants in a Gallup Poll. Flexitarians, #meatlessmonday dabblers, and curious carnivores, read on for the scoop.

Trends can be exciting and inspiring, but it can be hard to tell what’s here to stay or a passing fad. Investing in timeless and well-constructed pieces will save you money down the road. We asked interior designers for their advice on where to save your money and when it’s worth spending a little more. These tips will help you get the best value when decorating your home.

Whether you're prepping for a move, applying the KonMari method to your unruly closet, or simply tidying up, getting rid of clutter is generally a good thing. It only becomes an issue when purging a few possessions escalates into a full-on frenzy. Suddenly, you're mindlessly tossing everything you can get your hands on into a box for the curb, and then later, you realize you got rid of that one thing you needed. Cue: declutterer's remorse.

Talk about flour power: Mounting scientific evidence proves that baking is one of the best forms of self-care. Even mental health pros swear by the therapeutic effects: Tracy Thomas, psychologist and founder of Dr. Tracy Inc., an emotional training company in California says she considers this one of her greatest mental health strategies. She has declared Sunday ‘baking day’ for more than 15 years of her life.

Come early spring, and in particular the week of Easter Sunday, searches for classic hot cross bun recipes begin to rise.