Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

FloodingIt's now four days and counting that my home's been without power as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Sure it's cold and dark, but thankfully it's dry. Many in our area weren't as lucky. If you're trying to restore wet, muddy, flood-stained washable garments, follow these tips from the American Cleaning Institute to ensure the best results:

1. Don a pair of rubber gloves and a mask and scrape and shake excess dirt and residue from soiled fabrics. It's best to do this as soon as floodwaters recede.

2. Prewash fabrics in cool water using powdered laundry detergent. Powders are more effective on clay and ground-in dirt stains and cold water will keep stains from setting. Add an enzyme presoak product, like Biz, to help remove protein stains like grass, sewage, and blood. Add it along with the detergent as the washer fills. For the best results, fill the wash to the highest water level but wash small loads so the garments circulate freely. Do wash, rinse, and spin cycles only. Don't

When will these cleaning products go bad?Have you ever looked under your sink and wondered how long your cleaning products have been stored there? I know I have. Keeping cleaners beyond their recommended shelf lives can cause them to lose some efficacy while degrading plastic containers can alter their formulas. To ensure that you're getting the most out of your cleaners, here s what manufacturers recommend for their products:

Laundry Detergent: Liquid and powder detergent stored in a cool dry place will keep well for 6 months to one year after opening. Some laundry detergents, like All, have the date they were manufactured stamped on the cap or bottle to help you keep track of storage time. Using detergents passed their prime may not get your clothes as clean as fresh detergents will.

Oxi Clean Powder: In order for the product to deliver on its unlimited shelf life, the powder must remain dry and kept in a cool location.

Fabric Softener: Whether liquid, dryer sheet, or a dryer bar, fabric softener maintains

It's not too early to start planning your holiday menu. If you're looking for ideas on what to do with those leftover mashed potatoes, try these simple and tasty recipes!

Ham fritters1. Ham Fritters
Serves 4
In med. bowl, combine 2½ c. potatoes; ½ c. chopped ham; 1 green onion, finely chopped; and ⅛ tsp. pepper. Using ¼-cup measuring cup, form mixture into ½-in.-thick patties. Place ¼ c. flour in dish. Coat patties with flour, tapping off excess. In 12-in. skillet, heat ¼ c. canola oil on medium-high until hot. In 2 batches, fry patties 5 minutes or until golden brown on both sides, turning over once.


Broccoli soup2. Broccoli Soup
Serves 4
In blender, puree 1 qt. lower-sodium chicken broth and 10 oz. frozen (thawed) broccoli. Transfer to 4-qt. pot. Heat to boiling on medium-high. Whisk in 2 c. potatoes and ⅛ tsp. pepper. Simmer on low heat 10 minutes. Stir in 2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese. Garnish with lemon slices, chopped parsley, and cheese.
Related: 5 Perfect Pies


Savory flounder3. Savory Flounder

Safety Alert

Our hearts go out to all our family members, friends, colleagues, and readers who are facing the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. If you're among the many experiencing a power outage please be careful to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from portable generators, fire from candles, and electrical shock from downed power lines.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), and US Fire Administration (USFA) are warning that you should never use portable generators indoors, in basements, garages, or close to a home, even if doors and windows are open. The exhaust from generators contains high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) that are in fact greater than that of multiple cars running in a garage and can quickly incapacitate and kill. Remember that carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can kill in mere minutes. Also be sure that any electrical cables you use with a generator are free of damage and labeled safe for outdoor

Let's face it, sometimes you're really NOT in the mood for some lovin'. But just because you've been feeling pretty turned off lately doesn't mean that you can't turn yourself right back on! In fact, revving-up your sexual engine can be as simple as modifying your diet, changing some bad habits, going to bed earlier or reading a racy book - or two! So get ready, ladies. Here are the top 10 ways to fire up your sexual desire.

Stimulate your mind1. Stimulate Your… Brain
When it comes a woman's sexual desire, there may be no organ more powerful than the brain. Just look at the recent success of the male stripper movie Magic Mike or the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, which is said to be saving people's sex lives around the country. Women are finally allowing their minds to wander into fantasyland without feelings of guilt or shame. And any woman can tell you that once her mind is set on getting some lovin', the rest of the body will soon follow!

Related: Boost Your Sexual Confidence

2. Get Some

Celebrate Halloween with easy-to-make desserts that are almost too cute to eat.

Spooky spiders and marshmallow ghostsSpooky Spider and Marshmallow Ghosts
Spooky Spider: This chocolaty Halloween treat takes only a few minutes to put together and makes a fun project for trick-or-treaters of any age.

Marshmallow Ghosts: Sweet and chewy, these marshmallow ghosts are a playful Halloween treat.

Related: Dazzling DIY Halloween Decor

Fruit-based dessertsTrick-or-Treat Sweets
Cobweb Crisps
Pear Ghosts
Apple Jack-o-'lanterns
Brownie Goblins

Related: Cute Pets in Costume



Cobweb cookiesCobweb Cookies
To conjure up a devilish-looking dessert, frost slice-and-bake sugar cookies with white royal icing. Then, starting at the cookie's center, pipe circles of black icing; create cobwebs by alternately dragging a toothpick from the center to the edge, and from the edge to the center.

Related: No-Carve Pumpkins

What goodies will you be munching on this Halloween? Let us know in the comments!

More from Good Housekeeping:

• 10 Ways to Spice Up Your Relationship
  

How to clean up after a natural disaster

While disasters can last a few minutes or several hours, the damage they leave can take months to clean up. Hurricanes and heavy rainfall can cause flooding in your home, which can lead to mold growth. Even though mold may seem harmless, its spores can cause serious health issues. Once floodwater recedes in your home, action needs to be taken immediately to remove the mold. While you may try to salvage everything, you have to inspect each item and consider if it's worth your time and money to save. Here are ways to determine what's salvageable and what isn't.

Fabrics that can't be cleaned and dried thoroughly or pieces that have visible discoloration, irreversible shrinkage, or are contaminated with sewage are unsalvageable. Among these items are mattresses, carpeting, and plush toys that aren't easily cleaned and sanitized.

However, pieces that can be cleaned, sanitizied, and dried completely are salvageable. First, these items should be sorted by washing method and cleaned

Trick or Treat!

Here's the thing about Halloween candy: At 80 calories apiece, a fun size peanut-packed bar is a perfectly innocent treat. But the trick, at least for me and most people I know, is to stick with just one bar. With all the candy lying around, it's so tempting-and all too easy-to swallow hundreds of extra calories over the course of the night, not to mention the days that follow. So in order to avoid weeks of candy binges and sugar comas, here are a few healthier ideas for Halloween giveaways that will leave your kids happy and your waistline intact (that is, if they're willing to share).

1. Wonderful Pistachios "Frankenweenie": Packed in Halloween-themed individual bags, pistachios are delicious, fun to eat, and loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats. "Frankenweenie" bags can be found in Walmart stores nationwide.

Related: Tricks for Eating Halloween Treats without Gaining Weight

2. Angie's Authentic Kettle Corn: Popcorn is a surprising source of whole grains. Each