Blog Posts by Good Housekeeping

Tips for Buying HeadphonesThere's such a vast selection of headphones out there that picking the perfect pair can be a daunting task. Before you go shopping, here are two questions to ask yourself and our advice for answering them.

1. What type should I buy?

Earbuds, in-ears, and canalbuds: As they're similar in size and shape, I've grouped these 3 categories together. Earbuds (which come packed with mp3 players) rest on your outer ear; in-ears need to be inserted into the ear canal; canalbuds are a hybrid that rest just inside the ear canal as opposed to being wedged all the way in.

Related: 6 Listener-Friendly Headphones

Advantages:

• Very compact and lightweight
• Tight seal helps isolate external noise (especially true of in-ear headphones)
• Little interference with hair, glasses, earrings, etc

Disadvantages:

• Sound quality's not as good as from full-size models
• They can be hard to get a tight and/or comfortable fit
• Can fall out of the ear more readily

Tips for Preserving Summer ProduceIt's hard to believe, but Labor Day is a week away, and autumn isn't far behind. Lucky for us, though, late-summer fruits and vegetables are still plentiful at markets and farm stands. Canning and preserving have always seemed to me to be the ultimate methods for revisiting those summer flavors in the depths of winter. However, I was never willing to take the time or make room to put up huge batches of raspberry jam or jars of crunchy dills. What I do hope to try - before the end of the season - is to maximize my produce, even for just an extra week or two, by doing some quick, small-batch preserving - then storing in the fridge or freezer.

If you can't eat all your fruit before it's past its prime, try one of these quick jams (three-berry, ginger-peach, or raspberry/blueberry). They rely on sugar and pectin to make preserves that are fruity and fresh-tasting and will last up to three weeks in your refrigerator.

Related: How to Freeze Anything

Have an abundance of

Tips for Hotter SexWe all know it by now: Sex isn't always as easy as rolling out of (or into) bed. In fact, in a survey of 32,000 women by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, 40% said they had a problem, whether it was low desire, dryness, or difficulty reaching orgasm. "Your sex life is bound to change as your body and your life change," says Bat Sheva Marcus, Ph.D., clinical director of the Medical Center for Female Sexuality in New York City. "That's normal." But don't assume that a slump means your sex life is over. Several recent studies have found that even many 80-year-olds are getting plenty of satisfaction (spelled o-r-g-a-s-m-s). The secret to lifelong passion? Finding ways to deal with common desire-killers. Here, a busy woman's guide to sizzling sex for life.

Related: Beat Boring Bedroom Syndrome

Your Hormones Are Going Haywire

When Jackie,* of Cortlandt Manor, NY, and her husband got married more than 20 years ago, they made a rule that they'd always have

Identical twins prove that chic, body-flattering clothes can age you - in reverse. Here's how smart tailoring, kicked-up color, and a dash of daring can make years disappear.

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Kids can be the biggest mess-makers, so don't mess around when it comes to teaching them good organizing habits! The sooner you can empower your kids with these concepts, the better. Preparing our kids to be independent adults will be much easier if they've been taught these skills and habits, and it can make your life easier now, too!

Limit KeepsakesPut Limits on Keepsakes
Some children let go of things more easily than others, but for those who are stubborn about wanting to save every little thing, give them what we call a "limiting container." They can keep all of the keepsakes they want, as long as they fit in this box, or on this shelf.

Related: 10 Biggest Organizing Mistakes

Have Morning and Evening Routines
You may know your everyday habits, but be more deliberate about verbalizing the steps of your morning and evening routines with the kids. You can even post a checklist on a bathroom mirror or bedroom wall for things like packing your lunch, gathering your

Tips for Increasing HappinessLately I've been thinking about the importance of "small treats." By small treats, I mean ordinary, minor indulgences that we don't give ourselves every single day. Small treats are a lovely source of momentary pleasure in our everyday lives, of course, and I think they also have a deeper role to play in happiness. I've vowed to make time to treat myself.

Why do small treats matter? When we feel depleted and drained, and when we have no time or energy left to devote to little activities that give us pleasure, we start to feel exhausted, resentful, and angry. Indulging in a small treat helps refresh and energize us. It's easier to be patient with your children in the afternoon if you had coffee with a friend that morning. It's easier to tackle a big project when you're looking forward to making a trip to the office-supply store. (Though perhaps I'm the only one who loves a trip to the office-supply store.)

Related: How to Increase Your Happiness

But even when you want

How to Wash Your CarBy the end of the summer, most cars have probably accumulated a few extra layers of dirt and grime on their exteriors from road trips and other seasonal activities. Don't want to spend money on a car wash? Here are 5 DIY steps to make the outside of your car look like new.

1. Before applying any water, park your car on your lawn in the shade. Washing your car in these areas, respectively, helps prevent water spots from forming and prevents the dirt and soap from going down storm drains.

Related: Easy Car Overhauls

2. As you would pre-treat your laundry stains, pre-wash the sections that have dried on bugs and road tar with a cleaner formulated for these sticky messes, like Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover.

3. Spray your car down with cool water and wash with an automobile cleaner. Never use household cleaners, like hand dish soap. Not only will these products strip the wax off your car, but they need hot water to really cut through grease and grime.

4. Be sure to rinse

Tips for Grilling PizzaGrilled pizza is the ultimate Evel Knievel-esque stunt for a backyard cookout.

A crowd gathers around you as you sidle up to the grill, double-checking your equipment. Hot, clean grill? Check. Rounds of dough? Check. Toppings all ready to go? Check.

As your friends look on with anxious eyes, you lift your round of dough into the air and deftly lay it onto the grill. Your guests hold their breath while you serenely gaze at the dough as it begins to puff gently. Flipping it over and admiring the perfect grill marks, you garner amazed smiles, even perhaps some light applause and a high-five or two. Take a bow, you've just pulled off quite the daredevil stunt.

Related: Tastiest Frozen Pizzas

Of course, in reality, your guests will never fully understand just how simple and easy grilled pizza is, once you become familiar with the technique. Here are a few tips for making this impressive dish a breeze:

1. Make sure your grill is hot and clean. This goes for grilling