Photo: Andriana Syvanych (Shutterstock)

Loofahs are great for exfoliating the skin, and while one of them is my normal shower companion, I had no idea what they are. I assumed that the coarse tubes were either natural sponges from the sea or maybe some kind of factory made. But it turns out to be actually a plant from the pumpkin family, and you can grow it right in your garden.

Your scientific name is Luffa aegyptiacaand its outside resembles a cucumber. On the inside you will find an edible, pumpkin-like meat that, when overripe, hardens into the familiar, peeling mesh tubes. Who knew, the entire time we were paying $ 5.99 per pop for store-bought loofahs when we could just pick them from the vine ourselves. Here’s what you need to know in order to grow an unlimited supply of scrubbing loofahs.

Prepare your seeds

Luffa seeds (or luffa seeds) can be purchased from your local gardening store or ordered online (AmazonI know it’s amazing. As with any planting process, you want to give them the best shot while germinating. Smart gardening recommends soaking the seeds Put water in a bowl for 24 hours before planting. (For even better results, use a heating pad to aid the germination process.)

Plant in warm environments

The loofah plant grows similar to summer squash and needs somewhere of it 150 to 200 consecutive warm days to grow and mature. So if you live in places like Florida or California, which have lots of beautiful sunny days, you are in a prime location for loofah growth. For those who live in cooler regions like the Northeast, you should first plant the seeds in pots around your house and then replant them outdoors just before the onset of summer. This is one of the toughest parts of the growing process, according to the DIY site The art of doing things;; They recommend using paper plant pots indoors so you can plant outdoors without removing them from the pots. “[reducing] the risk of transplant shock, to which loofah plants are susceptible. “Plant outdoors six to eight weeks before summer starts, you have the best chance of a healthy transplant.

Loofah plants can grow up to 30 feet tallSo when you’re ready to plant outside, you need something sturdy for the plant vines to hold on to, such as a garden stick. B. a chain link fence. Make sure your plant is in a location with lots of direct sun, otherwise the loofahs may not ripen. Smart gardening Remarks, “[i]It is important to … encourage rapid and even growth by maintaining soil moisture and feeding the plants regularly. ”

G / O Media can receive a commission

Be patient and let the loofah turn brown

To achieve the desired fibrous loofah texture, plants need to mature beyond their edible phase. The bright green color of the outer skin should have turned a deep brown before picking. You can test if your loofah is ready for harvest by shaking it on the vine. after the garden plot The spruceWhen you hear the seeds rattle inside, the fibers are completely dry and hardened. (Keep in mind that this process can take anywhere from 150 to 200 days, so be patient.)

Peel and dry

After the plant has hardened, you should peel off the outer skin to reveal the fiber rod underneath. You can do this by Cracking the skin at the bottom (opposite the handle) and peel it off with your fingers. Squeeze the pumpkin to create cracks that make it easier to peel. You can also soak the plant in water to remove the skin when it is wet. However, this increases the subsequent drying time required before the loofah is ready for use.

When you have successfully removed all of the skin, knock out any remaining seeds (hold on to some next time you plan to plant new loofahs) and remove unwanted particles with soapy water. Put the loofah in the sun to dry it completely 24 hours, turn occasionally until it is completely dry. After the loofah is completely dry, it is ready to use immediately.

Congratulations. You just made your own loofah.

Photo: Rido (Shutterstock)

Renting an apartment comes without the obligation of a mortgage, but often without the luxury of customization. In general, the owner or landlord sets the rules as to what can and cannot be changed. Some stricter rules even prohibit holes in the walls for pictures.

But while you probably won’t be able to tear down walls or install a skylight, some minor tweaks can be made and easily returned to its original state when you exit. Here are some semi-permanent cosmetic changes you can make to make your home your own.

You can change your cabinet hardware

Replacing cabinet door knobs sounds like a tiny change, but it can certainly help transform a room. And replacing is easy as long as you have a screwdriver and tape measure.

cabinet Screw templates This makes it easier to measure and uses a series of pilot holes to replace the cabinet knobs even without a tape measure. Ask your landlord whether painting the cabinets is also allowed. With new buttons and a fresh coat of paint, your kitchen can look completely different.

You can upgrade your lights

Lighting can drastically change the look of a room, but you probably won’t be able to rewire your temporary home. The next best thing is wireless wall lightsThese are wall lights, similar to the ones you can see on either end of a hotel bed.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Typically, you would have to run cables into the walls to install the floating light fixture. Instead, you can buy battery powered wall lights and mount the light on the wall. The added light can make the room look bigger without cluttering the floor plan, and if you plan to use the lights frequently, this is an option Plug-in wall lights instead.

You can paint your doors

Most of the apartments come with you Build quality Surfaces that are cookie cutters and generic. Landlords tend to want something cheap so they can buy in bulk or easily replace things when they get damaged. But to give the room your own flair, TikToker and craftsmen Brandon Gentry recommends painting all doors. For even more character, turn off the doorknobs to complement the color and add a little more to your style.

You can change your faucets

It’s a little more advanced so you might need a permit, but you can probably also swap out the faucets in your bathroom and kitchen. Before starting, make sure the faucet shutoff is in place, which is usually a Button under the sink.

Unless you swap out the sink (which you probably aren’t) you’ll need to find a new faucet that will fit the available sink opening, but there’s no shortage of options there. With thousands of exciting Shapes, colors and styles You will find the right look for every type of faucet. And if you’re intimidated by installing a new faucet (because it’s more like a involved process), just call a professional who can turn it off quickly if your landlord agrees. And they probably will because a nicer, newer bathroom and kitchen are better for them, too.

Photo: M-Production (Shutterstock)

All the signs are that Americans are ready to go back to their normal vacation this summer, and airlines are doing what they can Lure customers back into the air. Aircrew, pilots and Flight attendants drove a difficult road in the past 15 months, from figuring out how to deal with limited answers in the early days of the pandemic, to dealing with anti-maskers, to trying to stay safe yourself.

So before you ask for a blanket and headphones before departure after your next boarding, take some time to consider the staff who are protecting you (in several ways). Here are some ways to show your appreciation for flight attendants. The added consequence of this will likely mean that you will also have a much more comfortable flight.

Be considerate

Flight attendants spend everywhere 75 to 100 hours in the air every month, and many extra hours of paperwork preparing for flights. In addition, part-time flight attendants are only paid after the flight has started. Their work starts with a smile and a greeting before they’re even on the clock. Yes, they signed up for it, but nobody likes being stuffed on a plane. The least we can all do is have warm customers.

You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that getting on the good side of a flight attendant begins with returning your warm greetings with eye contact, a smile, and a hello. Flight attendant Kara Mulder told the story Reader’s Digest Most people ignore the flight attendant’s greetings to rush to their seats. Take the time to acknowledge that your flight crew will come a long way. Mulder says good manners – even trying to have a real conversation – not only make one servant’s flight a tad brighter out of many, but it could also get you a free glass of wine after takeoff.

How to stay in the good hands of a flight attendant

Flight attendants are already working in customer service on the second or third flight of the day. Don’t be the person who makes their 50th flight of the month the worst.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Respect all passengers

If you are respectful of the flight attendants you will be in their good hands, but when you are friendly to your fellow travelers is also the key. Do not push past other passengers boarding and disembarking the aircraft. Slowly recline your seat with careful attention to the people behind you. Keep your feet on the floor and put on your shoes – put your bare feet on the seat in front of you Either way, you will lose brownie points from the staff.

Be prepared for the drink and snack service

Flight attendants are very busy serving customers. Make sure you have looked at the snack menu and are ready to order when they come by. Make sure you place your order clearly and precisely so you don’t have to ask three more questions (and remove your headphones while you’re at it). Try not to order large numbers of items as food is a limited resource in-flight (you are over 30,000 feet in the air and chances are someone is not getting their favorite juice). Think about your fellow travelers (and the people who have to serve them if they’re disappointed) and don’t order too much.

Clean up after yourself

Flight attendants work hard to make your flight as comfortable as possible, but they are not your personal cleaning service. Hold on to your garbage until the companions come by with garbage bags. There’s no need to get their attention or give them trash while they’re just walking by or serving drinks – they will be back specifically to collect trash. If it bothers you that much, go to the back of the plane yourself. And when you go, take your trash with you.

Be sure

Pandemic travel regulations are still in place. Always wear your mask over your mouth and nose. The CDC regards aircraft as a higher risk environment Flight attendants are responsible for the spread of COVID-19 as they are directly exposed to hundreds of customers on every flight more vulnerable than other flight crew members, so keep your mask on. Even if you’ve seen it before, watch out for that Demonstration of emergency protocols;; Making sure you capture this information is by far the most important job of the caregiver and is critical to everyone’s survival in an emergency.

Stay in your place

The flight attendants cannot predict when turbulence will occur. Do them a favor and stay in your seat unless you go to the bathroom. Remain seated when the seat belt sign is onand don’t try to run to the bathroom the second the sign turns off. Take it slow and be patient and you will have a smoother ride.

Treat them

Usually the flight attendants will give you things, but they might appreciate getting something in return. Rumor has it They’ll appreciate receiving your magazines after you’ve finished them, or some prepackaged goodies, or even your extra pens.

Photo: NoDerog (Getty Images)

The IRS says that Tax refunds of over $ 1.3 billion in 2017 are pending– Money that belongs to an estimated 1.3 million people who have not yet filed their tax returns for this year. However, if you owe money, act fast – there is only a week left to claim as the IRS is no longer holding on to unclaimed refunds for 2017 after May 17th.

Claim it or Lose it

The law requires the IRS to hold unclaimed tax refunds for three years. Thereafter, that money will become the property of the US Treasury Department. The IRS says the average claim is worth around $ 865, but loans can be worth thousands of dollars as well.

Via cnbcOne of the credits to be earned is the Earned Income Tax Credit. It’s worth $ 6,318 and can be claimed by anyone with incomes no greater than $ 48,340 if you have three children (there are lower thresholds if you have fewer or no children as listed) Here). Other credits can also be claimed:

How do you know if you owe money?

According to the IRS, the only way to tell if the IRS is holding your refund for 2017 is to file a return for that year (don’t call or use the IRS Where is my refund tool? to find out that there is no tax refund information for 2017). If you are unsure about how to file, but believe you may be owed a refund, the first thing you should do is contact a tax advisor to see if you also qualify for stray tax credits (some of which expired after 2017 are).

G / O Media can receive a commission

How to file a 2017 tax return

You must file your 2017 taxes with the Tax form 2017, either on-line or by mail (make sure it’s postmarked by May 17th) – this could be the 1040s, 1040-As, and 1040-EZs of the year found on IRS.gov. If you are using business tax software such as TurboTax or H&R Block, you have the option of either using the original 2017 form in the current software or downloading the version of the tax software for the last three years (2019, 2018 and 2017).

And if you miss W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 forms as of 2017, you can request them from former employers and banks or from the IRS Get the transcript online Tool.

Also note that even if you qualify for a refund, you don’t necessarily need to receive a check. These funds can be applied to other debts you may owe, such as: B. Child benefit or other tax back payments.