Author: admin

2025-02-10T10:01:00

(BPT) – If you have struggled with fingerprints all over your stainless steel or stubborn stains on your cooktop, now is the time to take your cleaning routine to the next level and upgrade to products that are right for the job. The products you use matter, and Weiman makes products specifically designed for the unique surfaces you need to clean in your home. And their products don’t just clean they are specially formulated to also protect your surfaces and always leave them looking spectacular.

Here are top products and expert tips to help you upgrade your cleaning habits so all your home’s surfaces aren’t just clean for the moment but will be protected and preserved to look beautiful and be easily maintained year-round.

Keep your stainless steel appliances cleaner for longer

Stainless steel appliances bring a sleek, modern look to any home, but they can quickly collect grease, fingerprints, smudges, watermarks and dust. If your stainless steel never seems to stay spotless for long, using the right cleaner can make all the difference.

For a lasting clean and protection against future messes, the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Kit provides everything you need to deliver a streak-free shine while actively repelling fingerprints and smudges. It’s safe to use on kitchen appliances, sinks, range hoods, backsplashes and grills. This three-in-one product ensures easy, long-lasting results:

• Clean: Easily removes fingerprints, smudges, residue and grease.
• Shine: Leaves a brilliant streak-free finish with no residue, unlike all-purpose cleaners.
• Protect: Creates an invisible barrier that resists dust, dirt and fingerprints to keep stainless steel looking beautiful longer.

Make your glass cooktop look like new – without scratches

Glass and ceramic cooktops are sleek and practical for today’s kitchens, but they’re difficult to maintain, especially when dealing with burned-on food, grease and grime. Many all-purpose cleaners and abrasive formulas can scratch these delicate surfaces, making it harder to keep your cooktop looking its best.

For a deep clean without damage, the Weiman Cooktop and Stove Top Cleaner Kit includes everything you need to restore shine and remove tough messes—without scratching:

• Non-abrasive Cooktop 3-in-1 Cream: Apply directly to the cooktop and use the scrubbing pad to break down grease and grime.
• Use the scraper tool to remove any remaining stuck on food, water stains or burn rings.
• Finish by buffing with a paper towel for a polished, streak-free look.

Unlike other cleaners that may be too harsh for glass and ceramic cooktops causing scratches, Weiman’s formula is designed for safe use on major brands, including GE, Whirlpool, Frigidaire and Thermador, helping to maintain the cooktop’s finish.

Pro tip: Always let your cooktop cool completely before cleaning to ensure the best results.

Revive floors for a fresh start

Floors are the foundation of any room’s look and feel, so keeping them clean and well-maintained is essential. Whether you have hardwood, tile, or stone, the right cleaning products help preserve their beauty and longevity.

Hardwood floors add warmth and elegance to a home, but daily foot traffic, kids and pets can cause wear overtime. Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner is specially formulated to clean without streaking, dulling or leaving sticky residue. Its pH-neutral formula is gentle yet effective, making it safe for finished hardwood, engineered hardwood, vinyl and laminate flooring. Plus, it’s EPA Safer Choice Certified, meaning it’s safer to use around kids and pets.

Pro tip: For best results, sweep or dry mop first to remove loose dust and debris before applying cleaner.

Tile and stone floors are durable and easy to maintain, but the right cleaner helps preserve their natural shine. Weiman Stone and Tile Cleaner is specially formulated to clean without leaving streaks or residue and is safe for sealed marble, granite, ceramic and porcelain tile, grout, vinyl and any other non-porous hard surfaces.

Pro tip: Avoid excess water or overly wet mops on stone and tile to prevent staining or discoloration.

Protect Sensitive Stone Countertops

Kitchen and bathroom countertops endure daily messes, from spills to watermarks, making regular maintenance essential. Weiman Granite & Stone 3-In-1 Clean, Polish & Protect not only cleans but also helps resist stains while enhancing the natural luster of sealed stone surfaces. Its pH-neutral, non-acidic formula safely removes watermarks without leaving streaks or residue.

Pro tip: To maintain shine and prevent buildup, wipe countertops daily with a soft cloth and use Weiman Granite & Stone 3-In-1 regularly to keep surfaces looking polished and pristine.

Upgrade from an average all-purpose cleaner to products designed for each surface in your home; because the right cleaning solution doesn’t just clean, it protects and preserves for years to come.

2025-02-06T12:21:00

(BPT) – Savings can help meet unexpected expenses, fund short-term spending goals and protect against unanticipated life events. At the same time, leaving too much of your money uninvested can jeopardize long-term financial goals like retirement. Set a goal to be more intentional with your savings by getting clear on your savings goals, ensuring your savings earn a competitive return and putting excess cash to work for your long-term financial goals.

Set savings goals

To determine your personal savings goals, consider your ability to withstand savings shocks and potential income loss, as well as any short-term spending goals such as buying a car or taking a vacation.

• Step 1: Start by ensuring you have a buffer for unexpected expenses. Aim to have at least $2,000 or about half a month’s household expenses, whichever is greater, set aside in a cash savings account. If you’ve navigated any changes in the last year that impact your income or spending, it’s also worthwhile to revisit that emergency savings goal.
• Step 2: You might also have additional short-term financial goals. Perhaps you’re planning a home renovation or saving up for a wedding. Money to fund these goals that are a year or two away probably shouldn’t be exposed to much risk of loss and may be best kept in a cash savings account.
• Step 3: Think about building a more substantial financial safety net that can cover three-to-six months of living expenses. This fund will help you manage financial disruptions, such as job loss or other longer-term income interruptions. This fund might also be used to help with longer-term goals like retirement savings, but such money, however it is invested, should be easily accessible if needed to bridge periods of income loss. Certain accounts like a 401(k) or traditional IRA with limited ability for early withdrawals likely won’t be the best homes for these funds.

Get specific about why you’re saving and create an action plan. Start small and build. Saving something is better than not saving at all, especially when saving in an account with a competitive yield. Yield, or annual competitive yield (APY), indicates how much interest or return you can expect to earn on your savings in a given account over a year. Put simply, the higher the APY, the more your savings can grow.

Earn what you deserve

Many Americans aren’t getting the return they deserve on their savings. Whether you’re just starting to set aside funds for an emergency or you already have substantial cash saved, make sure you know how much that cash is “earning.” Saving with intention means selecting the best savings vehicle for your personal savings goals. Consider whether you value FDIC insurance, ease of money movement or if you’re simply looking for the highest return on your savings.

Letting your money sit in an average bank savings account might mean your money doesn’t have much chance to grow. The average bank savings account yield as of Dec. 16, 2024, was 0.42% according to the FDIC National Rate and Rate Caps. That means for each $100 you save you’ll earn 42 cents annually. Compare this to a higher yielding account like Vanguard’s Cash Plus Account, which offers a sweep program currently yielding 3.65% APY effective Jan. 6, 2025.*

The cash you keep easily accessible does not need to sit idly on the sidelines. It can work for you in a high-yielding account. Keeping your hard-earned money in a low-yielding account could mean leaving money for short- and long-term goals on the table.

Build on your savings foundation

A well-funded emergency savings account can prevent you from taking on high-interest debt, tapping into a retirement account or turning to other sources that could slow your long-term financial progress.

While crucial for funding short-term financial goals, an intentional savings plan can also create the foundation for a longer-term financial plan. Once you have a solid savings plan in place, consider whether you can move excess cash — beyond the amount needed to meet your identified savings goals — into higher-earning-potential asset classes like stocks and bonds for long-term goals like retirement.

When you’re intentional about your savings goal and seeking out the best home for your savings, even the cash you choose to keep more readily accessible, outside of stock and bond investments, has the opportunity to grow.

Whether your savings goal is to start your first rainy-day fund or shop around for higher returns on your well-funded piggybank, ensure you have clear goals and a plan for reaching them.

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

Investments in bonds are subject to interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

*The APY will vary and may change at any time. APY is current as of date of publication. Current APY is available at vanguard.com.

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account is a brokerage account offered by Vanguard Brokerage Services, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC. Under the Sweep Program, Eligible Balances swept to Program Banks are not securities: They are not covered by SIPC but are eligible for FDIC insurance, subject to applicable limits. Money market funds held in the account are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC but are securities eligible for SIPC coverage. See the Vanguard Bank Sweep Products Terms of Use and Program Bank list on vanguard.com for more information.

There may be other differences between these products that must be considered prior to investing.

© 2025 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

2025-02-06T08:01:00

(BPT) – The psychology of color reveals what most people already know: Color can evoke strong emotions. Members of the design team at Whirlpool Corporation are well versed in how color impacts mood, which is one of the reasons they spent years researching color trends to identify the best possible choice for the KitchenAid^® 2025 Color of the Year: Butter.

“The Color of the Year program is specifically led by the Whirlpool Color, Finish, and Material team. We spend years analyzing interior design, social, cultural and aesthetic trends to help determine the new Color of the Year — a decision that is often many years in the process,” said Brittni Pertijs, Design Manager: Color, Material and Finish at Whirlpool Corporation. “Color of the Year focuses on a specific colorway to express the emotions people want to feel that year.”

This year’s choice for Color of the Year: Butter

It’s not just for baking anymore! This modern yellow with a creamy, satin finish imparts a uniquely comforting vibe, with a nostalgic aura all its own.

“As a result of our trend tracking, our team saw yellow continually pop up,” said Pertijs. “Knowing we wanted to tap into comfort and nostalgia, this soft, energizing butter yellow felt like the perfect marriage of all those elements.”

According to a 2024 online Ipsos Survey*, nearly 3 in 4 consumers (72%) agree that a buttery yellow color radiates warmth and comfort, and 67% associate the color with a sense of richness and creaminess — making it a top choice for creating a welcoming atmosphere in the kitchen. More than half (52%) connect the hue with comforting homemade meals, and the same percentage agree that a buttery yellow color transports them back to nostalgic childhood memories. A majority of consumers (64%) also connect this color to the simple pleasures in life.

“The color yellow has the ability to transport you back in time, evoking some of your warmest memories,” added Pertijs. “The color might remind people of kitchens from the 1950s or 1960s that were decorated with a similar soft yellow color. While it echoes past kitchens, Butter feels fresh and modern, leaning into present-day design trends. It’s a classic neutral that will last over the years.”

Design tips: How to make the most of this year’s color

To maximize the warm, comfy vibes of this year’s Color of the Year, you can choose to upgrade to the new KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer in Butter. The Butter Stand Mixer works well as a design feature in any style of home, from eclectic and traditional styles to clean and contemporary spaces. It’s also created to fit in perfectly with the latest kitchen designs and finishes.

While some may recall the Majestic Yellow color, “that was developed in 1995, which was reflective of interior trends such as red cherry woods and glossy countertop finishes. The new Butter model represents today’s design trends, in which woods are more natural and countertops are matte and satin,” explained Pertijs.

For anyone looking to accessorize or update their kitchen this year, the Butter Stand Mixer complements various shades of blue well, including periwinkle blue. If you’re looking to mix and match it with other appliances, Butter looks great with the KitchenAid Blue Velvet colorway, or more muted tones like sage green.

Pertijs also recommends pairing the Butter Stand Mixer with the KitchenAid^® Bread Bowl attachment: “They go together like bread and butter (pun intended)!”

Make your kitchen more cozy, comforting and welcoming this year with the rich color of Butter. You can learn more about this year’s KitchenAid^® Stand Mixer Color of the Year at KitchenAid.com.

*Source: An online Ipsos survey in the US, UK, MX, DE, CA, AUS (n=1,000 per country), general population, 18 years of age and older. Data is nationally representative by age, gender, race/ethnicity and region. The survey was fielded between September 27-October 1, 2024.

2025-02-06T00:01:00

(BPT) – As we settle into the new year, many of us are reflecting on our goals we made in January when declaring our New Year’s resolutions.

For many, mental health was likely a key focus, continuing the trend from last year when about 40% of resolutions were aimed at improving mental well-being. However, as the novelty of January fades, it’s easy for even the best intentions to slip. Studies have shown that by February, many people have already abandoned their resolutions.

Rather than letting your commitment to mental health dim, now is the perfect time to renew your focus and keep your mental health a priority.

Whether you’re following through on your resolution to improve your mental well-being or simply seeking to continue your efforts, staying intentional about mental wellness can have lasting benefits for both your emotional and physical health.

Dr. Donald Tavakoli, UnitedHealthcare’s National Medical Director for Behavioral Health, provides the following tips to help you keep your mental health on track throughout the year:

1. Build a supportive network

Surrounding yourself with understanding friends, family and mentors can provide essential emotional support. A strong social network can help prevent feelings of isolation and promote resilience. Research shows that social support plays a crucial role in mental health. Don’t be afraid to reach out and be open with your loved ones.

2. Emphasize sleep

Adequate sleep is fundamental to mental well-being as insufficient sleep may negatively affect emotional regulation and cognitive function. Prioritize restful sleep by establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a calming bedtime routine and optimizing your sleep environment. Proper sleep also benefits your overall well-being.

3. Limit social media:

Studies have linked excessive social media use to a higher risk of depression and anxiety, particularly among young people. It’s important to keep in mind that a person’s social feed often doesn’t reflect their entire life story. Instead, try to embrace the ups and downs of life as normal, focus on the here and now, and invest in your offline relationships.

4. Reach out for professional support

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care physician (PCP). If you don’t have a PCP, now is a great time to establish a relationship with one. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Your PCP can provide valuable insights and care, and referrals if needed.

5. Utilize your insurance benefits

You might be surprised to learn that your health insurance plan includes mental health benefits which may cover employee assistance programs, virtual therapy sessions, coaching or digital self-help tools such as Calm Health. These options make it easy to access the support you need in different ways. If you have mild behavioral health concerns, digital self-help tools and virtual coaching can be a great place to begin. If you have any questions or need more details, simply call the number on your insurance card for assistance.

Prioritizing mental health enables you to work toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. By improving your mental well-being, you set the stage for achieving broader goals, including nurturing relationships and fostering personal growth. Make mental health a central focus as you navigate 2025.

For more information about mental health resources, visit UHC.com.

2025-02-05T13:31:00

(BPT) – Do you consider your kitchen safe? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries, so it’s a good idea to take a good look at your kitchen and review the best practices for keeping everyone in your home protected from these common hazards.

Here are important kitchen safety tips to keep in mind for any household, but especially for those with children, the elderly or other vulnerable adults.

Use the kitchen safety features of your electric range

The NFPA advises that households with electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires, so it’s important to read and understand any safety features that your range may provide and to use them consistently.

For example, since 2015, LG electric ranges have a proprietary feature on slide-in and freestanding electric ranges with front-mounted knobs called “Lock Out” or “Control Lock.” This allows users to disable the heating elements when the range is not in use, reducing the risk of accidental activation.

Many electric ranges are also equipped with additional safety features, including a “Burner On” indicator light, an audible alert when a burner is activated, and a hot surface indicator light. These kinds of measures provide multiple layers of protection to promote safe range operation, according to LG, which encourages consumers to review the written instructions and watch this helpful how-to video to make the most of range safety features.

Keep stovetops clean and clear

For any kind of range, it’s crucial to keep any potentially flammable items away from the stovetop, including potholders, kitchen towels, paper or plastic products, etc. You can also help prevent grease fires by ensuring that your oven and stovetop are clean and free of any grease, dirt and debris.

Stay in the kitchen when cooking

Cooking, when done properly, is a safe activity. However, unattended cooking remains the leading cause of kitchen fires in the U.S according to the NFPA, so it’s recommended to stay nearby and keep a close watch on your range while you’re cooking. Wear short or close-fitting sleeves. Turn pan handles inward to prevent spills and put them out of reach of children.

Keep children and pets away from range knobs

It’s also important to help ensure that pets and children have as little access to range knobs as possible. Baby gates can help to keep very small children and some pets out of the kitchen, but close supervision is always the best safety measure.

Ensure all knobs are in the “off” position after cooking

When you’re done cooking, and especially before leaving the house or going to bed at night, doublecheck that all of the range knobs are turned off.

Avoid placing objects on the range when not in use

Limited counter space can be frustrating, but placing objects — especially those that could be flammable — on your range top when you’re not using it can be a safety hazard, especially if a knob accidentally gets turned on. Try to look for other storage solutions so you’re not tempted to use your cooktop as counter space.

Use kitchen ventilation when cooking

Before things heat up in the kitchen, be sure to turn on your kitchen ventilation hood, fan, or even open a window to circulate the air in your kitchen. When things heat up, using proper ventilation will enhance your indoor air quality and the overall cooking experience by reducing odors, heat and other byproducts of the cooking process.

According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, when safety tips, advisories or service upgrades are offered, consumers can trust that the manufacturer is presenting the most current information to help you stay safe and have a positive experience while using their product.

Learn more about LG electric ranges and their safety features at LG.com/us/electric-ranges. LG is ranked the #1 Appliance Brand in the United States, according to the OpenBrand Quarterly Consumer Survey (Units & Dollars, Major Appliances, AHAM Core 6, Q2-Q4 2024).

2025-02-05T09:31:00

(BPT) – What makes for retiring well? For most Americans, it’s living a little by affording experiences that bring joy (68%) and enjoying a high quality of life (49%), balanced by the security of reaching savings milestones (68%), according to new Empower research.

Big and little joys

Most agree satisfaction in retirement includes the ability to pay bills on time and in full (68%) and living debt-free (63%) — including owning a home outright (55%). Some 42% of people say it comes down to experiences, like the ability to travel the world, and to give back by volunteering (25%).

Everything in its time

Having a clear timeline brings peace of mind for many — 66% say they have a goal retirement age in mind, including 73% of men and 61% of women.

Over two-thirds of Americans (67%) have savings milestones to reach before retirement — goals that they’re striving for — including setting aside funds for emergencies (57%), travel (33%) and leisure activities like starting a new hobby (32%). About the same number (68%) say their happiness in retirement depends most on reaching their retirement savings goal. Many Gen Xers emphasize leaving behind an inheritance for their children (42%).

Travel and leisure

When choosing a place to retire, most people (86%) prefer to live where they can maintain their lifestyle without stressing about money, and low cost of living (38%) factors high on the list. For many that means relocating, with 42% saying they plan to move to a different city or state to retire.

Some 37% prioritize proximity to family and friends, although 43% say they prefer to retire where it’s more affordable, even if it means being far from their loved ones. For others, home is where happiness already exists — 23% describe their current location as their happy place.

Many see retirement as an opportunity for a fresh start; 16% of people imagine retiring in a different country altogether, seeking adventure and change in their golden years. Nearly 2 in 5 Gen Zers have set a goal for a travel fund (44%) in retirement.

Methodology

Empower surveyed 1,013 Americans on December 5, 2024.

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2025-02-04T08:01:00

(BPT) – If you are pregnant, or are considering becoming pregnant, you may want to know everything you can about your baby. Often, this process will include prenatal screening.

To help in the learning process, and better understand the options for expecting parents, a resource is now available to help understand how genetic testing — another name for screening — can help you learn more and better prepare for your baby.

The “Know More Sooner” website, provided by Myriad Genetics, delivers information about available screenings tests including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which can identify pregnancies at an increased risk for a wide variety of chromosomal conditions as early as eight weeks. The site reveals common myths about genetic testing and shares the stories of patients who have used and benefited from prenatal screens.

Kristin E., a recent patient, found out she was pregnant. Her doctor ordered NIPT, also known as prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening early in her pregnancy and learned that her baby might have birth defects.

Since some birth defects may cause a miscarriage, Kristin spent eight days thinking her pregnancy would not be viable. Kristin later found out that the test she had taken became less accurate as the person’s weight increased. Instead of providing accurate results, the test simply flagged her as high-risk, without clearly acknowledging that her body mass index (BMI), not the cfDNA, was the primary factor in her test outcome.

Following concerning prenatal cfDNA results that are often impacted by high BMI, Kristin screened with Myriad’s Prequel^® Prenatal Screen, which showed her pregnancy was at reduced risk for specific chromosomal conditions. The results gave her a sigh of relief — she started to enjoy her pregnancy instead of being filled with dread.

Kristin has given birth to a healthy baby who is “immensely happy!” As an older mom, Kristin tells everyone to “go to Prequel right out of the gate.”

“Many patients don’t initially understand the importance of prenatal genetic screening, but with Myriad’s genetic tests you can learn a lot more about risks to your pregnancy and your baby sooner than at typical milestones,” said Dr. Dallas Reed, MD, FACMG, FACOG, obstetrician-gynecologist and medical geneticist who serves as the Principal Medical Advisor of Women’s Health for Myriad Genetics.

“Having this information may allow you to pursue diagnostic testing sooner, meet with specialists, choose a birthing location that specializes in high-risk pregnancies, and/or talk with others who have faced similar conditions.”

Know More Sooner was created after survey results found that most patients want prenatal screening — once they learned how genetic testing can help them be more informed and prepared for their baby.

Four in 10 survey respondents said that they had not been offered any kind of noninvasive prenatal screening tests.¹ Yet, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that this kind of screening be offered to all pregnant patients regardless of ancestry, maternal age or risk of chromosomal abnormality.

Myriad offers three tests to those who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant:

• The SneakPeek^® Gender Test predicts fetal sex as early as six weeks into pregnancy with 99% accuracy.²
• The Foresight^® Carrier Screen identifies couples at risk of passing down serious, inherited conditions.
• The Prequel^® Prenatal Screen identifies pregnancies that may be at an increased risk for a wide variety of chromosomal conditions as early as eight weeks.

Visit the Know More Sooner website at PrenatalScreening.com to learn more about prenatal screening.

1. Large-scale Pollfish survey of 1,000 U.S.-based population who self-identified as ‘pregnant’ or ‘recently pregnant.’ Survey was conducted by the S50 Agency on behalf of Myriad Genetics, December 2023.

2. In a large-scale published study run in 2020, SneakPeek accurately determined fetal sex in 99.9% of 1,029 pregnant women between 7-37 weeks gestational age. In a 2021 laboratory test, SneakPeek accurately determined fetal sex in 99.02% of 102 pregnant women using the Snap device at 8-15 weeks gestational age. In a separate published study run in 2021, fetal sex was accurately determined in 100% of 134 pregnant women at 7 weeks gestational age. In a 2022 scientific study, SneakPeek accurately determined fetal sex for 100% of 103 women at 6 weeks gestational age.