If you’re one of millions that travel to a new city each year, chances are you may be going alone — or to a new destination without knowing a single soul. Both? Even better! While enjoying a trip with a loved one or prioritizing some self-care solo time is awesome, new friends add a certain sparkle to travel memories.
Here are some tried-and-true ways to meet new people during your travels — or when moving to a new location!
As someone who hasn’t been “active” on Facebook in years, I was shocked to discover how popular Facebook groups are with people looking to make friends and meet in new cities! With a quick search you’ll find various groups like “Things To Do in (City Name)” or “New To (City Name)” — don’t be shy, write a quick post!
I find that, as a solo female, I feel safest posting in groups that are designated for women only. To my surprise, my experience posting in Facebook Groups has been wildly successful; in just a few short hours I’ve had 20+ people reply or reach out to me, and got the chance to explore some awesome spots with new friends!
Read more: My 25 Best Travel Tips After 15 Years Of Traveling The World
The Bumble app isn’t ONLY for dating (though that’s easily one of the quickest ways to meet folks in a new city) — thankfully, Bumble has a “BFF” setting that excludes you from their dating pool and only shows you to people looking to make friends!
I’ve found there’s a good mix of people who have just moved, visitors and long-time locals. Regardless of whether you’re only visiting for a day or two, or if you’ve just moved to a new city without a familiar face in sight, you’re bound to meet some people who will either show you their favorite stomping grounds or try a new spot with you!
Read more: 20 Best Travel Hacks That Will Save You Money
Have you ever noticed that the fewer amount of people in any given space, the more likely you are to interact? I have yet to make new friends at a sprawling music festival, but I’ve struck up countless great conversations at near-empty bars. In short – less is more.
Skip the big-name concert and opt for the live local band or comedy show at an intimate venue. It’s also easy to drop in at a bar for a drink or two right before their weekly trivia night, viewing party or tasting event — if you’re solo, these are great opportunities to join a group!
Read more: Detailed Road Trip Packing List (Must-Have Essentials!)
Download the Eventbrite app and suddenly you’re prompted with an infinite list of activities going on in your city every single day. Low-key activities like an art walk/mural tour or yoga are great daytime options, while high-energy events like silent discos and karaoke are perfect for meeting folks at their most fun!
I once passed by an escape room and got asked by a trio of sisters to join their mission — we had a BLAST laughing the entire time, and remain connected on social media to this day!
Don’t be afraid to say hi, introduce yourself and ask for recommendations in group activity settings — you might be surprised at how many people are open to making friends too, and invite you tag along or join them!
Read more: The Most Durable Checked Luggage [Buying Guide]
With Airbnb experiences, you can try group activities (think kayaking tours, yacht experiences or wine and food pairings) to meet fellow travelers; solo activities (e.g. watercolor painting lessons, culinary classes) with a local instructor can also pair you up with a new buddy if you hit it off! At the very least, they may be able to suggest some particular locations that might offer a friendly crowd.
With all this said, my key piece of advice is to make the first move – don’t let intimidation deter you from approaching a friendly-looking stranger and striking up conversation. It’s low pressure but high reward if you walk away with new friends in a new city.
Read more: How To Find Cheap Flights To Anywhere (Insider Tips & Tricks)
Not only is Meetup a great source for discovering things to do in your city of choice, but it also provides an opportunity to meet like-minded people!
Most cities have awesome, niche groups that range from sports, art and language-learning to health & wellness and spiritually. It’s also popular for dating, LGBTQ+ communities and networking in general.
Whether you’re in the mood for a group hike or an introduction by locals to the coffee shop scene, you can find folks who are into EXACTLY what you’re into!
Read more: How To Choose The Best Travel Camera
Dog parks (or regular parks, for that matter) are perfect for meeting fellow animal lovers — after all, who wouldn’t love to be introduced to a friendly face by their fur baby! Regardless of whether you’re traveling with your pet or just enjoy watching others’ having fun, dogs are famous for their ability bring people together in a communal area.
Not a dog person? Grab a blanket, book, guitar or snack and head for a local park — sprawl out, relax, and enjoy the afternoon. People who see you comfortable and at-ease are more likely to approach!
And while you’re here, check out our tips for being more approachable in public in general — though remember, it takes two!
Read more: The Ultimate Packing Guide for Travel Photographers (Tips From a Pro!)
Headphones are the internationally-known signal for “leave me alone,” so refrain from podcast-bingeing while you’re out!
If you’re going to take yourself on a solo date, challenge yourself to keep your phone in your pocket/purse for the entire evening! When you’re glued to your phone, you may come across as occupied — and no one wants to risk interrupting an important text or email. Keep your head up, and bring a book if keeping yourself company sounds intimidating (it’s much more casual!).
Not just metaphorically, but physically — your physical location and position in any setting may determine whether you seem approachable or not. Instead of grabbing the back corner table or end bar seat closest to the wall, sit near the entrance or at a corner bar seat. Even better if you can solidify a spot that has an open seating next to you!
Wearing a statement piece of clothing is an easy excuse for a stranger to strike up conversation — think something bright, patterned or personalized. Being well-dressed (note, not over-dressed) in general is also a great general rule to abide by.
If (friendly) strangers are good for one thing, it’s being helpful — so use your “newness” to the city to your advantage! Get some help reading the local language on menus, ask for directions, or recruit help lugging suitcases to your mode of transportation or hotel.
On the flip side of asking questions and receiving help, you can be the one to offer your assistance instead! If you jump in unprompted, even better – what better way to start off on a good foot?
The post The Best Ways To Meet New People While Traveling appeared first on Ordinary Traveler.
From what cleaning can save you, to how to do it and even who can do it for you, this guide covers everything you know about how to clean solar panels.
When you buy solar panels for the home, you’re helping the environment, saving yourself money and potentially adding value to your home. But all that isn’t just going to cost you up front in installation costs, you’ll need to factor in maintenance too. The main task being cleaning.
Since solar panels use light, which they convert to power, it’s important to have a clear panel that allows that light to penetrate through. The clouds are doing enough to cut down on your potential solar savings without a dirty or mucked panel adding to the problem.
So how do you clean solar panels? They’re most likely going to be on your roof which in itself could prove a problem to even get to. Then you need to think about how often this is needed, what it will cost you if you don’t do it. Plus, of course, what happens when birds make their own kind of mess up there.
Image credit: Getty Images/Image Source
While you can pay someone to clean your solar panels for you – and there’s more on that below – the process of doing it yourself need not be too daunting. If you have all the right equipment to get the job done then you can save even more money by doing this yourself. And it doesn’t even need to be that regular, in case this puts you off.
The best way to clean your solar panels is from the ground. Firstly that’s the safest place to do it and secondly it means you don’t need to invest in and store a massive ladder. But that does mean you will need a specialist tool, specifically a telescopic sponge.
This is essentially an extendable pole with a sponge on the end which works at length. If you can’t clean your panels from the ground then it’s recommended you hire a professional to go up there and get the job done for you, safely.
The sponge itself, if not already part of the pole purchase, should be a non-abrasive one. This will mean you don’t risk doing any damage to the panel top layer, which could again cause light blockages with scratch marks, for example.
Ideally you’ll want to do the clean on a day when the sky isn’t overcast with clouds. These can block sunlight which would otherwise assist in drying the panels quickly. If they don’t dry quickly it can leave smears all over them which is another potential block of light to the panel.
The best time of day to get the job started is early in the morning. This is when the dew has settled on the panels giving a useful layer of moisture and a softening to any grime that’s formed up there.
Use warm and soapy water to get the best result for removing any dirt, debris or even bird mess.
Only clean the top of the panels. This is very important as, although these are built to withstand the weather, their wiring is underneath. So don’t be tempted to clean under the panels where the wiring could become damaged. Stick to the top layer only.
Image credit: Getty Images
And since the more efficient the panel is the more power it can produce, in this case cleanliness literally equates to money. So keeping them clean is super important if you want to make sure the investment you made in buying them doesn’t go to waste. Or, likely more applicably, that the investment is paid off as soon as possible.
Solar energy gets converted into electricity via the solar panel. That means that light quite literally is turned into money. The more light the panel can absorb, the more money you can save. Since light can easily be blocked, it’s important that the outer glass layer on your panel doesn’t get blocked with dirt, grime or waste. From bird poo and dust to moss growth, there are plenty of ways your panel could become less efficient.
When you keep in mind that even the best solar panels are only about 20% efficient, meaning of all the light that gets in 80% is wasted, that makes keeping your panels clean super important. This cleanliness actually gets more important over time as the panels can reduce in efficiency over the 25 year warranty period.
Another reason to clean those panels regularly is that it also gives you a chance to get a closer look at everything. A visual inspection can be invaluable as you may spot something that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, getting worse over time. A leak dripping on a potentially vulnerable part of the panel for example. Or tree and shrub growth which may obstruct your sunlight, which you may not have noticed from ground level. Getting the chance to give your roof a quick inspection while you’re looking is another bonus.
One great example, on a massive scale, is from the solar panels used by Google. This array was installed to generate a massive 1.6MW of solar power. Since its installation it wasn’t cleaned until month 15. When that was done the power production doubled overnight. A huge difference. The next period of leaving them untouched lasted for a shorter eight months. But when cleaned this time, the power output still shot up a massive 36%. In fact Google says, ‘we found that cleaning these panels is the number one way to maximise the energy they produce.’
‘Even if you clear your panels of major dirt and debris, dust and particulate matter can still reduce your solar array’s production levels by as much as 25 per cent,’ says Josh from The Eco Experts.
So what does that equate to in real-world monetary terms for you? Well if we take that 50% figure it could mean the difference between all of your electricity bill being paid and you making money, or you actually paying out for some of your bill. The average solar panel home owner could stand to make as much £125 per year from the SEG government system. Which means with an unclean setup that could drop by half. So a clean system could save you over £60 at least. If you’re working out how to save energy at home in light of rising bills, it’s a no-brainer.
In the Google example above, cleaning after eight months and 15 months saw a big difference. But this was on a huge array, and not on raised roofing. So in real-world cases you will likely only benefit noticeably by cleaning your panels once a year, as was recommended by The Eco Experts.
It’s worth keeping an eye on the panels, perhaps inspecting them more regularly, but for the actual clean, annual regularity should be enough. That said, it also depends where you live. If you have a lot of dust and grime, living in a built-up area for example, it may pay to clean every six months. Also, if you spot bird mess making a major blockage on your panels that is worth cleaning up as and when.
Keep an eye on your power output on a regular basis, ideally monthly. If this starts to drop, carry out an inspection, aka take a look at the panels. If they appear to have anything on them then it’s worth getting out your pole and sponge to get cleaning.
Image credit: Getty Images/Westend61
Josh at The Eco Experts, on moss, told Ideal Home: ‘If you have moss on your solar panels, I feel your pain. Unfortunately, this is a job for a professional’. Yup, moss is a sign that you need to call in the specialists. This means that the panels have it growing in there from a build up of some sort. As such it’s going to be anchored on there pretty well. You can try the above hose pipe attempt but it may not work. In which case it’s time to call in a roof cleaning professional. They will use ladders to get close range access so that the moss can all be removed.
To avoid future moss mishaps it’s advisable to increase your cleaning frequency, so as to dislodge any would-be growers before they get a chance to take hold.
Yes. There are lots. No matter where you live there will likely be a local company that specialises in cleaning solar panels.
While you can get roof cleaners to do the job, it’s best to go for a solar panel cleaning specialist. The latter will know the best way to care for the panels. As mentioned earlier, there are potentially vulnerable electrics so it’s important the person cleaning up close knows what they’re doing to avoid panel damage.
Since these are specialists, you will see the difference when they’re done and will notice the power output improvement. As such the cost could cover itself in terms of savings that can be made on your power output. It also takes the hassle out of it for you, of course. Plus, longer term, it should help keep the panels at maximum efficiency and give them the longevity of life you’d hope for.
The post How to clean solar panels – and why your bills might go up if you don’t appeared first on Ideal Home.
If you’re looking for Valentines Day gifts for foodies, look no further. The Ideal Home team has carefully edited our list of the top 20 gifts this Valentines Day, for the foodie in your life.
Whether you’re in a rut and don’t know what to get for a romantic gesture, or you want to find the very best box of chocolates for a sweet-toothed partner, our gift for foodies guide will bring you top picks that have been tried by our team of in-house foodies.
Food lovers will cherish lavish appliances such as stand mixers, but they can cost as much as £300, so it’s definitely not a gift to take lightly. For a few of our top picks of the best Valentines Day gifts for foodies, we’ve reviewed them hands-on and included them in our expert buying guides.
As for cheaper foodie gifts, you can still pick up something that will make the food-lover in your life’s day. We’ve tried outstanding hot sauces, indulgent chocolates, and unbeatable hampers that will get someone’s Valentines Day off to a great start. Find our top 20 gifts for foodies below.
Always Pan
Any foodie will be sure to recognise the Always Pan from Instagram, and this versatile and stylish frying pan has amassed a cult following since its launch in the UK this year. It comes in a range of delightful colours, from a bright and vibrant red to the newest colour, a muted blue called Blanch. The quality of the non-stick is outstanding, and it’s so pretty they’ll never want to put it in the cupboard.
KitchenAid mixer
Image credit: KitchenAid
It wouldn’t be a foodie gift guide without mentioning the iconic KitchenAid Artisan. One of the best stand mixers on the market, it’s available in a range of colours, including this limited edition light and shadow combo exclusively at the KitchenAid side. This is the ultimate gift for serious home cooks and those who fancy themselves worthy of a spot in next year’s Bakeoff tent.
Le Creuset Cast Iron Round Casserole Hearts with Light Gold Knob
Released as a Valentine’s Day special, the Hearts Collection has everything from casseroles to romantic mugs. While they’ll make a brilliant Valentine’s Day gift to anyone who loves to cook, we don’t think this one will ever go out of style, and it’s guaranteed to get plenty of use for years to come.
Cast Iron Round Casserole Hearts with Light Gold Knob, £315, Le Creuset
Smeg Hand Mixer
Elevating your brunch game just got easier thanks to the Smeg Hand Mixer. It’s delightfully simple to use and a really stunning piece of kit that’s easy to clean, too. Use it to make perfectly fluffy pancakes for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day brunch.
Ooni Karu 12 Pizza Oven
The Ooni Karu 12 is a mid-price pizza oven from the sell-out brand that becomes impossible to get hold of each and every summer. That’s why it makes the perfect Christmas present for foodies, because while you won’t be able to break it out on Boxing Day, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to use in even early spring. This wood-fired pizza oven is currently our top picks of the best pizza ovens, and if your foodie friend fancies themselves a bit of a pizzaiolo, there is no better gift.
Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
‘Tis the season for a hot glass of cocoa, and Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser is perfect for making luxurious drinks all year long. A far cry from powdered chocolate, you can use shavings of authentic quality chocolate in the Velvetiser. Simply add a milk of your choice. Choose between copper, white, and charcoal colours for a range of kitchen designs, you can also use it as one of the best milk frothers.
Staub La Cocotte 20cm Heart Cast Iron, Cherry
The Staub La Cocotte 20cm Heart Cast Iron in Cherry is perfect for making a gesture. Cook up a romantic dish and serve it in the same enamelled cast iron. It’s adorable, but the Staub La Cocotte 20cm Heart Cast Iron’s cherry red design will always look striking in your kitchen.
Staub La Cocotte 20cm Heart Cast Iron, £199, Zwilling
Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
Adding a new kitchen helper to your counters is the perfect way to show you care. The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) has a screen that pivots with you to show recipes or video calls in real time, and the speaker is perfect for playing the cheesiest tunes all through the house.
Lola’s Cupcakes Cupid’s Postal Cupcakes Delivery
Lola’s postal box of eight delicious cupcakes comes with an assortment of vanilla and chocolate cakes topped with beautiful, Valentine’s-themed icing and garnishes. They’re guaranteed to make your date’s day, and if they can bring themselves to share, you’ll be glad you made the gesture.
Cupid’s Postal Cupcakes, £27.99, Lola’s Cupcakes
Mermaid Pink Gin
Hand-crafted at a distillery in the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Pink Gin is infused with fresh strawberry and has no added sugar, unlike a lot of the pink gins on the market. The bottle is a showstopper too, so long after you’ve finished your gin, you’ll want to hang onto the packaging.
TRUFF White Truffle Hot Sauce
Made of black truffle and red chilli sauce, the TRUFF Black Truffle Hot Sauce is a game-changer. Truffle is a well-known aphrodisiac, and it’s totally delicious. Put it on chips, in a burger, on your eggs in the morning, or just use it as a moreish dip.
Mijenta Tequila Blanco
Made of smooth, pure agave, Mijenta Tequila Blanco is traditionally made with the highest quality ingredients. It tastes phenomenal, with fresh notes of melon and honey, and while it works a treat in a cocktail, we think it’s also delicious neat. The glass bottle is sturdy and wrapped in perfectly pink Valentines-worthy paper.
Mijenta Tequila Blanco, £54, Amazon
Lily O’Brien’s The Exquisite Edition
Valentine’s Day is incomplete without a box of chocolate. The Lily O’Brien’s The Exquisite Edition features Raspberry & Sicilian Lemon, Ginger & Lemon Confit, Grand Cru Ganache, and more. We also think it’s brilliant value.
Lily O’Brien’s The Exquisite Edition, £7, Lily O’Briens
Kocktail The Valentines Collection
Bringing bespoke and interesting drinks to your door (or more specifically, your letterbox) is Kocktail’s drink subscription. You can buy one-offs as gifts, and we think this Valentines Collection is the perfect tipple for a romantic evening drink. The four flavours include Rose Petal Martini, Chocolate & Mint Espresso Martini, Peach & Hibiscus Fizz, and a Rhubarb & Cucumber Spritz. A brilliant boozy gesture for those who take cocktails seriously.
Kocktail Valentines Collection, £29, Kocktail
Champagne and Praline Hearts Gift Box
Perfect for the foodie who you won’t be seeing this Valentine’s Day. This Cartwright and Butler Champagne and Chocolate gift hamper comes with a ‘With Love’ sleeve and lovingly wrapped in a reusable gift box.
Champagne and Praline Hearts Gift Box, £60, Cartwright & Butler
Montezuma’s Grand Chocolate Truffles
This neat box of chocolates is packed with an assortment of delicious treats. The Montezuma’s Grand Chocolate Truffles box includes White Chocolate & Raspberry, Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Praline. Buy from Moonpig to pair with a heartfelt card, all in the same order.
Montezuma’s Grand Chocolate Truffles, £17, Moonpig
Robert Welch Signature Cookbook/Tablet Stand
Every foodie will recognise the iconic Robert Welch logo as soon as they open the box, and the Robert Welch Signature Cookbook/Tablet Stand is a perfect choice for those who love to cook and have an ever-growing pile of cookbooks in the kitchen. It slots together effortlessly and is sturdy enough to support even the heftiest books. For under £40, we also think it’s a deceptively affordable gift from a brand that’s known for quality.
Samuel Groves Cast Iron Double Handle Skillet
Sometimes the best gift is something they’d use every single day, making it worth a real investment. Samuel Groves is made in the UK and used by chefs such as Tom Kerridge. The quality is outstanding, and this cast iron skillet is certainly display-worthy. We love taking it from stovetop to the oven, perfect for charring.
Tala Mixing Bowl
Many baking lovers will already have a Tala mixing bowl in their kitchen, but if they don’t, it’s an essential that’s guaranteed to get years of use. Newly available in fun pastel colours, and with an iconic patterned exterior that’s recognisable across celebrity chef kitchens.
Meater Plus
BBQ lovers and picky carnivores will enjoy the smart, app-compatible Meater thermometer. It can be used to monitor the internal temperature of any meat as it cooks, so whether they like their steak cooked to a very specific medium-rare, or they enjoy making elaborate feasts on the best BBQ, this gadget is guaranteed to get used all year round.
Tastesmiths Personalised Fresh Curry Kit Gift Box
With recipe cards for easy cooking and all the spice blends and fresh spices you need to make the perfect curry, the Tastesmiths box offers everything you need to make six curries and will keep you going into the new year. Perfect for leftovers! Our favourite was the goan fish curry, which was perfectly balanced.
Cookbook and Ingredients Set from Sous Chef
Sous Chef is the home of restaurant-quality ingredients for serious foodies. They sell everything from high-quality flour to cookware, but their top gift for the season is their selection of cookbook sets. We tried out the Nigella Cook, Eat, Repeat set, which included the cookbook, a drawstring bag, and a range of high-quality ingredients that feature in the cookbook itself. This makes it really easy to get stuck into the recipes, and whether you opt for the Pizza Pilgrims set or Ottolenghi’s new Test Kitchen option, there’s bound to be a cookbook set your loved one doesn’t already have.
Sous Chef Cookbook Sets, £39.99-£59.99 at Sous Chef
The post Valentines Day gifts for foodies: 22 food gifts for the one you love appeared first on Ideal Home.
