I don’t know whether I notice it more in the sunshine or if flies really do come out en masse in spring, but I feel like I’ve noticed a lot more of the unwelcome visitors on my houseplants recently.

And while I’ve found vinegar and washing-up liquid traps are a really effective way to manage a fruit fly bonanza, I can’t help but wish there was an easier, less deadly way to de-fly my ferns.

Luckily, plant educator Peyton, known online as Plant Caregiver, is one of a few voices to suggest a chemical-free method: in a TikTok video, the creator said, “a lot of your plant problems could be fixed by having a fan”.

Speaking to Homes & Gardens, Julia Omelchenko, an expert in plants for the Plantum app, explained that proper ventilation and air flow keep soil drier, preventing a buildup of, e.g., fungus gnats.

That can involve opening a window. But it can also include running a “fan on low speeds where your plants are situated,” so long as you “avoid cold drafts and don’t point the fan at the plants,” she added.

Aside from preventing wet soil, which fungus gnats love, using a fan also helps to create an environment in which fruit flies struggle to fly (they have quite weak wings).

An Ideal Homes writer put it to the test and was impressed with the result. And, more recently, a Guardian writer and houseplant expert tried it on a mildewy plant; she wrote, “It’s one of those hacks that sounds unnecessary until you try it”.

As we’ve mentioned before, soil that stays wet for too long can attract fungus gnats. Try watering your soil less often if that’s the case.

Adding a gravel mulch, using sticky traps, and even using predatory nematodes can all help, too, per BBC Gardener’s World.

You can also change the potting soil to that which has been specially formulated for houseplants.

Attracting wildlife to your garden is one of the best ways you can help out the planet, control pests, and support struggling species.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Helen Bostock, a senior wildlife specialist at the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “Environments are more resilient and function better when there is both species and genetic diversity, helping combat challenges such as climate change, carbon capture and pollution.”

There are many ways to do this, from making a little pond out of an old washing-up bowl to putting out water for hedgehogs. But wildflowers can help too, says Elise Harlock, a floral expert at Prestige Flowers.

“Small changes can really help to create a thriving natural environment… By adding the right flowers to your garden, you can support biodiversity and make it look extra beautiful,” she said.

Here are the best ones to get in the ground for a more buzzing backyard this summer:

Beloved by bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, those “single-layered, long petal flowers are easiest for insects to feed and pollinate from,” Harlock said.

And because it’s such a favourite of so many insects, “you’ll see the flowers full of creatures all summer long”.

Safety: Mildly toxic to dogs if ingested and can be toxic to cats.

Lavender loves sunny spots, but if your garden is a little short on those, try foxglove instead.

“Foxgloves thrive in shade, so you can grow them in almost any garden type,” Harlock told us. “Their colourful flowers and height are great for adding depth to a garden, but also act as safe, tubular and nectar-rich environments for insects.”

Flowers in: June to September

Safety: Very toxic to adults, children, and pets if ingested. Don’t plant in places where either kids or pets play.

“These daisy-like flowers are excellent for butterflies and bees. The open and flat structure of the flower head makes them perfect pollen-heavy landing spots, whilst adding loads of bright colour to your flower beds,” the expert said.

Even better: their seedheads make amazing food for birds once the flowers have died out.

Flowers in: July to late August

Safety: Generally considered safe for pets and children, though some adults and children may have an extreme allergic reaction to the plant.

“Everyone knows sunflowers are great for bees, but few know why,” Harlock told us.

“Their centres are bursting with nectar, which makes them a rich source for pollinators, so planting even one or two in your garden is guaranteed to attract plenty of bees.”

However, they need a lot of sun (shocker), so make sure your garden has enough light before planting them.

Flowers in: July to September

Safety: Non-toxic to cats, dogs, horses, and children.

“Bees and butterflies love the sweet scent of peonies, and they’re a really beautiful addition to any summer garden,” the flower expert said.

Flowers in: April to July

Safety: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and toxic to children if ingested.

During my time as a cleaner, I learned a lot about which products were worth saving and splurging on. A good mop? Splash the cash! Glass and metal cleaners? Not so much.

That’s because in my experience, specially-designed glass sprays leave streaks and a thin film behind. As window cleaning services Window Hero write, “Many store-bought cleaners leave behind… soap or chemicals.

“If this residue isn’t thoroughly rinsed, it dries on the glass and causes streaks.”

Instead, I use what I’ve since seen other cleaners swear by: good ol’ washing up liquid, and/or white vinegar.

In an Instagram Reel, cleaning influencer Jessica May showed a video of her using a Dishmatic full of washing-up liquid and white vinegar on her windows.

“Mix equal part[s] dish soap and white vinegar… lightly scrub this over your windows, use a squeegee and voila. I also used a microfibre cloth to remove any excess water from the bottom of the window,” she wrote.

Personally, I’d ditch the Dishmatic: I’d worry that it’d leave far too much product on the surface itself, which could put you at the same streak risk as using a window spray. “If too much cleaning agent is used in the solution, a greasy film can form on the window,” said cleaning product company Karcher.

But as for the ingredients themselves, cleaning company Wecasa said that around a half-teaspoon of washing-up liquid per 500ml of water is ideal for greasy marks.

Meanwhile, a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar to water sprayed on a glass surface is great for everyday dirt.

Karcher agreed with both approaches, though they warned you’ll want to cover any marble sills or nearby surfaces if you’re using vinegar, as it can damage the surface.

And Tradesman Saver wrote that “While there are many commercial glass cleaners available, professional cleaners often prefer simple, homemade solutions,” including one made with one part water, one part white vinegar, and a few “optional” drops of washing-up liquid.

Other ways to achieve a streak-free clean include thoroughly rinsing windows with clean water after applying soaps and wiping them clean with a lint-free microfibre cloth.

Whether you’re using a spray, vinegar, or washing-up liquid, don’t use too much: this is what can leave a film behind.

And try to avoid cleaning windows on sunny days. That can make liquids dry far too fast, leaving residue behind.

It’s been announced that Helena Bonham Carter will no longer be appearing in the upcoming fourth season of The White Lotus.

However, just over a week after production got underway, US broadcaster HBO announced that Helena would no longer be taking part in the new episodes.

“With filming just underway on Season 4 of The White Lotus, it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” a spokesperson said.

“The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks.”

“HBO, the producers and Mike White are saddened that they won’t get to work with her, but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon,” the statement concluded.

In their reporting on the matter, Deadline cited undisclosed “sources” who claimed that Helena had already filmed several scenes when The White Lotus creator Mike White – who also writes and directs the show – “felt that her character as originally conceived was not what it should be”.

This isn’t the first time a White Lotus has been recast once production is already up and running.

Early on in the process of making season three, Charlotte Le Bon was brought in to replace Francesca Corney in the role of Chloe.

Francesca had already been flown out to Thailand and had spent time with the rest of the cast, when it was announced that her role was being recast, reportedly due to the fact that producers wanted Chloe to come across as slightly older.

Woody Harrelson was also supposed to play a pivotal role in season three, with reports claiming he pulled out due to a pay dispute.

The three-time Oscar nominee later clarified that he’d actually withdrawn as filming would have clashed with a pre-planned family holiday, which is how he came to be replaced in the project by Sam Rockwell.

Other stars confirmed to be appearing in the fourth season of The White Lotus include Kumail Nanjiani and Black Swan’s Vincent Cassel, Max Greenfield, Heather Graham and Sandra Bernhard.

Mike White previously teased that the new season would be centred around questions about fame, and will be set during the Cannes Film Festival.

You’ve finally saved up a little money. You have a stable living situation. It’s been a long time coming, but you’re finally ready to do the most grown-up thing possible: Take care of someone other than yourself.

The next step is crystal clear. Time to start looking for your dream dog. For many of us, that means heading to the local shelter to rescue a scrappy little companion whose life you can enrich with treats, long evening walks and the most vigorous of belly rubs.

First of all, cheers to you for choosing a shelter over a breeder or pet store. So many experienced pet parents — including us, Raj Punjabi-Johnson and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s Am I Doing it Wrong? podcast — can attest to the joy of giving a rescue a great home.

And if you have a preference for a certain breed, you’re in luck. Contrary to popular belief, shelters house every kind of dog. “We recently posted a gray poodle named Izzy on our social media, and she has this frou-frou gray hairdo,” said Rachel Ziering, founding executive director of Muddy Paws rescue and pet adoption expert, on this week’s episode. “We get poodles, we get Shih-Tzus, we get maltipoos — and we get puppies. So it might take a little longer [to get] whatever you’re looking for, but we do get all kinds of dogs.”

So dream big (literally, if you want a huge dog, please check out Zeiring’s unbearably sweet 162-lb. foster pup Earl, who also made an appearance on this episode). And when you think you’ve found your new bestie, remember to ask these questions to ascertain whether the dog will be a good fit — because the goal, after all, is to gallop off into the sunset together and live slobberly ever after.

Straight out of the gate, Ziering suggested, you should ask about the pup’s temperament. Are they very outgoing or a bit of an introvert? Are they anxious or generally unbothered? These are important personality traits of a pet that will help you decide if they will be able to comfortably acclimate to your lifestyle.

“And then in terms of medical, you’re going to want to make sure the dog has all of its basic vaccines and testing and all of that stuff,” Ziering added, “which any reputable shelter is going to be doing.”

You also want to ask about the dog’s social behaviour around other animals — especially if you live in a city. In this case, she says, you’re really going to need a dog who can kind of tolerate and get around in busy, heavily populated streets. “Have you seen the dog with other dogs? Have you seen the dog with cats?” Ziering prompted. “And usually the answer is no there. But in a foster-based rescue, sometimes the answer is yes.”

In terms of what you should ask yourself before signing those adoption papers, Ziering advises taking into consideration your own social and travel habits to making sure you’re able to really give your new pet the attention and care they require. “If you don’t feel like you’re in a good place to give a dog or cat a forever home, foster,” she added. “It’s beautiful. We need fosters more than anything. We can’t take dogs from shelters unless we know that we have a foster home for them.”

On this episode, we also talk to Ziering about why certain pets end up at shelters to begin with, and all the ways we can help a new pet feel comfortable and safe, so click here to hear the full episode or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to “Am I Doing It Wrong?” on whatever podcast platform you prefer.

For more info about Muddy Paws, head here.

Have a question or need some help with something you’ve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.

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If you’re anything like us, you’re completely obsessed with sleep RN. And we don’t blame you – life is busy, our brains are constantly wired, and all we want is a good night’s sleep to get us through the week.

Things get even more complicated when we reach the warmer months: waking up with the light, sweating through the night, and having to wash our sheets every few days to make up for it.

If there’s anything that can stop us from running hot at night, we’re all over it.

So when we heard that Simba – the company renowned for its unbeaten mattresses, pillows, and duvets – had launched a fresh bedding collection, we were the first to jump into bed. Yep, Simba didn’t even have to take us out for dinner first!

Intended to ‘redefine the sleep environment’ the launch is made up of six temperature-regulating fabrics, including Tencel, linen, muslin, and cotton (percale, waffle, and Egyptian, don’t you know!).

No matter what kind of texture you’re into, there’s something for everyone – you could even mix and match!

While it might be on the pricier side, each fabric is intended to adapt to different temperatures so you don’t have to keep switching up your bedding with each season (so really you’re saving money).

You can also choose from seven new colours – our faves are the dusty rose and oat cappuccino – to layer for the ultimate cosy cocoon.

Whether you’re looking for fresh pillowcases, sheets, or a new set entirely, this is our pick of Simba’s latest bedding release.