I have no idea what has caused this ‘flame’ in the garden, but perhaps it really does symbolise the heart of it. I was not aware of the flame while I was working in the garden today, removing and cleaning the bricks from the low retaining wall at the back of one of the bold borders, and it only became evident when I looked at the photos later. Looking at the wider picture, when there was about a third of the wall left to remove and clean, you can see that there is a glass sculpture in the border but, at the time the picture was taken, the sun (and it was a sunny day) was behind me and to my right, so it wasn’t shining through the glass. Curiously, as I perched on my makeshift stool, chipping away at the bricks with my lump hammer and chisel, I found myself thinking of earlier civilisations, chipping away with bones and stones to make their artefacts – so could I perhaps have been joined by ghosts from the distant past, huddled round their fire for warmth…?
Is Pre-Rinsing Before Loading the Dishwasher a Must?
24.12.2023 - 11:29 / thespruce.com / Ashley Chalmers
Having a dishwasher is great, but it can lead to some questions. From wondering what items are dishwasher-safe to asking whether dish soap and dish detergent are interchangeable, we’ve all been there.
There’s one question that comes up particularly often, and people have strong opinions on the correct answer. Do you have to pre-rinse your plates, utensils, and dishware before loading them into your dishwasher?
We turned to a few of our favorite cleaning professionals to find out, once and for all, if this is a must for every single load. The short answer? No, you probably don't need to pre-rinse… but the answer can be complicated.
The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
No two meal messes are the same, but in most cases, a rinse isn't the most effective first step. According to Ronnie Kendrick, founder of CompanyClean, simply scraping off any excess food is just as effective as a full rinse.
«You won't need to pre-rinse if you're properly removing food beforehand,» Kendrick says. «Large food particles can clog the dishwasher’s filter, so it’s good practice to scrape off large bits of food.»
Beyond handling extra food and mess, there are other reasons you can skip pre-rinsing before loading your machine.
Technology gets better with time, and this applies to dishwashers, too. Kendrick says if your machine is newer, you don't need to tackle your dishes before you run a load.
«Modern dishwashers are powerful, efficient, and purpose-built for dealing with food residue,» he says.
In fact, according to Marilee Nelson, the co-founder of Branch Basics, says most dishwasher manufacturers advise against pre-rinsing.
«If you do decide to rinse, don't stress about removing every tiny speck,» she says. «That's what your dishwasher is
The Birds and The Bees (and Bunnies...)
The Birds and The Bees (and Bunnies...) My backyard seems to be the perfect place to raise a brood of bunnies! Baby bunny takeover
Brian Minter: Vibrant, versatile poinsettias are the showstoppers of the season
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Traditional Eclectic Is Our New Favorite Home Aesthetic
If you’ve been scrolling through your TikTok feed, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over charmingly layered decor styles, you’re not alone.
Don’t miss the February 2024 issue of The English Garden magazine
As 2024 gets underway, we’ve taken inspiration from Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions and time, who looks both forwards and back. Our gardens have all featured in our pages in the past, but we revisit them here and take a closer look at how they’ve developed over time, and how they’re changing now their owners have new challenges to contend with.
End of the Year: Organised Mayhem at the Bottom of the Garden
In terms of a review of the year as a whole, there is not a lot to say, with it being more a case of consolidation than of change, building on subtle changes made the year before, like moving snowdrops to the woodland, thinning the apple trees to introduce more light to the woodland edge border below, and extending the blue & white borders. Even the current project, despite the organised mayhem it has generated, will only bring about a subtle change to the garden. Within the garden as a whole, mixed weather patterns created uncertainty in flowering times but there were negligible losses from the previous cold winter and no problems with waterlogging during the last few rainy and unsettled months.
The "Move Out Method" Is a Great Way to Organize
While the holiday season can be a time of excess, once the season has ended, it's a great time to declutter. Whether you’re making space to store holiday decor or eager to do a full clean-out once the festivities close, it’s a time to make your home feel cozy and comfortable.
6 Home Renovation Trends You Might Want to Skip in 2024
If you’re tackling a renovation in the new year, you might have big goals and even bigger dreams. But even if your contractor won’t say it, you might want to rein it in.
These 2023 Spruce-Tested Products Are All on Sale Before the New Year
Now that holiday shopping is over, it’s time to think about what to buy for your home. If you need some help choosing products, we have all the advice you need. We’ve tested hundreds of products this year, and some of our favorites on sale ahead of the new year.
16 Products to Give Your Home the Ultimate Refresh
January is the perfect time to get organized and give your home a mini refresh ahead of a deeper spring clean. We can't get enough of all the ways we plan to tackle this exact thing come 2024.
9 Issues You Absolutely Must Fix Before You Sell Your Home
Before you list your home for sale, you must be aware of all its potential problems. Major and minor issues inevitably crop up on inspection reports, and fixing the big ones (and some of the small ones) will help you get your money’s worth on a home.
