6 Things You Should Never Put in a Living Trust
Estate planning provides for the smooth handling of your assets after death. However, only around 32% of American adults have a will, indicating that most people haven’t taken the appropriate steps to prepare for the management of their estate, according to LegalZoom.
One essential tool for estate planning is a living trust. It allows your assets to bypass the lengthy, costly probate process and maintains your financial privacy.
Learn More: I’m a Bank Teller — 6 Top Ways You Can Keep Your Checking Account Safe
Consider This: 5 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money
Since a living trust can be amended or revoked at any point during your lifetime, it also serves as a flexible way to control your assets, avoid family disputes and ultimately provide peace of mind knowing that your estate will be managed according to your wishes.
However, not every type of asset belongs in a living trust. This article will cover the assets you should exclude from your living trust and why.
Earning passive income doesn’t need to be difficult. You can start this week.
Things To Leave Out of Your Living Trust
Including certain assets in a living trust can complicate estate management, trigger tax consequences or negatively impact the asset’s value.
While it’s always a good idea to consult an estate planning attorney for legal advice, consider excluding the following assets to maximize the benefits of your living trust:
1. Retirement Accounts
Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs can trigger tax consequences if you include them in your living will.
Since your living trust is a separate legal entity, any transfers you make from a retirement account count as a withdrawal. This makes transfers taxable and subject to penalties for early withdrawal.
One way to avoid this issue is to name the living trust as a beneficiary on the retirement account. Any funds in the account transfer to the trust upon your death and are distributed to other beneficiaries according to your will.
2. Health Savings Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts
Health savings accounts (HSAs) and medical savings accounts (MSAs) only offer tax-free growth if you use the money for medical expenses. Therefore, transferring an HSA or MSA to a living trust would cause you to lose this tax protection.
By keeping HSAs outside your trust and designating beneficiaries directly, you can continue to enjoy the tax benefits of your HSA or MSA.
3. Active Bank Accounts
You can include checking accounts or other active financial accounts into your living trust, but there are easier ways to transfer funds to your heirs and bypass the probate process.
For example, you can set up payable-on-death (POD) designated accounts through your bank with primary and secondary beneficiaries who will receive your funds when you die.
This method of transferring funds to your beneficiaries is especially relevant if the majority of your financial assets are in your checking account.
4. Vehicles
Since most people don’t own the same vehicle for a long time, it doesn’t make sense to include yours in your living trust. Doing so adds the hassle of removing it from the trust if you decide to sell the vehicle in the future.
Many states allow regular vehicles to bypass probate, and you can often register cars with a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed to pass on a car directly to a beneficiary.
However, if you own a high-value collectible car, you can consider putting it into a living trust.
5. Life Insurance Policies
Since living trusts are revocable, your policy’s benefits are exposed to creditors should you die with debt. A large policy payout could also trigger estate taxes.
Better alternatives include naming individuals as beneficiaries, or setting up an irrevocable life insurance trust that could better protect your assets and potentially reduce taxes.
6. Uniform Transfers/Gifts to Minors Accounts (UTMA/UGMA)
Uniform transfers (UTMA) and uniform gifts (UGMA) to minors accounts, which make a minor child the owner of the account, are irrevocable. Therefore, they can’t be transferred into a living trust.
While these accounts and living trusts can both be used to pass on your assets to minor children, they have different structures. Living trusts give you more control over your funds, while UTMA or UGMA accounts are fully accessible to the minor once they reach a certain age.
What Should Go in a Living Trust?
On the other hand, many types of assets are more appropriately managed when placed in a living trust. These include:
- Houses and other real estate.
- Financial assets, such as bond certificates, stock certificates, annuities, certificates of deposit (CDs), and safety deposit boxes.
- Valuable personal property, such as art, jewelry, collectible vehicles, and furniture.
- Ownership stakes in certain types of businesses like partnerships or LLCs.
- Patents and copyrights.
- Precious metals.
Putting these assets in a living trust can help save money on probate and streamline the process of distributing your assets to family members and other beneficiaries when you die.
Household Tips
Carpet Stain Remover
Remove stubborn carpet stains by mixing one tablespoon of Dawn dish soap with one tablespoon of vinegar and two cups of warm water. Apply the solution to the stain, blot with a clean cloth, and repeat until the stain is gone. This hack works great on pet stains and spills.
Casio Ranger Instructions DST setting
Moving & Computer Things
Colorado House Address
5930 Bennach Grove, Colorado Springs, CO 80927
Banning Lewis Ranch
Metropolitan District Nos. 1-5 and 8-11; Regional Metropolitan District Nos. 1 and 2; Foundation
Fix Lockup when hackers lock computer
Ctrl-Shft-Esc > Close Browser
Cyberpoint W10 Password:
7788
Republicans endorsing Kamala
Vice President Vice President Kamala Harris has seen four Republicans endorse her over Donald Trump in as many days.
Former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake has become the latest high-profile Republican figure to announce they are supporting Harris in November. Flake said Sunday that he wants to back a presidential candidate who represents “a new generation of leadership based not on grievances of the past, but hope for the future.”
Flake’s support for Harris arrives three days after former Kansas senator Nancy Kassebaum said she is endorsing Harris in the race against Trump.
Kassebaum issued a statement Thursday alongside former GOP Kansas state senator Sandy Praeger and retired federal judge Deanell Reece Tacha confirming their endorsement. The trio said the decision to back Harris over Trump presented a “stark choice” but not an easy one.
“No candidate is perfect, and we do not pretend that we subscribe to all the policy positions taken either by the national parties or any individual candidates,” they wrote.
“However, we fervently believe that we must do our part to try to build a brighter future, which is why we will be voting for Kamala Harris and [Minnesota Governor Tim Walz] in this election. We believe they most closely align with the aspirations of Kansans and reflect our rich history of working together ‘to the stars through difficulty.'”
Newsweek has contacted the campaign teams of Trump and Harris for comment via email.
A host of prominent Republicans have also voiced their support for Harris and rebuked Trump in the race.
These include more than 100 former members of Congress and national security officials from previous Republican administrations who signed a letter earlier in September calling Trump “unfit to serve again” as president.
Those who signed the letter include former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, Olivia Troye, a former homeland security and counter-terrorism adviser to ex-vice president Mike Pence, and former CIA and FBI director William Webster.
Other former Republican members of congress who signed the Harris endorsement letter are Dan Miller of Florida and Oklahoma’s Mickey Edwards.
Ex-Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, who along with Kinzinger sat on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack, has likewise endorsed Harris.
Her endorsement was soon followed by one from her father, former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney.
“In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Cheney said in a statement. “He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He can never be trusted with power again.”
Other Republicans who have endorsed Harris include Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of late Republican Senator John McCain, former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham and ex-Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.
There are also a host of GOP political figures who formed the “Republicans for Harris” coalition to help the vice president win over voters across the country.
These include John Giles, mayor of Mesa in Arizona, and former Arizona state representative Robin Shaw.
Former secretary of defense Chuck Hagel, former secretary of transportation Ray LaHood, and ex-treasurer Rosario Marin are also working to help Harris in the race.
The other former GOP Congress members who have endorsed Harris are:
- Rod Chandler of Washington.
- Tom Coleman of Missouri.
- Dave Emery of Maine.
- Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland.
- Jim Greenwood of Pennsylvania.
- John LeBoutillier of New York.
- Susan Molinari of New York.
- Jack Quinn of New York.
- Denver Riggleman of Virginia.
- Claudine Schneider of Rhode Island.
- Christopher Shays of Connecticut.
- Peter Smith of Vermont.
- Alan Steelman of Texas.
- David Trott of Michigan.
- Joe Walsh of Illinois.
3 Ways To Clean Dirty Baking Sheets So They Look Brand New
Learn how to effectively clean a baking sheet and remove baked-on grease and stains.
I don’t know about you, but cleaning a baking sheet is one of those chores my husband and I put off more than we should. Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
To make the job a bit easier, we tapped two experts for their best tips on how to clean a baking sheet to make the process a little less agonizing.
Meet The Expert
- Jennifer Behar is a baker and the founder and CEO of Jennifer’s Homemade in Miami, Florida.
- Missy Stefanik is a senior product manager at GoodCook Bakeware and Food Storage.
Before Getting Started
There are so many reasons why it’s important to thoroughly clean your baking sheets. “Old oil can go rancid and will make your food taste bad, and is generally bad for you,” explains Jennifer Behar, a baker and founder and CEO of Jennifer’s Homemade in Miami, Florida. “Starting with a clean surface is important for food safety and for taste.”
Another thing to consider when it comes to a dirty baking sheet is uneven heating. “Residual baked goods on the pan can lead to uneven surfaces, resulting in hot spots and uneven heating which can lead to burning or uneven baking,” explains Missy Stefanik, a senior product manager at GoodCook Bakeware and Food Storage.
You also need to think about the type of pan you are using and cleaning. According to Stefanik, aluminum pans are not safe for the dishwasher, which will result in handwashing only. Nonstick baking sheets offer a little more flexibility and can be put in the dishwasher. However, dishwasher detergents can degrade the quality of the nonstick coating, leading to quicker wear and tear. This will result in needing a replacement pan earlier.
“For optimal results and longer-lasting bakeware, it is best to wash by hand with warm soapy water and towel dry,” says Stefanik. “The good news is that most nonstick coatings offer premium release functionality, making cleaning a pan by hand easy.”
Related: The 11 Best Cookie Sheets Of 2024
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Clean towel or paper towels
- Small bowl
- Gloves
- Scour pad
- White vinegar
- Dish soap
- Water
How To Clean A Baking Sheet
Method 1: Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Paste
- Step 1: Rinse the baking sheet with water to remove any loose food particles.
- Step 2: Dry off the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup of baking soda with 2-3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. If the paste isn’t a similar consistency to toothpaste, add more hydrogen peroxide until you get the right consistency.
- Step 4: Spread the paste evenly over the surface of the baking sheet. You can use your hands (with gloves) or a spoon to apply it.
- Step 5: Behar recommends letting this sit for at least 15-20 minutes to soften up the debris and make scrubbing easier.
- Step 6: Use a scour pad to scrub the baking sheet.
- Step 7: After you’ve fully scrubbed the entire baking sheet, rinse it under warm water.
- Step 8: Dry the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
Method 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Step 1: Rinse the baking sheet with water to remove any loose food particles.
- Step 2: Dry off the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Step 3: Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the baking sheet.
- Step 4: Pour or spray (using a spray bottle) white vinegar over the baking soda. Don’t be alarmed when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. It will create a fizzy action that’ll help lift the grime from the baking sheet.
- Step 5: Behar recommends letting this sit for at least 15-20 minutes to soften up the debris and make scrubbing easier.
- Step 6: Use a scour pad to scrub the baking sheet.
- Step 7: After you’ve fully scrubbed the entire baking sheet, rinse it under warm water.
- Step 8: Dry the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
Method 3: Baking Soda and Dish Soap
- Step 1: Rinse the baking sheet with water to remove any loose food particles.
- Step 2: Dry off the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Step 3: Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the baking sheet.
- Step 4: Pour a small amount of dish soap directly onto the baking soda-covered areas. Another way to do this is to mix dish soap and baking soda together in a small bowl to create a paste. Then, apply that paste directly to the baking sheet.
- Step 5: Behar recommends letting this sit for at least 15-20 minutes to soften up the debris and make scrubbing easier.
- Step 6: Use a scour pad to scrub the baking sheet.
- Step 7: After you’ve fully scrubbed the entire baking sheet, rinse it under warm water.
- Step 8: Dry the baking sheet with a clean towel or paper towel.
How Often To Clean Baking Sheets
You should gently clean your baking sheet with dish soap every time you use it, then do a heavy-duty cleaning (with one of the steps above) every few months for home use, according to Behar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use steel wool or abrasive cleaners to clean a baking sheet?
According to Stefanik, it is not advised to use steel wool or any abrasive cleaners because they will damage the nonstick coating, resulting in needing a replacement pan and uneven baking surfaces
Can I use oven cleaner on a baking sheet?
“I am sure oven cleaner can be used on baking sheets, but the chemicals are very strong and you are using a baking sheet for your food, so I prefer a more natural cleaning method,” says Behar.
How do I prevent future grease buildup on my baking sheet?
Behar recommends using parchment paper on a baking sheet when she is baking or cooking on a baking sheet. “It protects the baking sheet and it makes for easy baking,” she says. “Cookies and other baked goods lift right off without sticking, and as an added bonus, clean-up is usually a breeze.”
Related: How To Clean A Glass Oven Door, According To Experts
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
The 5 Stupidest Things Americans Overspend On (Hint: Coffee Isn’t One of Them).
I’m a massive coupon/savings nerd, and an embarrassing amount of my time is spent talking to people to find out how much they’re spending.
In my experience, the average American is overpaying for things on an almost daily basis.
Here are the 8 worst culprits for overspending (and how you can save money by avoiding them):
1. Auto insurance.
Believe it or not, the average American family still overspends by $417/year1 on car insurance.
Here’s how to quickly see how much you’re being overcharged (takes maybe 30 seconds):
- Pull up Coverage.com – it’s a free site that will compare prices for you
- Answer the questions on the page
- It’ll spit out a bunch of insurance quotes for you.
That’s literally it. You’ll likely save yourself a bunch of money.
2. Online Shopping
You might be surprised how often you’re overpaying on Amazon and elsewhere.
Big stores like Amazon know that no one has time to price shop through dozens of sites, so there’s often no incentive for them to offer bargain prices.
I typically hate browser extensions with a fiery passion, but if you don’t have Capital One Shopping installed yet, do yourself a favor and grab it.
When you shop online (on Amazon or elsewhere) it will:
- Auto-apply coupon codes to potentially help save you money
- Compare prices from other sellers to help make sure you’re not missing out on a better deal
Here’s a quick example of how it works:
Savings will vary, this is just an example, of course.
Whenever there’s a discount available, you’ll see this little savings alert pop-up. For example, here you could get $32 off this airfryer (which you’ll get back in gift cards).
Here’s a link to install Capital One Shopping, if you’re interested.
3. Paying off credit card debt on your own (when some companies are willing to help).
If you’ve got $10k+ in unsecured debt (think credit cards, medical bills, etc), you could use a debt relief program and potentially reduce it by around 23% (on average).
Here’s how to quickly see if you qualify for debt relief:
- Head to National Debt Relief’s site here
- Answer the questions on the page
- Find out if you qualify
Simple as that. You’ll likely end up paying less than you owed and could be debt free in 24-48 months.
Here’s a link to National Debt Relief.
4. Not using an ad blocker.
If you aren’t using an ad blocker yet, I am begging you to try one. I am not exaggerating when I say it will change your life.
A good ad blocker will eliminate virtually all of the ads you’d see on the internet.
No more YouTube ads, no more banner ads, no more pop-up ads, etc. It’s incredible.
Most people I know use Total Adblock (link here) – it’s $2.42/month, but there are plenty of solid options.
Ads also typically take a while to load, so using an ad blocker reduces loading times (typically by 50% or more). They also block ad tracking pixels to protect your privacy, which is nice.
Here’s a link to Total Adblock, if you’re interested.
5. Not getting a financial advisor.
99% of people don’t have one, and it’s typically a huge mistake.
Sure, you can manage things on your own if you want to, but most people don’t have the time to actually do things right. There are huge benefits to having somebody pay attention to your money all the time.
- People with financial advisors tend to beat the market by ~3%/year (according to a 2019 Vanguard Study). That can make a huge difference over time.
- But more important: a good advisor will handle ALL of the annoying retirement stuff & bizarro tax implications you would have never thought of
If you don’t know a financial advisor personally, use a comparison site (like WiserAdvisor) and find somebody near you that has good reviews.
Or if you want something easier, here’s a quiz you can fill out that will find an advisor/planner based on your reqs.
6. Your debt payments.
The average American has ~$6,500 in credit card debt. And almost nothing is more expensive than debt (particularly credit card debt).
If you want to start saving, think about using a personal loan to swap your high-interest debt for lower-interest debt.
The basic idea: find a lower-interest personal loan and pay off your credit card with that loan money. Personal loan interest rates are typically far lower than credit card interest rates.
If you’re interested, here’s a free 3rd party service (Bankrate) where you can compare different personal loan options.
Do your own research, of course. Here’s a link to their site.
7. Not getting paid to test games ($20/day).
This may come as a surprise, but there are apps that will pay you to try new mobile games.
Freecash is one of our favorite apps to use to test new games, and getting started is easy.
Download the app, select a game from the ‘Earn Page’, complete the designated offer (typically takes 5-10 minutes), and then cash out via Apple Pay, gift cards, etc. when you’re ready.
Whenever you play a free phone game, you generate ad money for the game developer. Then, Freecash passes some of that revenue back to their users.
You probably won’t become a millionaire from this, but why not make some extra cash instead of playing for free.
Download Freecash from the App Store here.
8. Home repair bills (let a company pay them for you instead).
Picture this: your trusty furnace suddenly throws a tantrum in the dead of winter, leaving you shivering and facing a repair bill that could cost you way more than you anticipated.
If you had a home warranty, you could be covered the next time something breaks down. It’s like having a safety net for your home (think plumbing, electrical, appliances, etc).
If you don’t have one yet, use a free resource like AmericanHomeWarranty.org to find a good warranty provider in your area and check their reviews.
Bonus: home warranty companies usually have qualified, pre-vetted maintenance and repair workers ready to get the job done (which is one less thing to worry about).
If you’re interested just enter your zip code here to compare home warranty companies. It could save you a bunch of money the next time something breaks down.
9. Not getting paid for your opinions.
We’re all guilty of scrolling through social media and playing mobile games to pass the time, but what if you could use your mobile to make a little side cash instead?
There’s this site, Kashkick (link here) that will actually pay you to answer surveys or download and try out apps/games. Some users have been known to make up to $250.
All you have to do is sign-up and fill-in your profile, pick surveys, games, or other offers to complete, then once you’ve earned $10 you can withdraw your rewards (to PayPal etc).
If that sounds interesting, Kashkick could be a low-key way to fill your time and earn a little extra cash.
10. Not investing in real estate (start with as little as $20).
It’s no secret that millionaires and billionaires love investing in real estate, but for the rest of us, buying property has been prohibitively expensive (if not impossible, for some).
Times have changed. There are a few amazing real estate startups that allow you to buy shares of rental homes for as little as $20/share (Ark7 is one of my favorites).
They take care of the property management and collect rent checks for you. Then, on the 3rd of the following month, your share of the property’s profit is distributed to your account.
It’s an interesting way to build yourself a little rental home empire (without spending like a magnate).
If you’re interested, take a look at Ark7’s properties here.
11. Missing out on $1,000+ a year because you weren’t in the loop.
The internet is huge, which means there are amazing money-making opportunities that pop up almost every day.
But most of them expire or sell out so fast that the public doesn’t have a chance to hear about them.
For example: back in September, there was a company offering $2,500/month for someone to literally watch shows on Netflix. Unsurprisingly, the role was filled so fast before most people knew it existed.
What if you could get access to great deals/money-making opportunities before other people do?
I spend every day looking for great ways to save/earn money, and whenever I find something really lucrative, I send out a text to our Betterbuck VIPs list first. (You can join it below, it’s 100% free)
It’s a great way to get tips about time-sensitive opportunities and deals before the rest of the country has time to hear about them.
How to Remove Toilet Bowl Rings (and Prevent Them from Coming Back)
Cleaning a toilet is an essential part of a bathroom cleaning routine, helping to eliminate and prevent the formation of germs and unsightly stains. And almost no stains are more unsightly than ugly rings that form in the toilet bowl.
You might be relieved to hear that if toilet bowl rings are a common problem in your household, it is most likely not a result of anything that you’re doing wrong when cleaning the toilet. These rings are most often caused by minerals in the water supply, especially in areas with hard water.
This guide explains what causes toilet bowl rings, how to remove the stains depending on the severity of the buildup, and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
What Causes Toilet Bowl Rings?
Toilet bowl rings are typically the result of mineral deposits building up on the surface of the bowl. This buildup might appear brown or green and is caused by the calcium, iron, lime, and magnesium found in the water supply, particularly in areas with hard water.
When removing mild staining from mineral buildup, distilled white vinegar will break down hard water deposits without requiring harsh chemical agents or a lot of scrubbing. To remove deeper, more persistent stains, use a mild abrasive paste to gently break down and scour away mineral buildup. Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, and The Pink Stuff are mild abrasives that are particularly effective at removing mineral and rust stains from hard, nonporous surfaces.
While mineral deposits are usually the culprit when unsightly rings form in a toilet bowl, bacterial formation is also common. If the ring appears pink or light orange, it is Serratia marcescens, a bacteria that thrives in damp environments and commonly forms on grout, around drains, and along toilet water lines. Commercial bathroom cleaning agents and everyday household products like distilled white vinegar will eliminate and remove S. marcescens stains.
How to Remove Toilet Bowl Rings Using Vinegar
This method for removing rings in toilet bowls is best suited for stains caused by mineral buildup.
Step 1: Soak Paper Towels
This mostly hands-off method is the easiest way to remove mild mineral deposits from toilet bowls. Start by soaking several paper towels in distilled white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar will break down the mineral buildup.
Step 2: Place Paper Towels in Bowl
Lay the vinegar-soaked paper towels in the toilet bowl, overlapping them as if you were doing papier mâché. Wear household gloves to protect your hands from the toilet water.
Step 3: Soak for 30 Minutes
Allow the paper towels to sit undisturbed for 30 minutes or longer to give the acidic vinegar time to break down the mineral deposits.
Step 4: Remove Paper Towels
Remove the paper towels from the bowl and throw them away.
Do not flush the paper towels.
Step 5: Scrub Bowl and Flush
Use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl, which will help to scour away any residual staining that has been loosened by the vinegar poultice. Flush the toilet to empty the bowl.
Related: The 7 Best Toilet Brushes of 2024, According to Testing
How to Remove Toilet Bowl Rings Using Commercial Cleaners
This method is intended to remove stains caused by mineral buildup. Consider using Bon Ami, Bar Keepers Friend, or The Pink Stuff, which are commercial cleaners that work well to remove toilet bowl rings.
Step 1: Turn Off Water Valve
Turn off the toilet’s water valve and flush to empty the water bowl.
Step 2: Apply Cleaning Agent to Wet Sponge
Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend are powder cleansers that create a thick scouring paste when mixed with water. To do this, apply the powder to a wet sponge and squeeze a few times to wet the powder, mix the powder in a small bowl with water to make a paste, or apply the powder directly to a wet surface. The Pink Stuff is a cream formula that can be applied directly to a wet sponge.
Regardless of which product you use, wear household gloves to protect your hands, as the products can be irritating and drying to the skin.
Step 3: Scrub the Mineral Buildup
Use the sponge to vigorously scrub the mineral deposit stains, applying more cleanser as needed as you work.
Step 4: Wait 20 Minutes
If mineral stains remain after you scour the bowl, apply more cleanser and allow it to sit undisturbed for 20 minutes to allow the mineral deposits to break down.
Step 5: Scrub Bowl and Flush
Use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl, removing any remaining cleanser or stains. Flush the toilet to rinse the bowl.
How to Remove Pink Mold from Toilet Bowls
Step 1: Apply Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Commercial toilet bowl and bathroom cleaners are formulated to eliminate bacteria commonly found in toilets, including S. marcescens. Additionally, any product—including distilled white vinegar—that can be used to eliminate mold and mildew can also effectively kill S. marcescens. Apply the cleaner to the bowl, covering any areas where S. marcescens has formed.
Step 2: Allow to Sit
Allow the product to sit, following the manufacturer’s guidelines found on the packaging for proper exposure time. If you choose to use distilled white vinegar, use the paper towel method as previously described, allowing 30 minutes for the vinegar to work.
Step 3: Scrub Bowl and Flush
Use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl, removing any remaining cleanser or stains. Flush the toilet to rinse the bowl. If you used paper towels, remove them from the bowl and throw them away; do not flush paper towels.
How to Prevent Toilet Bowl Rings
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is particularly true when it comes to keeping toilet bowl rings from forming. The best way to prevent toilet bowl rings is to clean your toilet regularly—experts recommend cleaning a toilet or toilets in primary bathrooms at least once a week.
Toilets that are used less frequently, such as guest baths, still need to be cleaned even when not in regular use, in large part to prevent mineral and bacterial buildup from causing rings in the bowl. If you live in an area with hard water, clean a secondary toilet every other week; if you live in an area where mineral buildup isn’t as much of a problem, cleaning the guest bathroom monthly should suffice. However, if you notice toilet rings appearing in less frequently used bathrooms, clean them more regularly.
If you live in an area with hard water, installing a water softener can reduce the formation of mineral deposits in a toilet bowl. However, using white vinegar in a toilet tank to prevent mineral buildup in the bowl is not recommended, as the acid can break down the toilet’s rubber parts.
19 Things You Didn’t Know Your Smartphone Could Do
19 Things You Didn’t Know Your Smartphone Could Do
The Swiss Army knife of technology can replace the GPS, pedometer, even kitchen timer that you used to buy separately
By
Edward C. Baig,
AARP
68 Comments
Published December 01, 2021
/Updated August 01, 2024
Want to create a video for all the world — or just your friends — to see? Newer smartphones allow you to take high-quality video that used to mean buying a bulky camera.
Getty Images
In this story
Versatile minicomputer • Battery tester • Calculator • Document scanner • Emergency alerts • Flashlight • Foreign language translator • GPS • Kitchen timer • Library • Magnifying glass • Metal detector • Pedometer • QR code reader • Radio • Tape measure • Video camera • Voice recorder • Weather forecaster • Your wallet
Smartphones have become the Swiss Army knives of technology, going way beyond making and receiving calls while you’re on the go.
Yes, they’re often described as a minicomputer in your pocket. But you also have a radio, a flashlight — even a level for when you’re doing handiwork around the house.
Maximize Your Benefits
Make the most of your AARP experience in just a few minutes! Select your preferences, add a second member for free, activate AARP Rewards, browse through our newsletters, download our app, and more.
As smartphones added new features throughout the years, people began relying on them to take pictures, be their address book, wake them up in the morning and manage their appointments. Nearly 9 in 10 people age 50 and older own a smartphone, according to a 2024 AARP Research report.
But your smartphone can do much more. Here are 19 additional ways to use your iPhone or Android device and how to tap into those capabilities. All of the features are either baked into your phone already or available as free downloads from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store for Android.
Tip: Sick of fumbling with your phone? Some of the functions here can be launched just by talking to it. For iPhones, say “Hey, Siri,” or just “Siri,” then state your command. For Android phones, say “Hey, Google,” or “OK, Google,” then your command.
1. Battery tester for remote controls
Both: See if the batteries in your TV remote controls have enough power to do their jobs. Launch the Camera app and switch to the front-facing selfie camera, though in some cases the rear camera also works. Point your remote control at the camera, then press and hold any button on the remote. If all is well, you’ll see a pinkish-purplish light flickering from the tip of the remote control, the infrared beam that sends signals to your TV and other tech gear. Replace the remote control batteries if the flickering light is especially dim or you don’t see any light at all.
Getty Images
2. Calculator
Both: Open the Calculator app. You can perform basic math functions when holding the phone vertically. Rotate the phone on its side to summon a scientific calculator that can give you square roots, sines and other more advanced actions.
3. Document scanner
iPhone: Open the Notes app. Tap the icon in the lower-right corner. Tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen and select Scan Document. Place the document in view of the camera. If your device is in Auto mode, your document will automatically scan. To manually capture a scan, tap the shutter button or one of the volume buttons. To adjust the edges of the scan, drag the corners to fit your document, then tap Keep Scan or Done.
Android: On recent Samsung Galaxy smartphones, open the Camera app and position the document you want to scan in the center of the viewfinder. Tap the yellow “T” button that appears, which places a yellow border around the document. You can drag corners to adjust your scanning area. Tap Scan on the upper left. If satisfied, tap Save it, if not, tap Retake. Scanning capabilities are also built into Google Drive, which is preloaded on some Android phones and also available for the iPhone.
AARP NEWSLETTERS
Get The Daily for news that matters
The latest in health, money, entertainment, jobs, and travel each weekday!
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
4. Emergency Broadcast System
iPhone: You can receive Amber Alerts, extreme weather alerts or public safety alerts from your local government without watching TV. These are turned on by default when you get your device. To turn them off, tap Settings | Notifications, then scroll to the very bottom of the screen to see toggle switches for various government alerts.
Technology & Wireless
5% off monthly fees and 30% off accessories
Android: Open Settings | Notifications | Wireless Emergency Alerts. You can choose which type of alerts — from extreme threats to public safety messages — that you would like to receive.
5. Flashlight
iPhone: Tap the Flashlight icon found in the Control Center — on newer phones, access by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your home screen; on older phones, swipe up from the bottom edge. Tap again and hold to bring up its brightness controls.
Android: On Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones, drag your finger down from the top of the display and tap the on-screen Flashlight button.
Learn more live and online
AARP’s free online classes can help you learn more about your smartphone, its capabilities and its apps.
• Senior Planet from AARP has live courses that can help you choose and use the best phone for you.
• AARP’s Virtual Community Center has a Tech Help area with interactive events that include smartphone use.
6. Foreign language translator
iPhone: You can translate text, voice or a conversation through Apple’s Translate app. To translate text or your voice, tap Translation and select one of more than a dozen languages to translate between. Tap Enter Text, and type the words you want to translate. You’ll see results in real time. Tap the microphone icon instead to speak a phrase you want translated out loud. Tap the button with the arrow to play the audio translation. To translate a conversation between two people, tap Conversation | microphone icon and speak in one of the two languages. If you tap the circled icon with three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the display, you can also tap Auto Translate to initiate a conversation in which the phone automatically detects when you start and stop speaking. Tap the Camera button to have the phone translate what it sees.
Android: Download Google Translate from the Google Play store, if it’s not already on your phone. Launch the app. Tap the button showing the language you are using and then the one in which you wish to read a translation. Google has been leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to add new languages to Translate; at last count, the app can translate 243 languages. Enter text or tap the microphone button to speak the phrase. If you tap Conversation | Auto, the app can listen for both languages. Tap the Camera button inside Translate to enable the app to translate what it sees.
Getty Images
7. GPS navigation system
Both: Google-owned Waze, Google Maps and Apple Maps — all free — are the leaders in this category, but you can download more than 50 alternatives to help you get where you are going. Some are specialized, including AllTrails, Maps.me, Organic Maps: Offline Maps and OsmAnd. AllTrails and Organic Maps include trails you can use while biking off road.
Want to get more from your membership?
See what you’ve been missing in just a few minutes!
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
Getty Images
8. Kitchen timer
Both: Open the Clock app. Tap Timer. Also in the app (may vary on Android phones): Set an alarm, run a stopwatch or check the time in cities around the globe.
9. Library
Both: Hoopla and Libby are popular free apps that allow you to borrow e-books with your library card. You can also download free books from Project Gutenberg that you can read with a Kindle or other e-reader apps.
10. Magnifying glass
iPhone: Open the Magnifier app. It’s automatically loaded on phones with up-to-date operating software. If you don’t see it on one of your home screens, go to your App Library at the end of your set of home screens and look in the Utilities folder. You can zoom in on small type and adjust the brightness and contrast to make it more legible. Swipe up to find other controls.
Android: Open the Camera app. Use your fingers to “unpinch” — move your fingers apart rather than closer together — to magnify fine print.
11. Metal detector
Both: You’re unlikely to uncover a buried treasure. But you can visit the App Store or Google Play to fetch any number of metal detector apps, some that play sounds or vibrate when your phone approaches needles, pins or other metal objects you may have inadvertently dropped, including precious rings or earrings. The apps leverage the magnetometer built into most modern smartphones. While many are free, they also typically have ads. In our tests, quality and usability were mixed.
Getty Images
12. Pedometer
iPhone: The pedometer built into your iPhone’s Health app automatically counts the steps you take while your phone is in your pocket, in your hand or strapped to your arm. To check how far you’ve gone, click on the Health app, click the Summary tab and scroll down to Steps. Keep your phone with you when you walk.
Android: If your phone has the Google Fit app, open it and tap Home | Steps and then Day, Week or Month to check out your steps data. On Samsung phones, you can track your steps through the Samsung Health app.
Getty Images
13. QR code reader
iPhone: QR codes are plastered practically everywhere these days: on ads, tickets, websites and more. Open the Camera app and choose the rear-facing camera. Make sure the QR code appears in the viewfinder. If the code is recognized, you’ll see a notification that shows the website you’ll go to. Tap the notification to open the link associated with the code. If you’re not having any luck, visit Camera Settings and make sure the Scan QR Codes setting has been enabled.
Android: Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code. Tap on the notification that appears if the code is recognized, which will typically take you to a web page. No luck? On a Pixel phone, make sure the Camera scan suggestions setting has been flipped on inside the Camera setting. On a Samsung Galaxy, the setting appears as Scan QR code.
14. Radio
Both: You can download free apps that stream on-the-air stations from around the world or special online-only stations. The list of free radio apps is long and includes Audacy, iHeartRadio, Pandora and TuneIn. You also can listen to podcasts , including Today’s Tips from AARP.
15. Tape measure
iPhone: Open the augmented-reality-driven tape measure app. Tap the Measure icon at the bottom of the screen. Point your phone camera at the object you want to measure, lining up a circled dot on your screen with the starting point. Tap the plus + button. Move your phone to the end of the measurement and tap plus + again. The app also includes a level function.
Android: Several third-party apps are available. Samsung’s Quick Measure app, preloaded on some smartphones, works similarly to iPhone’s app.
16. Video camera
iPhone: Open the Camera app. Swipe in either direction so the Video option appears in yellow above the red Record button. Tap the red button to start and stop. You can also shoot in slow motion by swiping so that Slo-Mo is selected, and on some models apply a Cinematic style that adds depth-of-field effects to blur backgrounds while keeping the main subject in focus.
Android: On a Samsung Galaxy, swipe so Video is above the white and red Record button. Tap the red Record button to start and stop. Tap More for additional shooting modes, which may include slow motion, super slow motion and pro video options that allow you to adjust the camera’s exposure settings.
17. Voice recorder
iPhone: Open the Voice Memos app. Tap the red Record button to start and stop. On a specific recording, tap the icon with three horizontal lines ≡ for options that include changing the playback speed or skipping pauses.
Android: Free voice recording apps are available in the Google Play Store. Hitting the red Record button on the Google Recorder app built into Google’s Pixel phones automatically generates a searchable transcript.
Getty Images
18. Weather forecaster
Both: Launch the Apple Weather app on an iPhone or fetch any of the fine third-party choices on iOS and Android whether you’re concerned about a big chill, searing heat wave or whether to carry an umbrella. Some will tell you what to expect hour by hour.
19. Your wallet
iPhone: The Apple Wallet app allows you to use Apple Pay or any of your credit or debit cards in digital form, and you can add boarding passes, movie tickets, rewards cards and, in select states, digital driver’s licenses to the mix. To start, enter one or more of your payment cards. In a store, hold the phone near the payment terminal and either double tap the side button on an iPhone with Face ID to authenticate with facial recognition, or on a model without Face ID, lightly press the Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the Home button. You will see a circled check mark and the word Done when the transaction is complete.
Android: If your phone doesn’t have Google Wallet, download the app from the Google Play store. You can add boarding passes, coupons and payment cards and transact via Google Pay. At retail, unlock the phone with your face, fingerprint, passcode or other methods depending on the model. Next, place your phone near the terminal until you see Done and a check mark on the screen.