Pounding cranberry juice will cure a UTI
Juice is delicious, but despite the many Internet claims to the contrary, it’s not a substitute for medicine when it comes to treating medical conditions, Dr Hill says. “The only way to cure a urinary tract infection (UTI) is with antibiotics,” she says. “Cranberries may be helpful in preventing a UTI by making it harder for bacteria to attach to the bladder wall, but the juice contains lots of sugar, so it’s better to consume cranberry in a supplement form.”
Wearing oil-infused wristbands will keep mosquitoes away
With so many illnesses capable of being transmitted through mosquito bites, it makes sense that people are looking for a way to keep these pests away. However, many people are leery of the chemical deterrent DEET and turn to citronella, lavender, or other essential oils (often ‘infused”’ into a bracelet or candle) as a more natural bug spray – but these mosquito repellents don’t work, says entomologist, Dr Kevin Chan. Even if they did have some effect, they would only work in small, confined spaces with no wind, he explains.
Using wool dryer balls prevents clothes from shrinking
The theory: using a wool dryer ball in your dryer will decrease the amount of time needed to dry your clothes and thereby reduce shrinking. The reality: The real problem with dryers isn’t just the temperature or the time the clothes are in there – it’s the tumbling action, says garment expert Andrea Seemayer. “The motion of tumbling the clothes is what twists the fibres tighter and causes shrinkage,” she explains. “Using low heat may help reduce shrinking, but as soon as that garment starts twisting and turning in the tumbling machine, it is destined to come out fitting differently, and no special dryer ball will change that.”