Inkhabar webdesk

This tidying trend can help bring back calm before Christmas. London (PA Media/dpa) – Before all the Christmas celebrations officially commence, now is the perfect moment to set aside some time for some serious decluttering. Getting the house clean, organised and festive can feel like an overwhelming task, but the snowflake rule offers a simple way to make it more manageable. We got in touch with professional organiser, Lesley Spellman, who hosts "The Declutter Hub" podcast with Ingrid Jansen, who explained exactly what this tidying trend entails and how it can bring a sense of much-needed calm amidst all the Christmas chaos. What exactly is the snowflake rule? Just as no two snowflakes are the same, this decluttering trend encourages you to eliminate any duplicates in your home to create a more streamlined space. “The idea is that you go through your stuff in a really simple way and make choices based on duplicates that you have in your home,” explains Spellman. “You look at where you’ve got duplicates, and then determine which one is the most useful or the most sentimental to you. “This rule takes decluttering right back down to a simple ‘choose this one or that’ kind of idea and encourages you to not have anything additional to what you need in your home.” It helps simplify the often daunting prospect of decluttering. “A very simple method like this is perfect for people who have just found themselves in a position where they’ve got a little bit too much stuff and want to do a clear out ready for Christmas,” says Spellman. “The whole premise of the snowflake method is that it’s quick and speedy and you can get through lots of different rooms before Christmas.” Why is the lead up to Christmas the perfect time to use this method? Helps creates space It’s a great way to prepare your house before the inevitable influx of stuff that tends to accumulate during all the festivities. “It obviously depends on your individual circumstances, but if you’ve got children then there is usually an exponentially crazy influx of stuff coming into the house around Christmas,” says Spellman. “There’s only so much space in your house, so clearing the decks a little bit allows space for these things to come in.” Provides an opportunity to take extra things to a charity shop The snowflake method may also lead to a pile of items that are in a good enough condition to take to the charity shop. “It’s an absolutely brilliant time of year to take things like partywear, brand-new items and Christmas decorations to a charity shop,” says Spellman. “It’s a good thing to do this side of Christmas because a lot of these things will be less useful to charity shops afterwards.” Helps you feel calmer “There’s just this feeling of calm that comes with having less,” highlights Spellman. “Having control of your home and that feeling that you get from decluttering and organising your home just makes you feel a little bit calmer.” Provides the opportunity to teach your kids a lesson “If you’ve got children, I think it’s really important to teach them that you can’t just ask for loads more stuff from Santa or mum and dad without letting go of some of the stuff that you’ve already got,” says Spellman. “I think teaching those lessons early on is a really good thing. Can help you uncover things “By following the snowflake method you will probably uncover a lot of stuff that you completely forgot about which might stop you from buying new things, so will therefore help you save money,” says Spellman. “Through this process you might also uncover things like Christmas cards, gift bags and wrapping paper that you can use up rather than buying new.” Gives you a kickstart on new year organising “So many people wait until January, which is obviously a big time for decluttering, but it’s brilliant to start now and get ahead of the game,” says Spellman. “Investing a little bit of time in decluttering now will help you feel so much calmer and more accomplished.” Here are some helpful tips on how to get started… Think about what the goal is “It’s really important to understand what the big picture goal is,” says Spellman. “Ask yourself, why do you want to do it? Is it for the children or have you got guests coming over? “Think about what’s important to you and what’s going to help turn the dial on a little bit more.” Focus on one room at a time “Decluttering the communal rooms is probably going to be the priority,” says Spellman. “The kitchen is a great place to start as it’s the hub of the home and it’s important to have that as a space that you are proud of and feel comfortable in.” Break it down into manageable chunks “If you start a massive declutter which takes you from 8 am on Saturday morning to 7 pm at night, then you are going to be completely worn out and won’t want to do any more the following day,” says Spellman. “But if you instead break it down over a few different weekends and start with the kitchen and break it down cupboard by cupboard that will help you manage your own energy levels.” The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Berlin (dpa) – Your shoes may have started to smell – it would not be surprising as our feet sweat more than many people think. During the day, the amount of sweat can quickly add up to the equivalent of a small shot glass. Do remove this moisture as otherwise it accumulates inside your shoes, allowing bacteria and fungi to grow. That's what causes an unpleasant smell. However, with a little prevention and some proper care, you can easily avoid such odours. Prevention through airing, choice of materials To prevent shoes from starting to smell in the first place, Claudia Schulz from the German Shoe Institute recommends: Changing shoes regularly and allowing each pair to rest for at least 24 hours. Newspaper placed inside the shoes overnight draws out any residual moisture. Cedar shoe trees are particularly effective as they absorb moisture and give off a pleasant scent. The choice of materials also plays a role. Leather or natural fibres such as cotton and linen absorb sweat better than synthetic materials. Wearing socks made of natural fibres such as merino wool or cotton also reduces perspiration inside the shoe. "Walking barefoot in trainers or closed shoes, on the other hand, is not a good idea, as moisture then accumulates even faster," says Schulz. If shoes smell already What can you do if your shoes already smell and cannot be put in the washing machine? The simplest method is to air them out regularly, using a fan if necessary, says Schulz. Try using antibacterial sprays from the chemist's or based on essential oils as they also help to reduce germs and neutralize odours. You can also put lemon slices in your shoes or scented sachets with herbs are suitable home remedies. "Baking powder or coffee powder, on the other hand, are often not strong enough to effectively combat the smell," she says. You can also place your shoes in a bag in the freezer for a few hours. The cold kills bacteria and reduces odours, but this method is more suitable for textile and plastic shoes than for delicate leather. Care depends on material Leather shoes require more care. They should be treated regularly with creams to moisturise and keep the material supple. You can clean suede leather such as velour with special brushes and can also treat them to repel dirt and moisture. You can clean textile shoes or trainers in the washing machine under certain circumstances, but be careful as especially with mixed materials or glued soles, you may start to see unsightly edges or loose seams, says Schulz. It is safer to wash them gently by hand with a mild detergent. If you use the washing machine, you should put the shoes in a laundry bag, wash the laces separately and select a gentle cycle. To keep your shoes extra fresh, store them with scented sachets or even spray a little of your favourite perfume in the shoe box – that gives the shoes a very personal touch. Don't forget foot hygiene If you want to prevent odours in the long term, go beyond caring for your shoes. Do wash your feet regularly and dry them thoroughly prevents sweat odours. You can also use foot powder and special deodorants to help reduce the production of sweat. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn nam tsn xxde arw

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

A new Netflix docuseries dives into the turbulent rise and fall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, uncovering shocking details — from a violent childhood in New York to explosive allegations of his involvement in the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. New York (tca/dpa) – Netflix released its long-awaited50 Cent- produced documentary “ Sean Combs : The Reckoning ” on Tuesday, featuring unseen footage, major revelations and exclusive insider interviews. Thefour-part docuseries covers everything from the rap mogul’s troubled childhood to the tragedies that shaped his career. Here’s a rundown of the doc’s most jaw-dropping revelations about Diddy’s rise and fall. Combs’ chaotic childhood The documentary explores the violence and chaos of Combs’childhood in Mount Vernon, N.Y. , including alleged beatings at the hands of his mother. AfterDiddy’s drug-dealer father was murdered when he was 3 years old, his mother, Janice, took on a strict disciplinarian role, according to childhood friend Tim Patterson . “His beatings made me scared,” Patterson said. “I got beatings … but when he got his beatings, it wasn’t a joking thing.” Patterson also revealed that Combs grew up in a home where wild parties were the norm. “Janice knew how to throw a party, and the parties were packed,” Patterson said. “You got the ladies who looked like they were straight out of a ‘Jet’ magazine. Some brothers up there. If you want to call them pimps, you can. If you want to call them hustlers, you can. You got a member of the New York Knicks, or two. There was a stage in her living room, literally a stage. And that’s where we used to have to go and dance. And everybody’s calling you, ‘Baby.’ And everybody’s saying, ‘Do that dance.’ And all of this stuff he’s taking in.” Diddy attempted a “propaganda” campaign before his arrest Six days beforeCombs was arrested in September 2024 , he attempted to form a plan to activate a pro-Diddy campaign on social media, according to the documentary. Footage exposes an intense conversation between the Bad Boy Records founder and his lawyer regarding the perception of him online. Diddy hoped to repair his public image by bringing in a strategist, saying it should be “somebody that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirtiest, dirty business of media and propaganda.” Jurors explain mixed verdict in trial “I do feel it’s important that we let the public know from the jurors’ standpoint just kind of how we reached the verdict,” Juror 160 said in the documentary. “It’s not everything that the media has put it out to be.” Twojurors from Combs’ trial , who convicted him on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, said they felt his relationship with Cassie Ventura was definitely violent, but they didn’t think the evidence was strong enough to convict him of themore serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering . “You can’t beat that small girl like that, the way he did,” one juror said, in reference to thesurveillance video of Combs brutally beating Ventura in a hotel hallway, but noted that “domestic violence wasn’t one of the charges” against Combs. The second juror said he felt “confused” by the complicated nature of Combs and Ventura’s relationship, explaining that they’d see evidence of violence and then “the next minute, they’re going on dinners and trips.” Allegations of involvement in Tupac and Biggie deaths Interviews with former artists and staff at Bad Boy Records revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls , with severalclaiming Combs was heavily involved . With interviews from Mark Curry , Roxanne Johnson and Bad Boy co-founder Kirk Burrowes , the documentary alleges that Combs helped escalate the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry in the 1990s. According to Burrowes, Combs “ushered Biggie to his death” by pressuring the “Big Poppa” artist to go to Los Angeles to promote his album, even though Smalls didn’t want to go and knew it was dangerous. Burrowes also alleged that he now believes Combs similarly “had a lot to do with the death of Tupac.” The documentary claims that Diddy paid drug kingpinDuane ‘Keffe D’ Davis to have Shakur killed in 1996. Davis is currently awaiting trial in connection to Shakur’s death. The following information is not intended for publication tca dpa coh

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)