All cars make noise of some kind, but how do you know when that noise is something you should get checked out?
Every time you get a new pair of glasses, chances are you get a new case. So, what do you do with the old one? Here are nine nifty ideas.
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Those mysterious mounds of sand you can see on your paving are a sure sign that you’ve got an ant problem. Here’s why.
Egg cartons are just as versatile as eggs and have many uses once they are empty - you just need a bit of imagination! Here are 7 ideas to get you started.
Poinsettias are often bought to add a touch of red to the decor during the festive season, but rather than throwing them away after Christmas, transplant them into your garden (or into bigger pots).
Whether you love Christmas, aren’t too keen, or fall somewhere in between, some moments can be quite stressful. Here are some helpful ideas to get you through the Christmas season.
8 ingredients, five easy steps and hey presto! You’ve got the perfect edible Christmas gift. All the ingredients are easy to find, and you can make it as hot or as mild as you like.
Your friends and family will be seriously impressed with these festive Christmas treats. Only 5 ingredients and simple to make, with no baking required.
It’s beginning to feel like Christmas and if gift shopping brings you out in a cold sweat, we’ve got a great idea for you to try.
With all the waste, Christmas isn't great for the environment. But it isn't all doom and gloom. We can all help to reduce the environmental impact of Christmas in small ways, starting with how we package our gifts.
In the bathroom, the most important function of your exhaust fan is to draw warm, humid air out of the room during a hot shower, which prevents mould and mildew from forming. But your exhaust fan can still draw out your cooling and heating, even when it's switched off
When you see a bargain $5 T-shirt, it might seem like a great buy, but there is a greater cost that you can’t see.
This is seriously delicious and makes a great last-minute Christmas gift (if you can bear to give it away!).
Looking for a Christmas gift that's a bit different and environmentally friendly? Take some cuttings from your garden and plant them up in a pretty pot ready for gifting. It's a great way to save money, share your garden and give something that will last (hopefully!).
You'd better make loads, it'll be gone in a flash! This dish is simple, fresh, flavoursome and very, very delicious!
No one knows what the future will bring, so for peace-of-mind everyone over 18 should have a will.
Here are 5 reasons why you should choose professional framing
It's probably more often than you think, and you could be damaging your lawn.
It's getting to that mozzie time of year again, so if you are bitten, here are 5 natural remedies to stop mosquito bites from itching.
Many steaks have been ruined on a summer's day barbeque! Here are 4 simple tips to turn you into a barbeque wizard.
Just like us, plants need nutritious food to grow and stay healthy. The range of commercial fertilisers available is huge but there are a few guidelines you can follow to help you make the right choice for your garden.
Most of us have a range of dried herbs and spices in the pantry - but they are more versatile than you think. Here are 5 different uses.
They may not be the most glamourous part of your house, but they are very important!
Fresh, fragrant, deliciously light and perfect for a sunny day. Yum!
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Help your child to release their inner entrepreneur by having a cupcake stall at home. It’s a great way for them to make some pocket money or donate to charity.
If you've had a saucepan disaster and are left with a burned-on mess, don't despair! Try one of these clever tricks to bring it back to life.
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Get your home ready for summer with block out curtains and blinds.
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This icy dinosaur egg activity is easy to make and lots of fun. It does need some time to freeze though, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
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Litter can have a negative impact your sense of community and safety, not to mention making an area look messy and uncared for. Research also shows that areas where litter is a problem can lead to other antisocial behaviour such as graffiti and vandalism.
It's time to unveil the BBQ and get it back to work. Here are 6 tips to keep it clean and in tip-top condition for summer.
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Neighbours are important because good relationships with others can transform communities. Social connection also makes us feel better as it helps prevent loneliness, isolation and depression.
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There are complex regulations for pool fencing and for good reason.
Bored of the same old breakfast? Try this delicious egg recipe, ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a long weekend brekky (or any breakfast any day of the week!).
Easy-to-grow marigolds will light up your garden with a blaze of fiery orange hues from spring right through to early autumn. They are low maintenance and hardy, suiting traditional as well as contemporary garden designs.
The drip, drip, drip of a leaking tap can be very annoying. But it's also wasting a precious resource and can increase your water bill substantially. Here are four common causes of leaking taps.
Hanging baskets make a great container for growing cherry tomatoes. They provide a blast of colour and they have advantages over growing them in the ground or in pots.
The flavours of the marinated chicken infuse through the rice as it cooks, creating a dish that's every bit as delicious as it is simple.
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Forget the socks and undies! This year give your dad something money can’t buy. Here are some great Father’s Day ideas that won’t cost a cent.
Add tropical colour to your garden with a selection of hibuscus plants. Their beautiful flowers come in a huge array of colours and sizes, some as big as dinner plates!
Ever get to a crucial point in a recipe and discover you’ve run out of something? Or you can’t find an ingredient in the supermarket? Don’t panic, here are some things you can use instead.
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If you have citrus trees in your garden, chances are you’ve got excess fruit. So why not have a marmalade-making session and share the joy by giving neighbours a jar to enjoy.
Kids love it when their parents volunteer to do things with them. By taking an interest in your children’s sport and making it a positive experience for them, you can set them up for a lifetime of benefits.
5 things to consider when choosing a split system air conditioner
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Playing shop can spark hours of imaginative play while teaching social skills, language, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving.
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At the ages of 6-14, kids’ brains are working overtime to build new pathways. It’s the best time for them to learn whatever they can, and these memory games are great fun at any time.
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With an endless list of electronic communication tools at our fingertips, not much lands in our letterboxes these days. Why not reboot the art of sending cards by making ‘hello’ cards with your kids.
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A time capsule makes a great family project and imagine how amazing it will be to open it in the future and see how life has changed!
Simple shortbread-style biscuits scented with orange zest and mixed spice. A nice and tasty alternative to plain shortbread and perfect with a cuppa or as an after dinner treat.
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The soft, warm fur of dogs and cats is like a 5-star hotel for ticks and fleas. These insects feed on your pets blood and can cause a range of health problems, some of them serious.
Beautiful and vibrant fuchsias originate from the cool, coastal region of Central and South America. They come in a variety of shapes, forms and colours, so there’s always something perfect for your garden, pots or baskets.
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There’s nothing more relaxing and soothing than sitting around a warm fire with friends and family, and with the cooler weather it’s the perfect time – before spring arrives and it starts to warm up again.
If you've decided to renovate your driveway, here are 4 great reasons why you should choose pavers over other materials.
Oil splatters are common when you're cooking, but when it gets onto your clothes, it can be difficult to remove. Don't panic, you can save your favourite shirt from the bin by trying one of these 3 tips to remove oil stains from fabric.
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If the blinds in your home are beginning to look a bit the worse-for-wear, you might think the only option is to have them replaced. But it's not. Here's how you can bring your Roman blinds back to life.
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Celebrating special occasions can be fun, but it’s important that disruption is kept to a minimum to maintain a good relationship with your neighbours. Here are 6 tips for hosting a successful party and keeping everybody happy.
It's packed full of fragrant spices and perfect for everyone including kids (just don't tell them it's healthy!).
While a metal roof is low maintenance, it doesn't mean no maintenance!
If you need a cake for a special occasion or a party but are a bit short of time, here are 7 fast and fabulous decorating tips. You could even use a ready make cake or try our simple Classic Victoria Sponge recipe.
Not everyone has the luxury of a large garden, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on beautiful trees. These deciduous, small trees have a great shape, excellent autumn colour and will grow in most soils with added compost, mulch and a little fertiliser.
Sweet green beans with the salty crunch of grilled prosciutto makes for a simple, tasty and filling dinner the whole family will enjoy.
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If your little budding artist has got carried away with the permanent markers around your home, don’t panic. We’ve found ways to remove it from 5 different surfaces.
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Teaching kids the importance of being involved with those around them will help them to become active members of their community. It will show them that one person can make a difference and the rewards will last a lifetime.
Parkin is a gingerbread cake traditionally made with oatmeal and black treacle, and eaten in the North of England on Bonfire Night. Try it, it's delicious!
I'd like to see that! Have you heard about Bromeliads?They are striking, tropical to cool-temperate plants, native to Central and South America. They range from 1cm miniatures to 10-metre giants and are hugely diverse in foliage patterns, growth habit and flowers.
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Sensory bottles are often referred to as ‘calm down’ bottles. They’re a great activity to do with the kids when it’s time to slow things down a bit.
Full of flavour and simple to make, store the crispbread in an airtight container and it will keep for a month or more (but will probably get eaten way before then!).
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If recent events have taught us anything, it’s the importance of local communities. Catching up with neighbours is always a great thing to do, so why not invite them around for a cuppa and a chat and find out what they’ve been up to.
Here are 5 creative ways to use a bulkhead in your home
You may have seen Buy Nothing groups popping up on Facebook. They are a way to reduce waste and recycle items that you don’t need anymore, by giving them to someone in your local community who would find them useful.
Support local restaurants and cafes and set yourself a Local 'Don't Cook - Won't Cook' Challenge! The challenge is to order a takeaway (or dine-in) from every restaurant or café in your local area.
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These unique fridge magnets are very simple to produce and they can be personalised to make great gifts for family and friends. Use any images you like, such as photos, maps, drawings, gift wrap or even fabric.
A buttery biscuit with a little bit of sugar, lightly fragranced with rosemary. Don’t have rosemary? Try finely chopped lavender, nuts, choc-chips, crushed cumin seeds or citrus zest - whatever takes your fancy!
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A bag of dried pasta is a great pantry staple – and it can also be used as a fun activity for your kids. It is easy to dye all sorts of dried pasta in different colours and then leave the rest to their imagination. Dyeing the pasta is an activity in itself, and your young ones can choose their favourite colours.
According to the Water Corporation, we use over 40% of our water in the garden, and this includes water-guzzling verge lawns. By transforming these lawns into waterwise verges,we could each save a significant amount of water every year.
The average WA household throws away thousands of dollars every year in wasted food. Simply by creating a meal plan - and sticking to it - the average family can save up to $50 per week.
Winter is upon us and the temperature is dropping, but there are still plenty of things to be done in the garden. Keep on top of those weeds, start pruning and plant some winter veg. It’s also time to plant natives and roses and divide perennials ready for spring growth.
Enjoy the rustic flavours of lamb and rosemary with torn rag pasta. Using lamb sausages is an easy way to add more flavour without lots of preparation or extra ingredients.
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Memory books make a fantastic project for kids and a treasured keepsake for parents. It can help children retain some of the memories, thoughts, ideas and feelings that they may otherwise lose touch with. And it will be a great (and sometimes amusing!) thing to look back on as they get older.
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Kindness is a powerful tool and one small, thoughtful gesture can make someone else’s day. It has huge benefits everyone inclucing reduced stress and anxiety, and improved happiness. Here are 10 simple ideas to spread some kindness (and you might even find it’s catching!).
****Please Note**** The soft plastics recycling programme via REDcycle has been paused. Please visit redcycle.net.au for further information
Fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet! It’s loaded with important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also super delicious in this easy-to-make fish pie.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have colour and scent in your garden all year round? Well, with a bit of planning, you can. We’ve found 6 scented plants that flower at different times throughout the year, so you garden looks and smells beautiful whatever the season!
Geocaching is fun for both kids and adults alike, making it the perfect outdoor activity for all ages. It combines the excitement of a treasure hunt, with outdoor fun, exercise and technology. Caches are always hidden in plain sight and never buried – but they are cleverly camouflaged.
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Dog walking has countless benefits both pet and owner. But what if you don’t or can’t own a dog? Borrow your neighbour’s! You’ll be helping a neighbour and getting some exercise.
Having a beautiful and vibrant garden doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many plants grow easily from cuttings and you can get together with friends and neighbours to swap the best ones, so you all get a variety. It’s a great way to fill up your garden beds and all it will cost is a little time.
15 minutes prep, then set and forget in a slow cooker! Perfect for busy weeknights and ready to be eaten when you get home.
A busy board like this one helps toddlers to develop their fine motor skills as they delight in discovering how things work. It is an enjoyable project to work on and they make great gifts. All you need is a selection of interesting hardware and something to mount them on. A pinewood chopping board is ideal.
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Raking up leaves is a job that no one really enjoys doing. The solution? Get one of your neighbours’ kids to do it. They would probably love to earn a bit of extra pocket money – so it’s a win-win situation! Ask their parents if this is something they would like to do.
Impress your guests with this elegant tart that is deceptively simple to make. It features a frangipane base and soft juicy nectarines in a puff pastry case.
If you’ve got a shady area in your garden where not much seems to thrive, try some ferns. Ferns love dappled light and areas with shade and bring texture, drama and colour, depending on the varieties you choose.
Great news! Now you can plug in and power up at the same time.
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Kids love a cardboard box. Parents see this at Christmas and birthdays when the box gets more use than the toy that came in it! Save cardboard boxes of all sizes and let your kids’ imaginations run riot. Boxes can be stored flat and reassembled when you’re ready to use them and can also be reconstructed inside-out for a plain surface to decorate.
It’s great if you’re recycling your plastic rubbish correctly, but the best way of helping our environment is to avoid buying products with plastic packaging in the first place.
There are so many benefits to making your own laundry liquid. All the ingredients are readily available at supermarkets; you are helping our environment by reducing packaging and you can recycle containers to store it in and there are no nasty chemicals in it.
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If you’re fed up of sleeping on mismatched sheets and pillowcases because you can never find the matching set; or forever seem to be frantically digging around in piles of fitted sheets, flat sheets and pillowcases to find a set for a single bed rather than a double, try this simple tip.
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Don't wait for paint to flake!
Growing your own herbs saves money, trips to the supermarket and is less wasteful as you only pick as much as you need for whatever you are cooking. You can plant them in your garden beds or in pots; try to find a spot close to your kitchen for easy access to regular watering and harvesting.
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When communities stay connected, they are safer, stronger and more resilient. At times like these, staying connected might take a bit more effort, but there are still some simple things you can do.
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Cleaning products are in high demand at the moment, but what’s already in your cupboards may do the job just as well. Vinegar, sodium bi-carb and lemon are common household ingredients and can keep your home clean and fresh. You will also save money in the bargain.
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With social distancing in place, people are taking more walks to get out of the house and into the fresh air. It’s great opportunity to keep in touch with your community and even make more connections (while maintaining social distance rules of course, keeping at least 1.5 metres or two arms’ length apart).
