Aurelia Butler

Standout wallpaper, paint colors and wood paneling to bring your retreat to life. More

Despite your best efforts to keep your house sparkling clean and bug-free, it doesn’t always work. Even with the best cleaning tips and top-tested cleaning products, pesky weevils can still make their way into your home, more specifically in your kitchen pantry or where you keep dry goods such as flour or rice. While weevils aren’t necessarily dangerous or harmful to humans or pets, they are a nuisance. Unfortunately, by the time you spot them, there’s already an infestation — which means you’ll want to get rid of them ASAP. To learn more about weevils, how to get rid of these unwelcome visitors quickly and prevent them from coming in, we teamed up with urban entomology expert, Changlu Wang, Ph.D., of Rutgers University, who focuses on biology, ecology and the management of urban pests. Follow our guide below for everything you need to know on how to get rid of weevils. What are weevils and how do they get inside the house?A weevil is part of the beetle family and they are tiny bugs that are practically invisible to the naked eye until fully grown. There are various types of weevils, and the kind that invades your pantry feed on dry goods such as grains, rice, beans, cereals, seeds, nuts and more.According to Wang, they can fly into your home or come in through contaminated food. Weevils can also lay their eggs inside dry goods like grains, rice, beans, etc., which means it’s possible to buy food at the store that already has weevils in the bag. While you should inspect each bag of food before you buy it for open or torn packaging, it’s nearly impossible to spot the eggs or bugs until they are fully grown and have become a problem. You’ll know you have weevils if you spot tiny brown bugs in your dry goods or around the food containers. Weevils are especially easy to spot in light-colored foods like rice and light-colored grains. Other signs you may have weevils are “damaged packages or fine dust inside or outside of food containers,” Wang says. How to get rid of weevilsThere’s no need to panic if you spot weevils inside your pantry as they’re generally harmless, but you’ll want to get rid of them quickly. Wang states that while weevils typically just damage food, some people may experience an allergic reaction when exposed to a large number of beetles. It’s best to try to prevent weevils in the first place, but even with precautions, it may not be entirely possible to prevent them altogether. While getting rid of weevils isn’t hard, it can be time-consuming and tedious. Here’s what you need to do:”Throw away any infested food,” advises Wang. If you suspect any opened or unopened packages that might have or had weevils, it’s best to get rid of them. Be sure to check nearby containers as well even if they haven’t been opened. Weevils can chew through cardboard and plastic, which means they can also get into unopened packages of food.Get rid of excess food packaging such as cardboard boxes if the food is in an airtight bag that hasn’t been contaminated. Weevils can hide in packaging and re-emerge later.”If trying to salvage food, put items in the freezer for a few days or spread the food under the hot summer sun, if suitable, and then store them in a sealed container,” recommends Wang. If you’re unsure whether it can be salvaged, it’s best to dispose of the item.After getting rid of the affected foods, you’ll want to deep clean your pantry. Take everything out of the pantry and thoroughly vacuum the shelves, including the cracks and crevices where weevils may hide. You’ll want to dispose of the vacuum bag or dump the vacuum contents outside and clean and disinfect it before bringing it back in.Wipe the shelves with hot soapy water or a disinfecting spray then wipe again with white vinegar, which is known to kill weevils.Clean any unaffected items such as cans or containers before returning them to the pantry. How to prevent weevils from coming insideInspect dry goods before purchasing for open or torn packaging.Freeze grains or dry goods for a minimum of four days to kill any larvae or eggs.Store food in tightly sealed containers. “These containers can be glass or metal with tight lids that are bug-proof,” says Wang.Buy dry goods in smaller quantities if possible, to prevent storing them for too long. Wang also suggests getting rid of old food.Regularly clean the pantry, clean up spills immediately and inspect pantry and dry goods for any signs of weevils.
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Learning how to crochet can be such a great experience once you get all the basics down. And when we think of the foundational steps of crocheting, we think of the single crochet stitch. If you’re new to the craft, you’re in luck: As part of our GH Stitch Club, we’re showing beginners all the basic techniques for knitting and crocheting, including how to single crochet.

A single crochet is the most basic, and in some cases, the most important step to tackle before you create a project (FYI: we have a bunch of great options to choose from here) as there are so many ways to work it. You can make baby booties, a hat and scarf by using just single crochet stitches. Once you’ve got it down, you can continue to work with the single crochet on its own or combine it with other stitches, depending on what you’re making.Note: In the video above we’re using two strands of yarn to crochet, but typically, you will only be using one. How to single crochetStep 1: Make a loop.Step 2: Insert your hook into the first loop.Step 3: Yarn over and pull through to create a second loop on your hook.Step 4: Yarn over once again and pull through the two loops on your hook.
PICK YOUR PATTERN

Garter Knit Scarf

yarnspirations.com

Jiffy Cowl

yarnspirations.com

Chunky Crochet Beanie

yarnspirations.com

Twisted Crochet Headband

yarnspirations.com

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

From reviving wood furniture to giving garden beds some love. More

Designer Maureen Stevens set out to give this 1920s home a modern makeover, and by incorporating cool colors, gold hardware and geometric details, she was able to give the Victorian-style home new life. Still, she held onto its unique history, making the century-old crown molding, stain glass windows and original bathroom fixtures the home’s focal point. Fill your inspiration board with decor ideas from this sun-drenched home. Along the way, steal Good Housekeeping Cleaning and Home Care Lab Director Carolyn Forte’s top tips on how to keep every room in your home sparkling.Living Room

Peter Molick

The living room’s relaxing hue (Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl) recedes to allow the century-old bright white trim to pop. Architectural accents like a coffered ceiling draw the eye up to the ceiling.Kitchen

Peter Molick

Textured pendants, crafted in Thailand in the style of traditional bamboo fishing baskets, unite the kitchen’s and sunroom’s natural elements. Cleaning Tip: Intricate moldings serve as stylish focal points, but these fancy details can harbor spiderwebs. To remove them, you’ll need an extendable duster. Look for one that expands to six feet, giving you over 11 feet of reach.

Peter Molick

The retro pattern acts as a counterpoint to the warm wood shelves and the elegant brass hardware. Cleaning Tip: Polished fixtures can be a bit of a challenge to keep spot-free. To prevent hard-water minerals from marring the shine, dry water drops with a glass-cleaning microfiber cloth. It will buff without streaking. Bathroom

Peter Molick

Keeping vintage fixtures like stained glass, a claw-foot tub and the original sink and tile was priority one for the homeowners. The result is a bright room that highlights period details. Cleaning Tip: Soaking a shower head in vinegar to remove hard-water clogs can mar its finish. Dip a soft brush in vinegar to scrub, then rinse.

Peter Molick

Mixed tiles in black and white — and a wooden bench for a dose of comfort — complete the small shower in the primary bathroom. “The hard edges of the wall tiles and the round edges of the penny tiles work well together,” Stevens says. “It’s a good balance between simple and drastic.”

Keep Your Small Space Clean With These Tools

Wipe Out Pivoting Shower Squeegee

Full Circle
amazon.com

$12.16

A squeegee offers an easy way to keep shower doors and walls spot-free. This one pivots for better corner wiping and includes a suction cup for hanging.  More

It’s time for a spiff and shine, table and chairs! More

Recently, the scientists in the GH Textiles Lab noticed an alarming trend: A growing number of bedding and clothing brands were claiming that their products were made of bamboo, eucalyptus or other tree fibers — and consumers seemed interested, based on the growth in online searches. From their experience, our experts knew these products couldn’t contain any trace of the plants promoted in the claims, so after thorough research we selected a wide assortment of items for additional analysis. Here are the details and the results of the investigation: How We TestedOur scientists zeroed in on over 50 products clearly marketed as being made of bamboo, eucalyptus or beechwood fibers, including clothing, footwear and bedding. We bought 10 of them, reviewed their labels and sent them to an outside lab for fiber-identification testing. The result: For all 10 items, the lab could not detect any trace of the claimed plants or trees in the final fabric.What Are the Products Actually Made Of?All 10 products we tested contained rayon. Rayon is the umbrella term for fibers manufactured from plant cellulose. Types of rayon include viscose, lyocell and modal. While they are similar, “they vary based on the manufacturing steps,” explains Lexie Sachs, GH Institute textiles director and head fiber scientist. It can be confusing because the process of making fabric from bamboo, eucalyptus or another tree does start with the plant. “But the raw plant materials are chemically dissolved to the point that they no longer exist in the final fabric,” says Sachs. “All that’s left is cellulose, which is then processed with more chemicals and turned into fibers.” In other words, the products are derived from bamboo or trees, but not made of them. How Is Cotton Different?Cotton grows as a fiber, whereas plants like bamboo and eucalyptus grow as tough stalks and tree wood. When cotton gets processed to make a finished fabric, the fiber isn’t chemically changed and its overall structure remains the same. So when a lab examines cotton from sheets or clothing under a microscope, the original cotton fiber is still visible. How Plants Become RayonA chemical heavy process removes all trace of the original substance

Grow Raw Material

Plants or trees are harvested, then chopped into pieces.

Turn to Pulp

The pieces are chemically processed into pulp consisting of cellulose, leaving behind virtually everything from the original plant.

Dissolve in Chemicals

The pulp gets chemically turned into a liquid, removing any remnants of the raw material.

Form Into Fibers

Next, the liquid goes through a spinneret, a device with small holes, where it’s transformed into fibers in a chemical bath.

Finish The Fabric

The processed fibers are cleaned and made into yarn for fabric.

What the Law SaysThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires brands to use the manufactured name for rayon fibers such as viscose and lyocell. It does allow brands to reference the raw material if it is included along with the generic name — e.g., “viscose from bamboo” — but companies are skipping this qualifier in product names and marketing.

“If it’s not made directly of bamboo fiber, don’t call it bamboo… That’s a mistake.”

Some brands list the accurate name in fine print or on a garment’s label, but that’s not enough to comply with regulations. A statement for businesses on the FTC website explains: “If it’s not made directly of bamboo fiber, don’t call it bamboo. Not anywhere, not any way.” In the same statement, the FTC points out: “Some companies seem to think that if they modify their content disclosures to accurately read ‘rayon,’ they’re free to use the word ‘bamboo’ in product titles and descriptions. That’s a mistake.”The FTC provides a concise “How to Avoid Bamboozling Your Customers” guide on its website to prevent brands from making this kind of error. It has sued some companies for false bamboo labeling, but this has only scratched the surface; it hasn’t yet sued regarding false claims involving fibers from trees like eucalyptus and beechwood.Why It’s a ProblemDescribing a product’s fiber with a plant name instead of the correct term can mislead shoppers in a variety of ways, including:Greenwashing This tactic overstates a product’s eco-friendly qualities to drive sales. Bamboo rayon may not be as “green” as you think: Harsh chemicals are often used to make it. Lyocell is considered a better option than viscose because the solvent used to make it is less toxic and can be reused.Besides the environmental impact from chemicals in the production process, fabrics derived from trees may contribute to deforestation if they’re not properly sourced. When you shop, you can check whether companies comply with FSC or PEFC standards to ensure the trees are coming from sustainably managed forests. Deception“Bamboo,” “eucalyptus” or “beechwood” may sound more luxurious and special than rayon, leading consumers to purchase a product for the wrong reasons.False PromisesBrands sometimes highlight properties of the plant or tree in their marketing, as in saying bamboo is naturally antimicrobial. When the plant gets chemically dissolved, it loses all trace of those characteristics. Anil N. Netravali, Ph.D., a professor of fiber science and apparel design at Cornell University, explains that regardless of the plant used at the start, “the purified pulp contains mostly cellulose. All the other chemicals, such as antimicrobials in bamboo, are removed.”FTC attorney Miriam Lederer tells Good Housekeeping that consumers should be able to see clearly that a product has attributes of rayon instead of the raw material. She says having the fiber name in certain places may not be enough, “because consumers might make their purchase decisions before seeing the full and accurate fiber-content disclosure.”The Reason It’s EverywhereWith the rise of start-ups and direct-to-consumer brands, bedding and apparel companies are often run by entrepreneurs instead of people with backgrounds in textiles. “It’s possible that brands don’t even realize they’re making a mistake because suppliers provide them with information that’s either inaccurate or misinterpreted,” says Sachs. While the brands do a great job marketing and getting on consumers’ radar, they may have less understanding of how the product is made and how to follow U.S. regulations.Our Lab pros also spoke with textile experts from SGS, a leading worldwide provider of testing and other validation services. They agreed that marketers could be misled by suppliers about fiber content and product specifications, and they urged brands to verify all claims before relaying them to consumers. Most important, “Claims must be substantiated by technical documents to prove they’re true, accurate, relevant and verifiable,” says Min Zhu, Ph.D., technical director for softlines at SGS North America.Even when suppliers provide accurate information, it can easily be distorted. “Robust storytelling and the disconnect between designer and marketing can lead to incorrect labeling and communications,” says Tricia Carey, director of global business development at Lenzing, a popular fiber manufacturer. “We see more emerging brands that need education on product labeling.”How Brands RespondedWe reached out to all 10 companies to let them know about our findings and to learn about their validation processes. Within days, six brands took steps toward fixing the mistakes, such as adding “viscose” or “lyocell” to their website descriptions and changing product names. Several claimed they’d had no idea the original plants weren’t in the fabrics and said they hadn’t tested their products themselves. Some said they knew the plant was only the raw material but didn’t realize they weren’t allowed to refer to the fabric using a plant name. Two brands did not respond.Where We Found ClaimsThese examples show common places to spot mislabeled rayon fibers, along with specific instances from items we tested. We asked these brands to share how they validate the marketing claims and whether they had considered FTC regulations.

Tags & Packaging

Viscose sheets from Cozy Earth are described as “100% bamboo” and “bamboo fabric” on the hang tag, with a viscose mention in the last paragraph.Cozy Earth told Good Housekeeping they believe these sheets are FTC compliant because they include viscose on packaging and “since consumers use the generic term ‘bamboo’ to describe these sheets…we too have used the term bamboo to help them find what they are looking for.”

The packaging for Luxome’s viscose sheets is marked as “100% Bamboo Bed Sheet Set” without any mention of viscose.A representative for Luxome confirmed it uses viscose from bamboo and said they plan to update the product packaging. They also said they would be updating its website to reflect the viscose mentions included on the fiber labels.

Garment Labels

Modal joggers from Bleusalt claim “95% beechwood” on the tag.The brand first asserted that they were “absolutely beechwood and tree fibers,” then later said they were making it a priority to change the labels after speaking with their supplier.

Emilia George’s viscose/cotton blend dress is marked as “70% bamboo.”The company first told Good Housekeeping that its “supplier screwed [them] over” and after further review said they plan to change its label.

The Rora sheets from Rove Concepts are 100% viscose, but labeled as “100% organic bamboo.”Rove Concepts did not provide a response, and has not made any updates to the bamboo marketing on its website.

Websites

Lyocell fabric from Reebok’s sneaker is marketed online as “eucalyptus tree textile.”A representative for the brand responded for comment by saying the source material for the lyocell is “primarily eucalyptus wood pulp” and has not revised its marketing.

Nook’s crib mattress cover uses lyocell, polyester and cotton, yet boasts being made of “eucalyptus” throughout its online listing.The brand did not provide a response and has not adjusted claims on its website.

Comma Home mentioned lyocell in the specs, but described their “Eucalyptus Comforter” as being made with “real eucalyptus fibers.”The brand said they were told it was eucalyptus fibers from their factories, and have since changed the product names and descriptions to reflect lyocell.

Easy Ways to Shop Smarter Keep an eye out for specific fiber names instead of unsubstantiated eco claims. For a legitimately sustainable option, look for Lenzing fibers, such as its Tencel-branded lyocell. It’s sourced from responsibly managed forests and made via a greener process with safer chemicals and less waste. If brands use it, it’s often listed on their websites and labels. GH Lab–Approved PicksIf you’re looking for soft, sustainably made rayon options, you can trust that these products use responsibly sourced Tencel fibers without going overboard on their claims.

Bedsheets
Tencel Sheet Set

West Elm
westelm.com

$150.00

This 100% lyocell fabric is moisture wicking and incredibly smooth, and it’s made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.

Bath Towels
Legends Hotel Cotton & Tencel Bath Towel

The Company Store
thecompanystore.com

$42.00

Their ultra-plush feel is achieved through combining cotton with lyocell fibers.

Clothing
French Terry Puff Sleeve Pullover

Summersalt
summersalt.com

$75.00

Soft, stylish and not too heavy, this lyocell-blend sweatshirt is the perfect wardrobe staple.

Shoes
Neumel Natural

Ugg
ugg.com

$140.00

A hemp and cotton upper, a lyocell lining and soles of consciously sourced rubber help reduce these boots’ eco footprint. 

Baby Products
Organic Cotton Tencel Wearable Blanket

Pottery Barn Kids
potterybarnkids.com

$59.50

Breathable cotton muslin is mixed with smooth lyocell in this sleep sack for crib use.

Bottom LineThe fact that these products are mislabeled doesn’t mean they’re low quality. In fact, several of our top-tested products contain rayon. Just be wary of plant-content claims. More