Delia

Your sofa is a fantastic place to hang out but as a high-traction area that absorbs a lot of dirt, dust and odours. That’s why it’s important you know how to clean your sofa.

Whether you’ve essentially split a mess on your couch or want to remove an unpleasant smell from it, our simple guide can help you freshen any sofa – whether that be a leather or fabric couch.

First, Vacuum your Sofa

Whether you’re trying to remove stains or just dust and dirt from your sofa, the cleaning process begins by vacuuming the entire surface, including the arms, legs and back of the couch.

Tip: if you don’t have a vacuum, a brush can also remove dust and dirt from the couch.

Use this time to also flip and fluff up any pillows or couch cushions.

Clean the Legs

If your sofa has legs, it’s probably carrying lots of dust and built-up dirt. Wipe them down with a cloth and a gentle solution to clean.

Before you Deep Clean

If you’re trying to remove baked-on stains or spills from a sofa, you’ll need to do a more detailed clean. But before you add any cleaning substance to your couch, ensure you’ve done the following:

READ THE SOFA’S CLEANING REQUIREMENTS.

To avoid causing any further damage to the sofa, on its label, there should be a code of letters that tell you how it can be cleaned.

· W – water can be used to clean the couch.
· WS – The couch can be steamed or dry cleaned with a mild detergent.
· X – neither water nor a dry detergent can be used.
· S – only a dry detergent can be used to clean the sofa.

GATHERED YOUR EQUIPMENT.

To deep clean and remove stains from your sofa, you will need:

· A bowl of warm water
· Gentle dish soap
· Baking soda
· Vinegar
· Microfiber cloths
· Spray bottle (if possible)

REMOVED ANY CUSHIONS

So, you can fully assess the amount of cleaning your couch requires, always remove any couch cushions before you begin.

How to Deep Clean or Remove Stains from Any Sofa

Unlike your cushion covers, you can’t simply remove your couch’s lining and put it in the washing machine. Unfortunately, it requires more delicate attention.

To properly remove stains from your sofa, you could buy a couch stain cleaner however DIY recipes are cheaper and work just as well as store-bought options.

Tip: Avoid using harsh chemicals around sofas as their coverings are delicate, and they might fray or get damaged.

CREATE A WATER-BASED SOLUTION

One way to deep clean your couch is to create a water-based solution, (2 parts warm water, 1 part vinegar and a small amount of dish soap), in a spray bottle or bowl.

Tip: a spray bottle minimises the amount of excess water applied to the sofa’s surface, so if you have one, definitely use it.

Once the mixture has combined, either spray it lightly onto the affected area or dip a cloth into the solution, ring it out well, then apply it to the surface.

With a towel, very gently try to lift the stain with small and circular motions.

Then, grab a fresh cloth and pat dry the surface as much as possible before leaving the sofa to dry out thoroughly.

CREATE A PASTE

Another way to clean your sofa is to use baking soda. Baking soda is a natural deodoriser capable of removing baked-on stains and grease. To lift couch stains with baking soda:

1. Start by combining baking soda and water to create a paste.

2. Then apply that paste to the affected area and let it absorb for 15 minutes.

3. Wipe off the paste with a dry cloth and pat dry the area as much as possible.

4. Allow the couch to dry out completely in a sunny spot.

STEAM CLEAN

The final way to remove a stain from your couch is to use a steam cleaner. So, if you have one, and the fabric of your couch can be cleaned with water, make the cleaning process simpler by using it to pick up any blemishes.

How To Remove Smells from a Sofa

Over time, couches can develop unpleasant odours that prevent people from using them. Don’t worry though, removing a smell from a sofa is very simple. All you need is to sprinkle a good amount of baking soda all over your couch. Baking soda is fantastic for absorbing excess moisture that accumulates in the couch. Leave it on for at least half an hour before vacuuming it off.

How to clean couch cushions

Cleaning your sofa is also the perfect opportunity to clean the cushions on it, which can get just as dirty as the couch. If they’re machine washable, you can simply remove the pillow from the cover and put it in the wash. However, if it’s made from a delicate material or isn’t machine washable, you could hand wash it instead or, distil some vinegar and water in a spray bottle, apply it to the stains and use a cloth to gently pick it up.

Keep it clean

With the right care and maintenance, a sofa should only need to be deep cleaned a couple of times a year. So, vacuum regularly, take care around your couch with food and drink and clean any spills ASAP. That way, your sofa should look beautiful all the time.

However, if regular cleaning isn’t your thing, you could always buy a sofa cover for your couch. These practical covers slip simply over your couch and protect it from dust, dirt as well as any accidental spills or messes.

Whether you’re working from home or in the office, your desk should always help boost productivity. But unfortunately, it’s all too easy to let the surface of your desk become an untidy mess when you’re busy. The problem is, that mess could be affecting your mood. Clutter can ruin your train of thought, whereas a clear space can help you stay focused, allowing you to complete tasks on time.

So, if you’ve been putting off cleaning your desk because you don’t know where to start, or you’re trying to arrange your new desk to boost efficiency, this handy guide will help make organising your desk for any environment, a simple task.

Before you begin organising your desk, it’s worth remembering to take your time. When you load yourself with multiple tasks to undertake at once, things can quickly become overwhelming, which is why our tips are broken down into handy sections you can accomplish in your own time.

1. Clear The Space

Start by clearing the trash around your space. Recycle old papers that have been piling up and remove any debris.

This is also an excellent time to clean the surface of your desk by wiping it down.

2. Go through Every Item

The best way to declutter is to go through all your desk items and ask yourself, do you need it? Visual clutter can create an overwhelming environment that’s distracting to the eye so, if there are items on your desk that don’t serve a purpose related to your desk or work, remove them.

Tip: An excellent way to determine whether or not you need an office supply is to see if you use it in a day – if you don’t, it might be better off in a drawer or another spot.

3. Go Digital

If you use paper a lot, another fantastic way to reduce clutter is to digitise your work. Paper and books are among the leading causes of desktop chaos, whereas digital documents are easy to navigate and organise. Scan the essential documents you need and move them to a digital folder to clear space. You could even sync your phone and laptop together for efficiency and easy sharing abilities.

4. Organise Your Computer

Cleaning your desk is also a fantastic time to sort your computer or laptop. Like a desk, a computer (especially the desktop) can become cluttered with unused files and documents, which can be hard to navigate through. Therefore, clearing these files will help keep you focused. It’s also a great way to take a short break from work.

5. Create an efficient layout

Having a desk with a functional layout can improve your productivity.

Create a practical desk layout by first ensuring your computer or laptop is always right in front of you (at eye level) for proper posture. Place your most essentials, such as your phone or notepad, on your dominant side for easy access. Anything else can be spread around the desk in a layout that seems natural to you.

Tip: Always keep all the items on your desk within arm’s reach for easy access.

When you need to write something down but don’t have the space, life can become stressful. To avoid this, your desk’s layout should also include a no-parking zone (a place where you can’t dump items). So, you always have a free space to write whenever you need to.

In a world where we are bombarded by news twenty-four hours a day and social media is just a touch of a button away, it can be challenging to keep a positive mindset. The effects of distractions, comparing ourselves to others, and negative news all add up and can cause a buildup of anxiety and stress. If you are struggling to find ways to lift your mood and find a happier, more positive way of thinking, the following are four things you can do now to change things.

1 Take Pride in Your Appearance

Looking after your physical appearance and appreciating yourself for who and what you are will bring a far more positive outlook to your life. Washing regularly and taking care of your hair are some of the first steps you can take. Having more robust, smoother hair free from flakes will project positivity, and you can do this by using natural shampoo and conditioner. Apple cider vinegar shampoo and avocado and coconut oil conditioner packs are available to help you revive your hair and scalp. Using a shampoo made using a bioactive formula filled with ultra-rich natural ingredients, you will be making positive changes to your physical appearance. It’s these changes that will affect your mental health.

( 2 ) Surround Yourself with Positive People

The people we surround ourselves with have a more significant impact on our mental wellbeing than we realize. Constant negativity is infectious, and if those with who you are socializing don’t have a positive outlook on life, it is straightforward to become entangled in the same mindset. Removing people from your life is a difficult change to make. They may be family members or childhood friends, but you have to assess if they bring you any positive benefits. If you decide they are not, you don’t have to remove them altogether, but it is best to keep some distance, focus on yourself, and find friends who have a positive outlook on life.

3 Take Care of Yourself

We, of course, want to help our family and friends, and there is no harm in being there for them in times of need and difficulty. However, you can never forget that you also have to take time for yourself. Constantly focusing your energy on other people will mean you are neglecting your own mental wellbeing and carrying burdens you don’t have to bear the weight of. Take time to recharge your batteries by taking a vacation alone or leaving some time for self-care at the end of every day.

4 Focus on the Good

It can feel like all news is negative at times. We too often have a biased approach to how we view ourselves, which can negatively affect how we perceive events in our life. Sit down and write down all the positive things you have in your life. They don’t have to be life-changing events or essential items. They can be small things that make you smile. Focusing on them will improve your outlook. Even in the event of negative things happening, take stock and keep focusing on the positive things that are still happening in your life.

Would knowing the date of your death influence your actions? It did for Tiberius Caesar. Convinced by the court astrologer Thrasyllus that he had many years of life ahead of him, the paranoid old emperor chose to postpone the murder of his heir Caligula.

But by believing Thrasyllus’s prediction and letting his guard down, Tiberius inadvertently gave Caligula enough time to poison him first. The rest, as they say, is history – which Thrasyllus had altered by deliberately overestimating his employer’s life expectancy.

While many of us are unlikely to find ourselves in Caesar’s position, knowing how many years we have left may influence many aspects of our life – including when to retire, whether to take a long-awaited vacation, and even whether to opt for certain medical treatments.

My Longevity, a newly developed app from researchers at the University of East Anglia, now allows each of us to be our own life expectancy astrologer. But how much trust should we place in these predictions?

Get your news from people who know what they’re talking about.

Hear from them

Life expectancy vs lifespan

Simply put, life expectancy is how long, on average, members of any given population can expect to life. This is different from lifespan, which is the maximum length of time any member of the species can survive.

Although lifespan has changed very little – if at all – global life expectancy has soared by more than 40 years since the beginning of the 20th century. This was achieved through a combination of scientific discoveries and public health measures that drove down infant mortality. In the UK, life expectancy at birth is now over 80 years.

Life expectancy depends a lot on where you grow up or live. So the more a disparate population can be broken down into sub-populations who have traits in common – but which are still large enough to be statistically significant – the more accurate predictions become. Doing this might involve subdividing the population by sex (on average females live longer than males) or smoking status (for obvious reasons) or both.

The team of researchers used a sophisticated version of this approach when developing their app, informed by its previous research. This allows its app to factor in the life expectancy effects of controlled and uncontrolled high blood pressure, the presence of related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or rheumatoid arthritis, ongoing treatment with statins, and serious risk factors, such as high cholesterol.

Developing the app has involved dealing with some problems along the way in estimating potential health benefits for the overall population based on those seen in clinical trials. This is because discrepancies exist between trial subjects and populations for a number of reasons – but usually they are cases of what is known as “tight segmentation” working against you.

For example, a clinical trial of the effects of orange juice in sailors with scurvy will show profound benefits because they are a tight segment with vitamin C deficiency. But anyone expecting to see the same beneficial effects on health from prescribing orange juice to everyone taking a boat trip today is going to be deeply disappointed.

Life expectancy

How seriously you should treat the predictions from an app of this type is basically a function of how accurately it reflects the sub-population into which you best fit. I compared my life expectancy prediction from My Longevity with calculators provided by the UK Office for National Statistics and those of two insurance companies. The predictions varied from 84-90 years. As I’m 54, this may not have been a completely fair test of My Longevity because the data the team has used makes the app most accurate for the over 60s.

The major reason life expectancy calculators spit out such different figures is because there are a wide range of factors influencing the results. Being married increases your life expectancy compared to being single, as does being happy. In addition to smoking, levels of fruit and vegetable intake influence life expectancy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, levels of alcohol consumption and exercise make a profound difference to life expectancy. These are concrete lifestyle changes people can make which can add years to their lives.

The East Anglia research team hopes that access to its calculator will encourage users to adopt healthier lifestyles. Although there is some evidence that framing behaviours in terms of their effects on life expectancy is an effective way of encouraging people to embrace healthier lifestyles, superficial discussions of health and longevity often assume that everyone will seek to maximise life expectancy if only they are fed enough of “the facts” about it.

However, human motivation is emotional and intuitive at its core and is shaped by what a person most values in life. Propositions that accord with a person’s values are typically supported. Those that don’t are either ignored or rejected.

Another common mistake made by those promoting behaviour change is to assume their own dominant values are shared by the people they want to adopt the behaviour in question. This approach will only convince people who already think and feel like them. But the more developers of such apps recognise that users will only adopt certain behaviours according to their values and beliefs, the more useful these apps will be.

As the days get longer and warmer, you might find yourself craving to spend more time outside in the fresh air. After the last year of facing lockdowns and restrictions, you might be yearning for the wide-open spaces more than usual! As well as enjoying BBQs and picnics in your gardens and the local park, it would help if you also were thinking about ways you can incorporate a workout into your time spent outside. Here are a few examples of great outdoor activities that will also benefit your health.

1 Hiking

There is something incredibly revitalizing about being in nature. Even if you live in a city or town with lots of beautiful parks, they will never be quite the same as exploring a national forest, mountain range, or the rolling hills of the countryside. This is why hiking can be such a brilliant summer activity that you can do solo or enjoy with friends and family. Research where your nearest hiking trails are so you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and experience the true beauty of nature.

2 Tennis

Tennis can be played indoors, but during the summer months, you might find it more comfortable to be out in the open air. Many public parks have tennis courts that you can use for free or see if your local sports club has outdoor courts if you prefer. It’s a great way to get your heart pumping and is perfect for those with a bit of a competitive streak. If you’re someone who wears glasses, consider getting some sports contact lenses when you play or take part in any sport that could risk damaging your glasses.

3 Running

Another great form of cardio exercise is running, and the best thing about this activity is that you can do it anywhere for free. It might be wiser to go for a run in the early morning or later in the evening during the summer; however, these times of day are a bit cooler, making it a more comfortable experience for you. If you’re new to running, make sure you’re stretching before you set off and pace yourself. Start with a shorter distance and gradually build this up as you get accustomed to running. You should also invest in quality running shoes, so you get the best support for your feet and ankles.

4 Swimming

When you think about the summertime, lounging by the pool might be one of the first things to mind. Although soaking up the sunshine can be an excellent way to relax, doing a few lengths of the pool will help you stay fit and healthy, and it’s also one of the most refreshing kinds of exercise on a hot day. Many gyms and leisure centers have indoor pools, but they might have outdoor baths that are open in the summer, which is better for sunny days. You could even enjoy a dip in the ocean if you’re by the beach or in a lake, provided it’s a safe spot for swimming.

If you want to enjoy more time outdoors this summer and work on your fitness, these are some of the best exercise options. Please choose one or two that you enjoy the most to help keep you motivated when it comes to your workouts.

Hope you understand the feeling that comes with finding that perfect dress for a function. In such cases, a person may wonder what bra they should wear. Sometimes, going braless is not an option. It’s essential to look for the right bra that suits a backless dress. This is especially if you still want to have some form of support. With the new adhesive technologies, you’ll find it easy to get perfect adhesive bras from https://www.xniidor.com/.

• Adriana Backless Bra

First, featured in the best list of strapless adhesive bras, Adriana self-adhesive bra has been a famous brand among testers. It’s not only easy to put on but helping you to stay hidden under your clothes. The cups are also designed to help in supporting your breasts while giving them a fuller look. The adhesive found on the cups is ideal for low cut styles. If you want a bra with a natural lift, this is your go-to item.

• Backless Pushup Adhesive Bra

Most of these backless bras are pricey. However, the backless pushup adhesive bra is pretty affordable. Its cups are self-adhesive. They can also be applied separately before being attached for the ultimate lift, which will help in creating a cleavage. Other than that, the bra has a winged shape that helps it in enhancing coverage on the two sides of the breasts. This brand implores users to avoid wearing the bra outside where there are high temperatures. 

• Waymo Sticky Bra

The sticky bra will not budge when you wear it, thanks to the natural gel that it comes with. Besides, this gel does not irritate the skin. The self-adhesive underwire bra enhances the look of your breast while keeping them in place. It’s also reusable apart from being washable.

• Skin Original Hypoallergenic Bra

If you need to go braless, this is the perfect selection of nipple pasties that will cover everything so that you don’t look awkward. It has stay-on pasties that will not peel off. Therefore, you may wear them severally before disposal. Also, they have a set of stickers that do not reflect light. These are perfect adhesives for parties.

• Strapless Backless Sticky Bra

This is a drawstring bra that creates an elongated V-shape to accommodate different types of dresses. The outfit could be cut low in the back or front. Other than that, the bra comes in different sizes as well as shapes that can fit different chests. The low back strapless bra is water-resistant as well as flattering to the body. It also enhances a person’s cleavage.

• Sofia Longe Bra

This sticky bra has been receiving positive reviews since its launch. If you need a bra that will allow you to enjoy the strapless nature as well as the V-neck front, then this should be your best choice. The backless bra doesn’t have any bands or hooks. This provides you with the experience you need when it comes to receiving support on the chest. Besides, the unique design makes the bra an excellent choice for flattering your features.

Take-Home For those who are looking for bras to wear with sheer dark outfits, the list above should guide you in the selection. Backless strapless bras are often made from silicone and gel. The cups have adhesives. This is also an excellent selection for that unique backless dress. Other than that, it’s important to remember to have the right positioning of the bra cups. This is a critical consideration when it comes to seeking maximum support.