Amy Roberts

Amy spent years writing DIY advice and product reviews for Good Housekeeping, rendering her a virtual domestic goddess—emphasis on “virtual.” She’s also a personal trainer and tweets her fitness articles (when she remembers).
    5 Tips That Make Unpacking Groceries Faster and Easier
    Whether you love or loathe food shopping, the most annoying part for everyone is getting it all home and put away. But it doesn’t have to be terrible — at least not so terrible. Here are our best tips for making the process easier and less time-consuming. While you’re scanning your kitchen to see what you have and what you need, make space for the new stuff to sit when you get back.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 21, 2017
    The Best Ways to Save Money on Groceries at Costco
    Try these tips — even if the resulting haul requires you to turn your coat closet into a bonus pantry.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 20, 2017
    The Best Ways to Save Money on Groceries at Costco
    Selling in bulk is Costco’s main schtick. And that can certainly be one way to save money on groceries while you’re there. (Congrats on being the new, proud owner of four pounds of peanut butter!) But there are a few other ways to save. Try these tips — even if the resulting haul requires you to turn your coat closet into a bonus pantry.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 20, 2017
    This Grocery App Will Save You Time and Money
    There are a ton of grocery apps out there, claiming to save you time and money. Unfortunately, most of them (like a lot of apps) aren’t actually worth the time it takes to figure them out or the money it costs to use them. There is one, however, that is super easy and convenient to use — and it’s free! It’s called Flipp and you should download it ASAP. The best way to know what’s on sale near you is to subscribe to your local grocery stores’ circulars.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 18, 2017
    The Best Ways to Save Money on Groceries at Target
    Target is awesome for all sorts of things: towels, toiletries, sports bras. It can also be a great place to buy food — especially if you know how (and when) to shop. If you haven’t checked out Target’s grocery selection recently, you should: There’s so much more than just Archer Farms! Plus, you’re already there picking up makeup, pens, and leggings anyway. Thanks to the megastore’s redesign, the experience is about to get even better.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 14, 2017
    The Best Ways to Save Money on Groceries at Target
    Target is awesome for all sorts of things: towels, toiletries, sports bras. It can also be a great place to buy food — especially if you know how (and when) to shop. If you haven’t checked out Target’s grocery selection recently, you should: There’s so much more than just Archer Farms! Plus, you’re already there picking up makeup, pens, and leggings anyway. Thanks to the megastore’s redesign, the experience is about to get even better.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 14, 2017
    5 Tips for Making an Organized Grocery List, from Really Busy People
    How in the world are you supposed to find time to make a grocery list that's any more organized than a bunch of chicken scratch on a Post-It?
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 12, 2017
    Our Best Tips for Saving Money Through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save
    You may hate commitment, but Amazon's Subscribe & Save program might help you change your tune.
    Amy Roberts
    Aug 1, 2017
    The Easiest Way to Clean Up Wine Stains
    So you threw your friend a cocktail party for her birthday? That’s so sweet of you! And someone spilled all the booze? Or some of it? That’s not sweet at all! Luckily, you can easily clean it up, as long as you handle the spill smartly, says Donna Smallin Kuper, a certified house cleaning technician and author of The One-Minute Cleaner. Here’s what you should do.
    Amy Roberts
    May 26, 2017
    The Best Ways to Clean Up Broken Glass (Without Cutting Yourself!)
    Broken glass can be a pain in the you-know-what — especially if it was filled with something (what a sad waste of Pinot!). To pick up the shards (without drawing blood) and any former contents, follow this advice. The first step to cleaning up broken glass is to pick up the large pieces — carefully. And you shouldn’t do it bare-handed: Protect your hands with a thick towel, a heavy rubber glove, or even an oven mitt. And please put on shoes!
    Amy Roberts
    Apr 26, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Expired Cleaning Products
    Food isn’t the only thing in your pantry that has those all-important use-by dates: Your cleaning products can go bad, too. Here are five key things you should know when it comes to the shelf life of your go-to cleaners, from Nancy Bock of the American Cleaning Institute.
    Amy Roberts
    Apr 19, 2017
    3 Easy Steps to Clean Up Broken Eggs
    If butter fingers — or actually buttery fingers — cause an egg to slip from your hands, you know you’ll have a mess before the shell even hits the floor. The slime, the sticky shell bits, the slime! Cleanup isn’t going to be, er, over easy. Here’s how to make it less of a scramble. A sponge and a spatula can make a pretty good brush-and-dustpan stand-in for that gloppy mess on the kitchen floor. (You don’t want to then have to clean up your cleaning tools!
    Amy Roberts
    Apr 12, 2017
    Got Yogurt Stains? Here’s One Thing You Should Do.
    Delicious and nutritious, yogurt — especially the Greek kind — has become a 21st century breakfast staple. Its tasty tanginess goes sour, however, when a glob of it lands on your shirt! “Yogurt is what we like to call a ‘combination stain’ because it has a number of ingredients that can cause problems,” says Dan Miller, founder and president of Mulberrys Garment Care, which has locations throughout Minnesota and California.
    Amy Roberts
    Apr 3, 2017
    4 Things to Know About Meat Safety
    Ever had that moment when you can’t remember whether you touched the raw chicken and didn’t wash your hands? Sometimes we get into such a routine when making dinner that we forget some of the basics about the process — especially when it comes to meat handling and safety. Well, consider this your refresher course. We chatted with Stanley Rutledge, community coordinator at StopFoodborneIllness.org, to figure out some key tips for handling meat in the kitchen.
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 31, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Cleaning Up Leaked Meat Juice
    Handling raw meat isn’t really anyone’s favorite food-prep task. And if the juices leak, spill, or splash, you’ve got a tricky cleanup job on your hands, lest you risk serious food poisoning. Follow these tips to keep things de-germed. Smart grocery stores have plastic bag dispensers handy in the meat department so you can wrap up those meat trays.
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 31, 2017
    This Is How Much You Should Spend on a New Range
    A range is arguably the most important appliance in the kitchen. Not convinced? Just think back to your college days when, chances are, all you had to work with was a hot pot and a microwave. If you’re in the market for a new range, you want to make sure you’re investing in a good one. But how much exactly should you spend? When is it worth it to shell out an extra hundred dollars (or two) and when is it totally not?
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 23, 2017
    5 Expert Tips for Organizing Your Corner Cabinets
    Corner cabinets! We confess to feeling a bit confounded by them. They’re so spacious! But, at the same time, they can be hard to navigate, thanks to funky angles and that awkward too-deep depth. Many corner cabinets are equipped with built-in lazy Susans, which can help a little. What helps even more? These smart tips from organizing experts on how to best utilize your corner cabinets. “That chili pot that you only use on Super Bowl Sunday?
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 20, 2017
    5 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Kitchen Appliances
    If you’re replacing your fridge or range, chances are it’s either fun (yay, renovation!) or a hassle (boo, broken). In both cases, you’ll probably end up with the “What do I do with the old one?” conundrum. We asked Vanessa Lepice of Earth911, an online resource for all things environmental, to give us the 411 on junking old appliances. It turns out you have options — and you might even be able to make some money!
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 9, 2017
    5 Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for Kitchen Appliances, According to the Pros
    Making a $1,000 mistake is no fun, especially if it’s in the form of a refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher that you use on the regular. To help you make the best-for-you decisions at the appliance store, we talked to pros from Sears, Best Buy, and Lowe’s. Here, they share the top five appliance shopping mistakes to avoid. The biggest snafu that all of our experts kept coming back to? Not measuring your space.
    Amy Roberts
    Mar 6, 2017
    The Best Way to Remove Butter Stains from Anything
    The only problem with buttery movie-style popcorn at home? The fact that it has a tendency to lead to greasy fingerprints on the sofa. Warm, crusty bread spread with a creamy pat of butter? There’s almost always a glob that falls off the knife onto your shirt. And tender lobster dunked into melted butter? A tablecloth’s worst nightmare. The points is, that buttery deliciousness we love almost always come as a stain-removal cost.
    Amy Roberts
    Feb 23, 2017
    10 Stove Safety Tips Every Cook Should Know
    The stove is the real workhorse of the kitchen, and even more so when you’re cooped up because of a winter storm and, er, cooking up one. But do you really know how to use it safely? Here are 10 stove safety tips every cook should know, according to Doug Rogers and Anthony Arroyo of Mr. Appliance repair services. What’s an anti-tip bracket, you might ask? It’s the thing that comes with most ovens and is usually tossed aside without a second thought.
    Amy Roberts
    Feb 21, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Cleaning Your Kitchen Floors
    Hauling out the buckets and swabbing the decks may be fine for a sailor, but as the captain of your own ship, you have better ways to keep your floors squeaky-clean. Or you will, once you read this great advice from Jim Ireland, president of White Glove Elite, a New York City-based cleaning company. Yes, it’s one more thing you have to do while you’re cleaning up from dinner, but you really should sweep the kitchen floor every night before you go to bed.
    Amy Roberts
    Feb 20, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Palmetto Bugs
    The first time I saw a palmetto bug, chilling on the wall of a New York City apartment, it scared the crap out of me. Not just because it was a bug that was bigger than my thumb (ew!), but because the freakin’ thing could fly! I didn’t think roaches could have wings. It turns out I was wrong. After chatting with Michael Bentley, an entomologist with the National Pest Management Association, I learned a few more things about these all-too-common critters.
    Amy Roberts
    Feb 16, 2017
    The Best Way to Get Chocolate Stains out of Anything
    This time of year is chock-full of chocolatey decadence — in the form of a gift from a loved one, something homemade, or a sweet treat purchased at the February 15 post-holiday sales (who, me?). But don’t let it ruin your sugar buzz if half that truffle accidentally lands on your shirt or your couch. Here’s what you need to know to remove stains from anything your cocoa-covered fingers may touch.
    Amy Roberts
    Feb 7, 2017
    My Healthy Habit Challenge: I Started Reading Nutrition Labels
    It's become so automatic to flip things over to read the ingredients — I just found myself reading the back of my shampoo bottle!
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 31, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Buying, Using, and Caring for Steak Knives
    If you’ve ever tried to tear into a juicy sirloin with a butter knife (or, gasp, your teeth), you totally get the importance of a good set of steak knives. Here’s all you need to know about choosing and using your set. The next time you’re at a kitchen store, take a close look at the blades on the steak knives on offer — you’ll notice that some are straight while some are serrated.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 30, 2017
    7 Things You Can Clean with Salt
    It’s not just pepper’s better half or what makes you float in the ocean — good ol’ sodium chloride can also be a very handy household cleaner! Here are some of the many around-the-home uses of salt, as described by cleaning guru Debbie Sardone of SpeedCleaning.com. Hint: When we say “salt,” we’re talking run-of-the-mill table salt. You can really use any type of salt, but those tend to cost more money, so why not go with the less expensive option?
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 25, 2017
    The One Cleaning Tool You Really Need in Your Kitchen
    Before the big reveal, go ahead and take a guess. A sponge? Nice try, but nope. Paper towels? Not very green. But also, nah. Or what about surface-cleaning spray? Eh, not really! The best cleaning tool for most kitchen surfaces is: a microfiber cloth. “Due to the structure of a microfiber cloth, it has the same effect as most disinfectants in terms of cleaning away most bacteria,” says Tekla Wlodarczyk, owner of Mother Earth Cleaners in Madison, WI.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 17, 2017
    The One Cleaning Tool You Really Need in Your Kitchen
    Before the big reveal, go ahead and take a guess. A sponge? Nice try, but nope. Paper towels? Not very green. But also, nah. Or what about surface-cleaning spray? Eh, not really! The best cleaning tool for most kitchen surfaces is: a microfiber cloth. “Due to the structure of a microfiber cloth, it has the same effect as most disinfectants in terms of cleaning away most bacteria,” says Tekla Wlodarczyk, owner of Mother Earth Cleaners in Madison, WI.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 17, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Cleaning with Vinegar
    It’s natural! It zaps stains! It’s cheap! There’s a lot to love about vinegar as a cleaning product. However, it’s not the perfect remedy for every cleaning job — or every cleaning person (oh, the stink!). Learn how to make it work for you, from Becky Rapinchuk, author of The Organically Clean Home and founder of the blog, Clean Mama. The key ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, a natural germ-killer against some common bacteria.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 16, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Cleaning Up Breakfast
    Let’s be honest — breakfast is the only good thing about the mornings. And making your own gives you full reign over the menu, but also leaves you responsible for the cleanup. Make it extra easy with these smart tips from Debbie Sardone, the mastermind behind the site Speed Cleaning. Crispy, greasy bacon is delicious. It also creates a big fat mess. What to do with all that grease in the pan?
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 12, 2017
    5 Things You Really Shouldn’t Be Putting Down Your Drain
    Even if you have a garbage disposal, certain foods can seriously gum up the works. To keep your pipes flowing freely, don’t put these things down your drain — ever. Paul Abrams, a spokesperson for Roto-Rooter Services Company, says so. Pretend your sink is on a perpetual Atkins diet and steer clear of giving it too many carbs — even if you’re lucky enough to have a garbage disposal.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 10, 2017
    My Healthy Habit Challenge: I’m Gonna Start Reading Nutrition Labels
    Welcome to our Healthy Habit Challenge! Instead of focusing on (impossible-to-keep) New Year’s resolutions, we’re challenging four writers to start a new healthy habit. These challenges aren’t about cutting out sugar or going on a diet, or focused on the negative. They’re about doing something new and good — and making it second-nature.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 5, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Coffee Stains
    A daily cuppa may be an essential waking-up ritual, but one false drowsy move as you reach for your mug or take your first sip from an overfull paper cup and … stain disaster! Follow this advice and you won’t ever have to curse your java addiction.
    Amy Roberts
    Jan 4, 2017
    5 Things to Know About Cleaning Cookie Sheets
    If you’re like me, your passion for baking — both sweet treats and savory dishes — is inversely proportional to your zeal for cleaning up afterward (and unlike many New Yorkers, I actually have a dishwasher!). It’s particularly annoying when, no matter how well you think you’ve greased the sheet, something sticks. Or, ugh, when the oil itself becomes a gummy mess.
    Amy Roberts
    Dec 7, 2016
    5 Things to Know About Red Wine Stains
    We've got solutions for all your merlot mishaps and burgundy blotches.
    Amy Roberts
    Nov 29, 2016