You can find yarrow in a variety of soils. It thrives in lawns, meadows, riverbeds, and fields. Look for stalks that reach 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 m) high with fern-like blossoms. During the summer, the heads of yarrow will flower into white or yellow blooms. Each yarrow head will have a few clusters of flowers. Yarrow looks similar to Queen Anne's lace, but yarrow flowers don't spread as widely as the flowers of Queen Anne's lace. Yarrow also lacks the center spot that Queen Anne's lace has. Pay attention to when the stalks of yarrow put on buds and wait a few weeks for the buds to open. Most yarrow plants in the northern part of the U.S. bloom between July and September while southern yarrow blooms between late-April and June. If you're unsure when the yarrow in your area will bloom, watch for the buds. They should bloom within a few weeks. Once the white flowers have completely opened on the yarrow plants, pluck off a few leaves with your fingers. Rub the leaves in the palms of your hand and then smell. If you smell a rich, spicy fragrance, the yarrow is ready to harvest. If you can't smell anything, wait a few days and then check again. Wait for the morning dew to dry so the plant isn't wet. It can also help to harvest on a sunny day since the moisture will evaporate faster. Although it's rare, some people develop an allergic reaction from handling the yarrow plant, especially when harvesting large quantities. To prevent skin irritation and redness, wear a pair of gardening gloves to harvest the yarrow. It's also a good idea to wash your hands after harvesting and handling the yarrow. If you want to cut a single stalk or 2, take clean pruning shears and cut the yarrow stalk 2 in (5 cm) above the soil. If you'd like to harvest several stalks, gather them together in the palm of 1 of your hands. Use the pruning shears in your other hand to cut the yarrow near the ground.  You can harvest up to 10 stalks at a time by gathering them together. Use the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots of the plant.
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One-sentence summary -- Locate and identify yarrow. Plan to harvest yarrow when it blooms in the summer. Check the yarrow flowers before you harvest. Gather the yarrow late in the morning. Wear gloves to protect your hands from contact dermatitis. Use pruning shears to cut the yarrow 2 in (5 cm) above the ground.


If you are planning on opening the time capsule yourself, you may be able to store it in your own home or buried in your backyard. For an audience in the future aside from your family, a spot that is off of private property may be best. Be sure to store your outdoor capsule in a place that is safe from development and construction, like just outside a national park or landmark, particularly if you choose to bury it. While burial may not be the best choice, for several reasons, it is certainly the classic way to store your capsule. Buried capsules are very likely to be forgotten or lost, and being underground makes the contents much more susceptible to damage from moisture. Another positive side of underground storage is that it is less likely to be removed or opened early as it might be indoors. Outdoor storage has a better chance of staying in one place. Out of the elements, indoor time capsules are a secure alternative to storing them underground. While they may be more tempting to open and a little less captivating than buried time capsules, you should still consider an indoor approach for shorter term storage. One interesting alternative is to store your time capsule items in a stainless steel vacuum food jar hidden inside a camouflaged polyurethane hollow rock or log. These above-ground time capsules are called Geocapsules and can provide a further level of adventure to the time capsule experience.
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One-sentence summary -- Use your imagined audience to decide where to put the capsule. Choose burial for a traditional time capsule approach. Store your time capsule indoors for a safer alternative. Choose an outdoor, above-ground option for a fun challenge.


Whether it’s the towel you used after your shower or your workout gear after an hour at the gym, don’t just throw your damp clothes on the floor or into the laundry basket. Instead, drape your wet clothes on the side of the laundry basket or hang them over the shower rod to dry out before they go into the laundry. Balling up wet clothes will cause them to stay wet longer, giving mildew a better chance to grow. Overusing laundry detergent can lead to a buildup of soap suds that never get completely rinsed out in the wash. This residue then feeds the odor-causing bacteria, leaving even your cleanest clothes with a funky smell. Each time you wash your clothes, measure your detergent carefully to make sure you don’t add too much. Follow the guidelines on your detergent packaging to know how much to add. When in doubt, add a little less detergent than you think you need. Fabric softener leaves your clothes feeling soft and smelling good, but when it’s used on stretchy, synthetic workout clothes, it leaves a slick residue that is nearly impossible to remove. This residue then keeps water from penetrating the fabric, meaning your clothes will smell bad even when they’re clean. Fabric softener residue will also promote the growth of bacteria in much the same way as using too much detergent. Leaving your clean clothes in the washing machine will cause them to start developing mildew after just a few hours, or even sooner if the weather is really hot and humid. Try to move them over to the dryer or line-dry them as soon as possible after you wash them. If you do accidentally leave your laundry in the washing machine for too long, run them through another cycle with some vinegar to help get rid of the smell before you dry them. If you keep your clothing in a damp basement or in a humid environment like the bathroom, moisture from the environment will be absorbed by the fabric, leading to the growth of mildew. Instead, keep your clothes in a well-ventilated closet or a dresser.  Plastic dry-cleaner bags can also trap moisture and lead to mildew on your clothing. If the air in your room is extremely humid, place a desiccant like silica gel packets into your dresser drawers or the bottom of your closet. You can purchase these from craft or home improvement stores. Sometimes washing machines, especially front-loading models, can develop mildew, which can then be transferred to your clothes. If you think the washing machine might be the problem, dip a rag in hot, soapy water and clean the gasket around the door and any detergent dispensers, then pour in 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach and 1 cup (240 mL) of baking soda and run a regular or cleaning cycle.  If you like, you can add 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) of an enzymatic detergent for extra odor-killing power. To prevent mildew from forming in your washing machine, leave the door cracked after each cycle so the machine will dry out, and always remove wet clothes right away.
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One-sentence summary --
Hang damp clothes up to dry right away. Use the recommended amount of detergent. Don’t use fabric softener on your workout clothes. Dry your clothes immediately after you wash them. Don’t store your clothes in damp rooms like the bathroom or basement. Clean your washing machine if your clothes smell worse after washing.