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Users took to Reddit to debate how to load utensils in the dishwasher correctly.While some users think loading them upwards can cause contamination when unloading, others believe that’s the only way to make sure they’re fully cleaned. That being said, are you team up, or team down?When it comes to repetitive household chores, there are certain tasks that just become automatic. Our brains become wired to just get it done, without thinking at all about what it is we’re doing. One example? Loading and unloading the dishwasher. While you might not have ever considered your way of doing it could be wrong, there’s a whole debate out there you might be missing: When loading utensils into the dishwasher, do you load them facing upwards (tongs up, handle down) or downwards (tongs down, handle up)?Apparently, people feel strongly one way or the other. Reddit users took to r/KitchenConfidential to debate the topic, and while you might not have ever thought twice about it, each side makes a pretty solid argument. The Case for Team UpReddit users who face their utensils upward when loading them into the dishwasher claim that putting the side that touches food (tongs, blade, etc.) up ensures it gets cleaned more thoroughly. “Knives and forks? Go with up. The better cleaning does a lot more than any potential ‘contamination’ when unloading,” says one user. “Always down? I’ve…honestly never done that. Just seems wrong,” they added. Viktoriya Skorikova//Getty Images”Up. You unload wearing gloves or with clean hands,” writes another. “If you’re at home, does it even really matter if you touched the part that goes into your mouth,” asks one user. Related StoriesThe Case for Team DownTeam down is all about safety and possible contamination—grabbing from the handle allows you to avoid touching anything sharp or possibly contaminating the freshly-cleaned utensils with the germs on your hands. “I was always told to put it down so that when you unload silverware you can easily grab it by the handle because you’re not supposed to touch food contact surfaces bare-handed,” writes @El_Guerrero_Maya. “I don’t believe for one second they’re cleaned better pointing up. Pointing down only,” writes one skeptic user. The Verdict While some feel very passionately that there is a black-and-white answer, there are also some users who say the issue is a bit more nuanced. “Any kind of spoon? Alternate. Otherwise they will ‘spoon’ together and never get cleaned properly,” adds one user.Others mention washing them twice if you work in the food service industry: “Flat on the tray, then down in the silver rack for the second run.””You should be running it through on a flat dish rack twice anyway, before it even ends up in the cutlery caddy,” writes another. The verdict? Our cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab actually recommend a mix of all of the above:Alternate spoons so they don’t nest together. Forks go up so the tines get clean.Knives go down for safety. So next time you go to load your utensils into the dishwasher, maybe it won’t be so automatic. Who knew? Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.  More

Many homeowners think you need to fertilize your lawn multiple times throughout the year. The truth is, a single application is usually enough.The best time to do it isn’t in the spring, but actually before the lawn goes dormant for the winter.An expert gives advice when and how to apply your fall fertilizer.A lot of lawn care companies want you to think you need to fertilize your lawn multiple times throughout the year. The truth is, a single application is usually enough. But only if you put it down at the right time, which many homeowners assume to be spring. Seems logical, right? The grass is coming back, time to hit it with some nutrients.But it’s, in fact, just the opposite. The end of the growing season, before the lawn goes dormant for the winter, is the crucial time to fertilize, because doing so will fortify its root system, helping the grass grow back green and lush in the spring. “Fall fertilizer gives your lawn an advantage by helping it outgrow winter weeds and then preventing crabgrass from filling in during the spring,” explains Frank Rossi, associate professor of horticulture at Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science.When and how to apply fall fertilizerRossi says to fertilize when the grass is still growing, but not as quickly as it was during the spring. Most turfgrass slows its growth rate once the temperature stays below 55° F. In cooler parts of the country, that makes late September to late October the ideal time to fertilize.To figure out the best fertilizer for your lawn, have the soil tested by sending a sample to your local cooperative extension; they might charge $20 or so for the service. The test result will tell you what mix of fertilizer to get (the numbers on a fertilizer bag, in N-P-K order, indicate the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, respectively, on a weight basis). If you don’t want to go to the trouble of a soil test, Purdue University’s Turf Fertilizer Calculator is a helpful guideAs a rule, never apply more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Be sure to choose slow-release fertilizer, which will continue to feed the lawn over the course of the off season. Fast-release fertilizers are less effective, plus they’re more likely to leach into surrounding waterways, polluting water supplies.Our products experts in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab say a broadcast applicator is best for evenly distributing fertilizer over your lawn. It’s worth buying one, since you’ll use it every year, but applicators can also be rented from home centers. To apply the fertilizer, set the applicator to the correct distribution number, which should be listed on the fertilizer bag. Then fill the machine and fertilize; give the lawn a long watering afterward to help work the fertilizer into the soil. Other ways to help fall fertilizer workAerate the lawn. Performed with a core aerator available for rent from home centers, this process pulls tiny plugs of soil from the lawn. Aerating before fertilizing will allow the nutrients to reach the root system more readily. Leave the clippings. Our pros recommend mulching over bagging any time you mow, but especially at the end of the season, since the clippings will provide a natural source of nutrition for the lawn. That could reduce your total fertilizer needs by 25%.Dethatch the lawn. This is done with a dethatching rake or mechanical dethatcher. It removes the dense layer of living and dead plant material that blankets the lawn over time, making it harder for water and nutrients to reach the roots.Stop mowing before the lawn stops growing. It’s never a good idea to scalp your lawn, but definitely not when you’re heading into winter. Time your last mow to when the temperature is still hovering around 60 ° F. Leave a bit more on the top, say cutting it to a height of 4 inches, instead of the usual 3.5 inches. More of My Home AdviceHaving written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids. More

A household staple since about 1908, Parsons’ Ammonia (now part of the Brillo family) calls itself the original all-purpose cleaner. Well known as an ingredient in glass cleaners, ammonia cuts through grime quickly and eliminates streaks, but there’s so much more it can do. Use it to dissolve grease on surfaces, even concrete, strip waxy build-up from floors, help remove stains—like blood or felt-tip marker—from fabrics and laundry, clean combs and brushes, and more. Ammonia comes clear or cloudy (with detergent added), and Parson’s has a lemon scent to minimize ammonia’s signature pungent smell. You can’t beat it for value as a little goes a long way when diluted with water in a spray bottle, sink, or bucket.For safety, be sure to keep ammonia away from natural protein fibers, like silk and wool, and delicate surfaces, like tech screens, and never, ever mix it with bleach or other bleach-containing cleaners, as it will produce toxic fumes. More

After spending the past few months outside, the beginning of fall is a better time than any to hit the refresh button of your home decor. Many people might light an autumnal candle, toss a few new throw pillows around, or sprinkle in some seasonal decorations, but those who are are looking to make a big change will want to add a fresh coat of paint. And, no, not on your walls.According to Houzz’s U.S. Fall 2025 Design Trends Report, painted doors are poised to have their moment this season. (Yes, even your interior doors.) The home renovation platform revealed that entryways coated in bold, unexpected colors are destined to give a space a one-of-a-kind, hyper-personal appeal. If you ask Sara Swabb, owner and creative director of Storie Collective in Washington, D.C., these pigmented portals are an awesome way to change the mood in your home—minus a laborious, expensive renovation. “People are craving personality in their interiors, and doors are a perfect surface to express that,” she says. “They bridge the architecture and the furnishings, so when you give them color, you instantly add depth and polish to the space.”The Drawing Board, Inc.You could use a pared-back, goes-with-anything neutral, but Peter Miles of The Drawing Board, Inc. says it’s your sign to think outside of the box. ” Beige is boring whereas color-drenched rooms where the walls, trim, and doors are all painted the same or similar hues are an affordable way to make a statement with a room,” the Washington, D.C. designer explains. But with so many colors to choose from, where do you begin your search? Swabb, for example, starts by looking at the surrounding room to make the door an “intentional” part of the overall design. Miles agrees, and says he likes to match the door to the area’s windows and trim. “The color should either be similar or the same as the wall colors as long as it’s complementary,” he adds. “It’s often darker [than the walls].” For an option that’s easy on the eyes, Tracy Morris says to stay away from green-based yellows, baby blues, and orange-tinged reds. “These colors can feel harsh to the eye and often read more trendy than timeless,” says the Washington D.C. designer. “They also tend to date a space quickly, which is the opposite of what you want when choosing a statement color for doors.” Design: Store Collective; Photo: Stacy Zarin GoldbergInstead, try moody hues like Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron (2124-10 or Black Panther (2125-10). “These tones feel classic and instantly add drama to a space,” Morris says. Meanwhile, Swabb prefers earthy blues and greens because they are “timeless, grounding, and versatile.”However, if you’re looking to bring this trend into your space, proper preparation is everything. “Doors take a lot of wear and tear, so if you do not clean, sand, and prime properly, the finish will chip or show brush marks almost immediately,” Morris says. To keep your painted door looking fresher for longer, consider a high-gloss finish, which is known to be easier to clean.Not sure if the painted door trend is for you? Swabb recommends painting the door of a more contained space like a powder room or bedroom. And, if you realize the look isn’t for you, that’s okay. “One thing I always remind homeowners is that painting your interior doors is a commitment, but it is not permanent,” Morris notes. “If you try a color and decide it is not right, you can always repaint, which makes the trend approachable and fun.” A trend that’s transformative, but relatively temporary? Don’t mind if we do.Related StoriesKelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos. More

Sure, it seems like a final touch you don’t need to think about until the last minute, but bathroom hardware can have a surprisingly large impact on the overall look of the space. It’s that consistent finish throughout, ultimately—sink and bath faucets, shower, towel bars, and all the other accessories—that pulls the whole room together.Soe asked creative director and lifestyle expert Preston Konrad to take us through some of the many options. In the video above, he points out that wherever your tastes lean—gleaming gold, subtle matte black, or anywhere in between—you can find matching versions of everything you’re looking for at The Home Depot. It’s the easiest way to achieve a designer look while staying well under designer prices.Watch the video above to see more. More

1Bright Blue Zeke Ruelas2Light PinkA Beautiful MessOpt for a playful pink like A Beautiful Mess does here. For even more fun, choose a funky rug, hang a unique light fixture, and find the perfect artwork that suites your aesthetic. Your guests will never want to leave!Get the look: Middleton Pink by Farrow & BallAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below3CreamMolly Culver4Black and GoldRobert Radifera PhotographyAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below5All WhiteFrazier SpringfieldYou can’t forget about the classics. All-white dining rooms, especially with natural light shining in like the layout shown here, can be bright, clean, and simple in the best way possible. Take a cue from Michelle Vassallo of MV Architects and add a gold light fixture and artwork, too. Photo by: Frazier SpringfieldGet the look: Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore6Emerald GreenDesigned by Diane Rath, The Rath Project. Photography by Erin KestenbaumAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below7BeigeHaute’Xposure8SlateMadeline HarperAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below9Classic RedRead McKendree / JBSA10Dark BlueNicole Dianne PhotographyAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below11Baby BlueKara DeYoung12Sage GreenLark & LinenAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below13Coral Courtesy of ValsparWhy choose one shade when you can have fun with three? Coral, white, and blue is the perfect combination to create a bold color scheme. Take the design one step further with tiled flooring for a dining room that won’t disappoint. Get the look: Florentine Clay by Valspar14Sky BlueMadeline HarperIf you’re hoping to add some color to your dining room without going too bold, sky blue is a great option. Daley Home pairs the soft shade with white, gold, and wood accents. Photo by: Madeline HarperGet the look: Peaceful Blue by BehrAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below15MagentaStudio DIYDon’t be afraid of unexpected color pairings. Studio DIY chooses magenta for the walls and deep yellow for the archway, along with a wooden table, chairs, and doorway that give the space an antique-inspired look.Get the look: Raspberry Patch by Dunn-Edwards16Dusty RoseCHRIS LOVES JULIAAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below17White and WoodChristy Kosnic18TealPieter Estersohn//Getty ImagesThis eye-catching teal dining room has it all—think patterned chairs, bright curtains, and gold accents. Pull off an eclectic-style dining room by mixing and matching patterns, textures, and colors throughout. Get the look: Riviera by Dunn-EdwardsAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below19Blue GrayStyle by Emily Henderson20BlushEmily FollowillLiz Williams Interiors pulls off a formal dining room with blush walls. This unique space, although certainly traditional, offers a bit more color than what usually comes to mind when thinking about a formal space. Photo by: Emily FollowillGet the look: Barely Pink by ValsparLaura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates. Watch Next Advertisement – Continue Reading BelowReaders Also ReadAdvertisement – Continue Reading BelowAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below More

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