Summer will continue for at least another 2-6 weeks yet, depending on where you're located. It's a time when all those nuisance things happen - like sand all over the house, all those blasted mosquitoes and so forth.
Here are five things you can do to deal with five dilemmas of summer life. One of them is relatively new (the smartphone), but the rest have been around since, well, I was a girl and they've been handed down as the proverbial 'old wives tale'.
I object to that term - being one myself - but they do work! Here's a guide on how to:
- Keep sand out of your car and house after a day at the beach
- Prevent mosquito bites
- Keep your berries yummy for longer
- De-fog your swimming goggles
- Save your smartphone from being ruined by water or sand.
1. Baby powder: Out, Out Damn Sand
To get pesky sand off your skin and feet: sprinkle with baby powder and brush dry with your hands, or a shaving brush or makeup brush.
2. A fan (no, not air-conditioning): Mosquitos don’t like the breeze
Wind is an effective way to ward off mosquitoes and other flying pests. Sure, the wind prevents them from circling and landing on you. But a fan also dilutes and disperses the carbon dioxide you exhale, and carbon dioxide is one of the major chemicals that attract mosquitoes. Furthermore, a fan helps keep you cool, which helps keep mosquitos away because those critters love your sweat, lactic acid and body heat.
3. Vinegar and water: No more soggy berries
As soon as you get back from the farmer's market or store, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse (just a bit because you won't be able to taste the vinegar anyway) and pop in the fridge. This little vinegar rinse helps keep your berries from going soggy and mouldy, and also kills any bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit.
4. Toothpaste: See underwater
I swear by this one - I've done it! Smear a little toothpaste inside your goggles to keep them from fogging up.
5. Uncooked rice: Phone CPR
If your phone falls in the pool or the sea, first remove the battery, then stick the phone in a container with uncooked rice, which will help absorb moisture. If the phone gets covered in sand, use a bulb syringe (like the kind used for kids' medicines) or something similar to blow out any sand particles in the crevices.
Enjoy the rest of summer!
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