Household Myths: True or False

Today's blog is going to be like an episode of Mythbusters.  We are going to explore some household myths and see if they are true or false.  We are going to save you some time around your house.  The things that your mom and grandma told you do might not actually be doing anything.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.


Your grandma did it and your mom does it all the time, so should you continue the tradition? From salting boiling water to grinding ice, read on for the truth about four common household hints...

Myth: Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.

The Truth: Nope. Salted water actually takes a little bit longer to boil, since the salt raises the boiling point from 100°C to around 106°C. But salt water does boil hotter because when sodium chloride (salt) attaches to water molecules, it releases gas bubbles which increase movement in the water and therefore the temperature. So although you will wait a little longer for your salted water to boil, it will cook your pasta a little faster. Cool!

Myth: Store batteries in the refrigerator so they'll last longer.

The Truth: Short answer: not really. The chemical reaction within the battery (the one that creates an electrical charge to power your devices) is affected by temperature, and cold temps do slow that process; however, contrary to popular belief, batteries don't generate energy unless they're in use, so there's not much point in chilling a resting battery. In fact, until your refrigerated battery returns to room temperature, it won't be able to generate much electricity at all (just try starting your car on a freezing morning). The maximum recommended temperature for a battery is around 77°F, so drawer storage should be just fine for most people.

Myth: Microwaving a sponge kills bacteria.

The Truth: Yes! But it's a little more complicated than 10 seconds on high. Studies show it takes two full minutes for 99% of germs to bite the dust. Double that time to four for complete sterilization. Make sure your sponge is damp (microwaves work by heating water molecules) and, depending on how often you use it, nuke it every few days as a rule of thumb.

Myth: Grinding ice cubes will sharpen your disposal's blades.

The Truth: Sort of. There's no way to really sharpen the blades, but grinding up some ice cubes every now and then does clean them by knocking off built up residue, helping them to function more efficiently. Run some cold water, grind the ice for about a minute, and you should be in business.

The Perfect Picnic

The weather is beautiful, and everyone wants to be outside.  This is why it is the perfect time to get out and have a picnic with friends and family.  Do you have the essentials for the perfect picnic?  We have you covered.

Apartment Therapy has gathered some of the best picnic essentials for every person.  The list includes everything from a cooler for wine to the blankets that you will be sitting on.  Keep reading and go enjoy a great picnic with family and friends.

Summer in the city means finding green spaces that are forgotten about during the winter months and enjoying picnics in the park. And every summer it seems that I head out to the park for a picnic and arrive missing a crucial element for the perfect afternoon. Here is a list of picnic essentials to pack before heading out. And when summer is over, these essentials can carry over into tailgating season, too.

It is often easier to go for disposable tableware when dining on the go, but this is a more ec0-friendly approach to picnics. For a list of the most stylish disposable tableware around, check out the Kitchn.

1. Keep your rosé chilled all afternoon with Corksicle, $17.95

2. The picnic blankets from H&M Home are cheap and chic, with a plastic backing and a wraparound handle. $17.95

3. Paola Navone designed a range of picnic essentials for Crate and Barrel this spring, including this metal picnic box. Crate & Barrel, $39.95

4. Ice packs at an unbeatable price from IKEA, $0.99

5. A colorful beach mat from Oh Joy! for Target, $20

6. Keep clean with eco-friendly cloth napkins on a roll that are reusable up to six times. MyDrap, $28 a roll

7. A corkscrew and bottle opener are two items that are often forgotten. The Pultex Waiter's corkscrew combines both into a small and functional package.Sur La Table, $9.95

8. This cooler bag from is big enough to hold lunch and a couple of bottles of wine. IKEA, $5.99.

9. 18-piece wooden picnic flatware set from Crate & Barrel, $7.95

10. Enamel plates for a durable dish to eat on. Falson Enamelware plate set, £24.99

11. Serve up your salads in colorful take out cartons from the Container Store, $0.79 each

12. Taking a trash bag to the park is a easy way to keep green spaces clean and a great reason for these colorful Patterned Trash Bags from Oh Joy! for Target, $3

13. Knives can be a dangerous item to carry, but they are an essential part of a picnic cheese board. The Laguiole cheese knives come in a perfect wooden carry case for travel. Sur La Table, $69.95

Time for Strawberries

Warm weather and summertime means it is time for strawberries,  Strawberry pie, strawberry drinks, and just plain strawberries are all delicious during the summer.  Here is a great recipe, and it is an old favorite of the summer cookout.

No-Bake strawberry icebox cake is delicious and combines many of your favorite things.  You can find more great strawberry recipes at The Kitchn.

No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

Serves 8 to 12

2 pounds fresh strawberries, washed and patted dry
3 3/4 cups heavy cream, divided
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon rosewater, optional
4 sleeves (about 19 ounces, or 24 to 28 whole crackers) graham crackers
2 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped

Take out a few of the best-looking strawberries and set them aside for the garnish. Hull the remainder of the strawberries and cut each berry into thin slices.

With a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, whip 3 1/2 cups of cream until it just holds stiff peaks. Add the confectioners sugar, vanilla, and rosewater(if using) and whip to combine.

Spread a small spoonful of whipped cream on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, or a similarly-sized platter. Lay down six graham crackers. Lightly cover the top of the graham crackers with more whipped cream, and then a single layer of strawberries. Repeat three times, until you have four layers of graham crackers. Spread the last of the whipped cream over the top and swirl it lightly with a spoon. Add a few more strawberries.

To make the ganache, heat the remaining 1/4 cup cream until bubbles form around the edges, then pour over the chopped chocolate. Let it stand for a few minutes, then whisk until the mixture is thick and glossy. Drizzle this over the layered dessert with a spoon, or transfer to a squeeze bottle and use that to drizzle.

Refrigerate for at least four hours, or until the crackers have softened completely. Garnish with additional berries.

Recipe Notes
Building the cake on a platter instead of in a pan: You can build this cake in a 9x13-inch pan as I mention above, or you can build it up on a platter as shown here. Either way works nicely. The 9x13 pan makes it easier to transport the cake, but if you're staying at home, the platter makes it look a little fancier. You don't need to do anything differently when building it on a platter. I do, though, like to smear a bit of cream on the bottom of each cracker as I add it to the stack to keep it steady and in place.

A New Twist On An Old Favorite

(Image courtesy of Jakkrit Nooklaew)

Spring is drawing to a close, but there's still time to enjoy the fresh tastes that come with the season! It seems that no matter what kind of gathering is going, a Sangria will fit the menu perfectly! Rather than sticking with the same old routine, give your tried-and-true Sangria recipe a little pick-me-up. Maureen Petrosky from thekitchn.com walks us through her favorite spring Sangria recipe. If you're ready for something delicious and easy to make, keep reading.

When making sangria, you need four things: wine, a spirit, usually sugar, and fruit. I chose to use limoncello as my spirit in this sangria; this liqueur is already plenty sweet, so I skipped using any additional sugar.

The sparkling rosé, while it's semi-dry, isn't nearly as sweet as those pink wines labelled white zinfandel or blush. Rosé champagne is elegant, with incredible bubbles and great structure. What's great structure? Well it's a beginning, a middle and an end that can hold their own when paired with all sorts of food and in this case, fruits for our Sangria.

This pitcher of sangria is perfect for brunch or enjoying happy hour tonight on your porch. With very little effort you'll have a gorgeous drink to sip that is equally as delicious to kick off your weekend.

Spring Sangria

Serves 6

3/4 cup limoncello
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup hulled and quartered fresh strawberries
1 bottle chilled demi-sec rosé champagne
1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds discarded

In a large pitcher, combine the limoncello and the strawberries. Top with the chilled rosé champagne and stir in half of the lemon wheels.

Pour the sangria into ice filled stemware. Scoop some fruit into each glass and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Recipe Notes
You can also make this with a non-sparkling dry rosé wine.