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iPhone’s battery-boosting ‘yellow mode’, extreme ‘lockdown’ and theft protection – the secret tricks you’ve missed

YOUR iPhone has four easy-to-miss modes with a dizzying array of perks – from boosting battery life to upgrading your bedroom.

I’m The Sun’s tech expert, Sean Keach, and I’ve got all the details on how to unlock each one on your iPhone.

iPhone displaying calendar appointments and app icons.
Apple / The Sun
Your iPhone has some powerful modes that you might’ve missed[/caption]
iPhone battery settings: Battery Percentage and Low Power Mode toggles.
The Sun
Low Power Mode is a great way to instantly boost your iPhone’s battery life[/caption]

‘Yellow Mode’

The first one is easy and tremendously useful if you regularly struggle with battery life.

It’s a special mode that massively extends your charge – and turns your battery icon yellow to show that it’s working.

The effect takes place instantly, making it a valuable tool if you’re far from a charger.

Its official name is Low Power Mode, and it’ll limit performance and certain features to save on battery life.

 “Low Power Mode reduces the amount of power that your iPhone or iPad uses when the battery gets low,” Apple explains.

“Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch until you can fully charge your iPhone.”

Some features might take loner to update or complete – and others might not work at all.

The official list of what Low Power Mode might affect includes:

  • 5G (except for video streaming) on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models
  • Auto-Lock (defaults to 30 seconds)
  • Display brightness
  • Display refresh rate (limited up to 60 Hz) on iPhone and iPad models with ProMotion display
  • Some visual effects
  • iCloud Photos (temporarily paused)
  • Automatic downloads
  • Email fetch
  • Background app refresh

To turn it on, just go into Settings > Battery and then hit the Low Power Mode toggle.

You can also add it to your Control Centre (the quick settings unlocked by swiping down from the top right – or up from the bottom on a Home Button iPhone) by customising it.

And if you don’t like either of those options, you can also just ask Siri.

Your iPhone should prompt you to activate Low Power Mode if your battery drops to 20% anyway.

And it will also deactivate automatically once your iPhone gets back up to 80% charge.

iPhone control center with battery indicator showing partial charge.
The Sun
You can also turn Low Power Mode on through the Control Centre[/caption]

WHY DOES YOUR PHONE'S BATTERY LIFE GET WORSE OVER TIME?

It's inevitable: your iPhone battery will get worse over time...

  • Most gadgets run on lithium-ion batteries
  • Over time, the amount of charge this type of battery can hold gets smaller
  • That means you need to charge your device more often because they hold less charge
  • Batteries have two electrode points – the cathode and the anode
  • To charge a battery, the ions inside the battery are forced from the cathode to the anode
  • When you use a battery, it moves in the reverse direction
  • This process wears away at the structure of the anode, reducing its ability to function correctly
  • But the process also builds up a kind of salt on the cathode when charging
  • As this build-up grows, the battery will accept less charge over time
  • It’s estimated that between 500 and 1,000 full charge-cycles will reduce a battery’s maximum capacity by roughly 20%

Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun

Look for your iPhone’s battery icon returning to its normal colour to make sure that it’s off.

Extreme Lockdown

Another handy feature to know about is Lockdown Mode.

It’s described as an “extreme protection” mode that Apple says “hardens your iPhone from a cyberattack”.

The feature was added in 2022 with the iOS 16 update and is totally free – although even Apple admits that it’s so powerful “most people” won’t ever need to turn it on.

iPhone Lockdown Mode prompt.
The Sun
Lockdown Mode is a powerful way to prevent cyberattacks[/caption]

“Lockdown Mode is optional and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack,” Apple says.

“Such as by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.

“Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”

It makes a number of changes to how your iPhone works.

iPhone privacy and security settings.
The Sun
You can find Lockdown Mode in the Security section of your iPhone Settings app[/caption]

LOCKDOWN MODE WORKS ON MAC TOO!

Here's how to do it...

Just go to the Apple menu then choose System Settings.

Now select Privacy & Security, scroll down and choose Lockdown Mode.

Now tap Turn On > Turn On Lockdown Mode.

Enter your password if you’re prompted to, then choose Turn On & Restart.

Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun

For example, most message attachment types will be blocked – and links and their previews in texts won’t work either.

Some websites will stop loading properly, and FaceTime calls will be blocked unless you’ve called that person before.

Your iPhone won’t automatically join “non-secure” Wi-Fi networks, and location info will be removed from any photos that you share.

The list of features that Lockdown Mode affects includes:

  • Messages
  • Web browsing
  • FaceTime
  • Apple services
  • Photos
  • Device connections
  • Wireless connectivity
  • Configuration profiles

And all of these features will stop working:

  • SharePlay
  • Shared Albums
  • FaceTime Live Photos
  • FaceTime Continuity Handoff

If you feel like you do need to turn Lockdown Mode on, it’s very easy.

iPhone Lockdown Mode settings: FaceTime, web browsing, photos, device connections, wireless connectivity, and Apple services restrictions.
The Sun
Lockdown Mode affects several features on your iPhone[/caption]

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, and then follow the prompts to switch it on.

Keep in mind that your iPhone will need to restart to activate Lockdown Mode.

‘Red Mode’

If you liked “yellow mode” then you’ll love “red mode”.

It’s a featured called StandBy that turns your iPhone into a useful bit of furniture.

iPhone lock screen showing 9:41.
Apple
StandBy turns your iPhone into a useful display that serves a purpose even when you’re not holding it[/caption]

“You can use StandBy to turn your iPhone into a bedside clock, a photo frame, a display for viewing widgets or Live Activities in full screen, and more,” Apple explains.

You might not have seen it as it was only added with iOS 17 in 2023 – and triggering it requires an odd process.

Go to Settings > StandBy and make sure that it’s turned on.

Then connect your iPhone to a charge and set it down on its long side (so the screen is landscape).

If the phone isn’t properly standing or connected (or it’s moving) then it won’t work.

Press the side button and StandBy should activate.

It’ll also work if you have a fancy MagSafe wireless charger that lets your iPhone “float” in a landscape position – like these clever iPhone chargers.

You can customise it very easily just be swiping up and down or left to right.

iPhone Standby settings showing options to enable Standby mode and show notifications.
The Sun
StandBy can be toggled on in Settings, and then activated by laying the iPhone on its side while it’s charging[/caption]

IOS 17 SUPPORTED MODELS – DOES YOUR IPHONE HAVE STANDBY?

Here's Apple's official list...

  • iPhone SE (2nd generation)
  • iPhone SE (3rd generation)
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max

Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun

It’s a better experience if you’ve got an Always-On iPhone model where the screen can stay active. Those models include:

  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

For other iPhones, you’ll need to activate StandBy by tapping the screen, or nudging the surface that the iPhone is on.

So why is it “red mode”?

Well if you’re using it at night – and you really should – then the iPhone screen will turn red.

“When Night Mode is turned on for StandBy, the screen adapts to low ambient light at night,” Apple explains.

“And displays items with a red tint so that it’s not intrusive while you’re sleeping.”

Clever!

iPhone lock screen showing a red clock on a black background.
Apple
If you use StandBy in the dark, the screen will tint to a comfortable red[/caption]

Stolen Phone Protection

The last entry on this list is Stolen Device Protection, which is meant to hinder phone-snatching thieves.

Specifically, it’s meant to protect you from pilferers who have seen you type in your iPhone password.

“You can use Stolen Device Protection to protect against the rare instance when someone has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode,” Apple said.

“Stolen Device Protection prevents the person from performing critical device and Apple Account operations (like changing your device passcode or Apple Account password).

iPhone privacy and security settings.
The Sun
Stolen Device Protection is a must-have if you’re worried about phone-snatchers[/caption]

“It does this by requiring biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID. There is no passcode to fall back on.”

It’s a location-based feature that is meant to kick in when you’re away from familiar locations like your home and work.

So if someone steals your device while you’re out, they can’t make any “critical” changes.

That means they’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID rather than a passcode to access your stored passwords or credit cards.

FULL PROTECTION!

Here's what you can and cannot do with passcodes while Stolen Device Protection is active...

If Stolen Device Protection is turned on, you’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to do any of the following:

  • Use passwords or passkeys saved in Keychain
  • Use payment methods saved in Safari (AutoFill)
  • Turn off Lost Mode
  • Erase all content and settings
  • Apply for a new Apple Card
  • View your Apple Card or Apple Cash virtual card number
  • Take certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet (for example, Apple Cash or Savings transfers)
  • Use your iPhone to set up a new device (for example, Quick Start)

You’ll also experience the Security Delay for any of the following actions:

  • Change your Apple Account password
  • Sign out of your Apple Account
  • Update Apple Account security settings (such as adding or removing a trusted device, Recovery Key, or Recovery Contact)
  • Add or remove Face ID or Touch ID
  • Change your iPhone passcode
  • Reset All Settings
  • Enroll in Mobile Device Management
  • Turn off Stolen Device Protection

Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun

There’s also a Security Delay that means you’ll have to wait an hour to change your Apple Account password – performing a second Face ID or Touch ID scan to make it happen.

That way, someone can’t steal your phone, unlock it with your face or finger on the spot, then run off and change the passcode.

They’d need to stay with you for an entire hour to reset your Apple Account password.

“In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” Apple explains.

iPhone Stolen Device Protection settings.
The Sun
Toggle Stolen Device Protection on in Settings to activate it[/caption]

This change normally won’t kick in if you’re at home or work – although you can set it up to happen anywhere, if you prefer.

To use it, make sure that your Apple Account has two-factor authentication turned on.

You’ll also need:

  • An iPhone passcode
  • Face ID or Touch ID
  • Significant Locations turned on in the Location Services part of your Settings
  • Find My switched on
iPhone Stolen Device Protection settings showing security delay enabled when away from familiar locations.
The Sun
You can edit the feature to make it so Security Delay works at all locations – not just familiar ones[/caption]

Then just go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode to turn Stolen Device Protection on.

You can tweak the setting as you prefer.

Read More »

Coronation Street cast BARRED from the Rovers Return as ITV take desperate measures to cut costs

CORONATION Street’s cast are being BARRED from the Rovers Return as the soap desperately battles against ITV’s cash crisis.

A perfect storm of soaring telly production costs and a fall in advertising has put the future of the UK’s most-watched soap at risk.

Charlotte Jordan as Daisy Midgeley in Coronation Street.
Charlotte Jordan quit Coronation Street this week after four years on the cobbles
Rex
A scene from the Rovers Return pub during a Christmas party.
Corrie used to pack its Rovers Return scenes with the soap’s characters – giving it its famous community feel
ITV
Tyrone Dobbs finds Cassie Plummer intoxicated in a pub.
ITV
Now scenes only have a select few characters in each scenes in a cost-cutting measure[/caption]

We told yesterday how cobbles beauty Charlotte Jordan has QUIT – becoming the fifth star to leave the show in a month.

Now The Sun can reveal even more chaos on the soap, which turns 65 this year – and more well-loved stars could be out or have their appearance slashed back.

A show source said: “Charlotte quitting is just the tip of the iceberg. Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions.

“TV production costs have soared by more than 50 per cent, while the advertising market funding them has all-but collapsed.

“The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to slash costs.”

One tough decision, that has infuriated show stars, is a decision to slash the number of established characters in scenes taking place in the iconic Rovers Return pub.

Every time they appear they are due a per-episode fee, which can mount up for actors on lucrative deals.

Only a few years ago you would see all the community in the pub – even if they didn’t speak.

A show insider revealed: “The cast loved the days when lots of scenes were filmed in the Rovers because it didn’t matter if you had 10 scenes in an episode or just sat in the pub – you’d get paid the same

“Playing a barmaid or the landlord was a dream gig and would guarantee you got paid a fortune because it didn’t matter if you just served someone in the background – you got paid for the episode.

“The bar staff obviously had to be in all Rovers scenes so it was a great earner for them. But those days are now long gone – it’s just too expensive.”

As a result for a large part of 2023 the Rovers was shut – ironically due to financial problems faced by landlady Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews).

The plot covertly saved bosses a small fortune and was part of a secret cost-cutting drive.

Matthews, who made her cobbles debut as Jenny Bradley in 1986, recently went public on social media to call out the fact that she is barely being used on the show.

She told fans on an Instagram live broadcast how she was looking for other work in the hopes someone would employ her – a clear dig at Corrie bosses.

“You’re not going to be seeing Jenny for quite a long while,” she said. “So that’s that.”

Sally-Ann Matthews at the British Soap Awards.
Getty
Sally Ann Matthews took a thinly-veiled swipe at soap bosses over her lack of episodes[/caption]
Jenny Connor and Rita Tanner in a scene from Coronation Street.
ITV
Sal appeared in just 36 episodes last year – while Barbara Knox was in just fifteen[/caption]
Gail Rodwell in a white wedding outfit, holding a bouquet.
ITV
Helen Worth’s final year on Coronation Street saw her appear in just 26 episodes[/caption]

She only appeared in 36 episodes last year.

Changes to filming schedules were implemented and restrictions on freelancers – anything and everything was done to save cash – even the unthinkable.

It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice that the characters that people know and love just don’t appear as much anymore, with some disappearing for months on end.

Long-standing characters command a higher pay rate per episode – so increasingly bosses are turning to newer, cheaper cast members to pad out episodes and save money that way.

It has led to criticism that the show is less like the old Corrie and more like The Bill with all the focus on newer characters like police officers Kit Green and Lisa Swain.

Gail's biggest Corrie storylines

Over the years the character of Gail Platt has been the centre of several major plots.

Here we take a look back over actress Helen Worth’s biggest storylines:

Teenage daughter’s pregnancy

One of Gail’s most controversial storylines was in 1999.

It came when her 13-year-old daughter Sarah became pregnant.

Multiple marriages

Gail holds the record for the series’ most married female character.

She has been wed a whopping six times, each one worse the last.

Married to a serial killer

One of Gail’s multiple marriages saw her wed Richard Hillman, who turned out to be a serial killer.

At the climax of the storyline, 19 million fans tuned in to watch Hillman drive his wife and her family into a canal.

Scrapping on The Street

Gail has proved over the years she can’t resist a good scrap.

Her most memorable bust-up saw her attack Eileen Grimshaw on the cobbles in 2004 while in her dressing gown. 

Jail bird

In 2010, Gail found herself wrongly banged up in jail.

She was wrongfully arrested for murdering her 4th husband Joe McIntyre. 

While beloved characters like Gail Platt are seldom seen – with Gail barely featuring in her own exit storyline.

In fact The Sun can reveal that actress Helen Worth appeared in just 26 – of 304 – episodes in her final, 50th year on the cobbles, leaving on Christmas Day with a whimper rather than a bang.

Kevin Webster (Mike Le Vell) was only given 46 episodes while Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) appeared in just 48.

Audrey Roberts (Sue NIcholls) had just 29 outings and Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine) was on screen for only 34 episodes.

Meanwhile Rita Tanner, played by Barbara Knox, 91, has only been seen in FIFTEEN episodes last year despite being a main character since 1972.

There are no longer any bumper pay deals for cast – who are increasingly having to take on extra work outside the soaps just to pay their bills.

One source said: “It sounds ridiculous but some people, household names, watched for years by millions, are worrying about how they will pay their mortgages.

“Soaps used to be steady employment for actors but now there’s no guarantee of even being able to pay your bills.”

The actors are increasingly taking other work – some on social media and on paid appearances.

Some like Dame Maureen Lipman are taking on other acting work and stepping back from the cobbles full-time.

But fans fear that further removes the characters from the show and damages the community feel that has been an essential part of soaps since Corrie kicked it all off back in 1960.

And Corrie is not alone – ITV’s other soap, Emmerdale, is also feeling the pinch and have had to find other ways to fund the show.

They both have studio and set tours running almost constantly once filming is done for the week.

Sainsbury's and Argos coming soon sign on construction site.
Product placement deals have seen high street brands appear on the cobbles
Three women posing for a photo outside Roy's Rolls on the Coronation Street set.
ITV also relies on the lucrative tour income to help fund the soap

Corrie now has  Sainsbury’s with Argos and characters can buy a new mobile at Weatherfield’s own EE shop thanks to so- called “product placement” deals.

And there is a host of merchandise for sale both on set and online – but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the funding they need to compete.

ITV couldn’t even afford to put the British Soap Awards on last year after more than two decades – though it has been confirmed to return this summer.

Coronation Street tops the ratings – but ITV’s cash crisis is causing chaos on the cobbles

In comparison EastEnders – funded by the licence fee as well as lucrative overseas sales – is in a healthy position.

The Queen Vic is packed, the market stuffed with extras, and the BBC soap still provides the community feel that all the soaps have long previously been able to pride themselves on.

A brand new £87 million  set is pride of place in soapland – but given EastEnders commands barely more than half the viewing figures of its ITV rivals – it sticks in the craw for some.

EastEnders matriarchs in colorful dresses and smoke.
PA
EastEnders has been riding high with huge storylines like The Six – but the ratings hav not followed[/caption]
Ross Kemp, reprising his role as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders, stands outside Walford East Station.
PA
Ross Kemp is making a bombshell return to EastEnders for its 40th anniversary[/caption]

One ITV source said: “Compared to Corrie and Emmerdale, EastEnders is lavishly funded. The BBC has already axed Doctors even though it was an important training ground for TV stars of the future and its ratings weren’t that far behind EastEnders.

“Is ITV expected to fund the training and development of newcomers to TV while its BBC rival tempts them away with bigger pay and reaps the rewards?”

Another source said: “Corrie’s 65 this year and just five years ago this situation would be unthinkable. For the first time in its history there are significant concerns about whether it will make it to 70 in its current format, and whether it will reach 75 at all.”

EastEnders is riding high at the moment with an explosive double-success at Christmas and New Year episodes – while racing towards its 40th anniversary.

A string of high profile returns including Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell, Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates and Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson has kept interest high – tapping into the nostalgia of the show.

And this is all fantastic – a successful soap should be celebrated.

But for soap fans it is hard to cheer on a taxpayer-funded show thriving when its commercial rivals are struggling to survive.

Last year Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks was forced to cut its weekly episodes by 40 per cent, axe 20 cast members and make 135 employees redundant.

The Government’s Culture, Media and Sport committee has launched an inquiry into the future of domestic high-end TV production – but this mainly focuses on 9pm dramas and Netflix shows.

The industry has called for tax breaks to encourage homegrown production.

MYVIEW by Carl Greenwood, Soaps Editor

CORONATION Street bosses have got some tough decisions to make if they want to stem the tide amid ITV’s cash crisis.

The situation isn’t of their making but I don’t envy boss Kate Brooks and the challenge she faces – but if anyone can do it, it’s her.

The strength in Corrie has always been its writing and its characters – and it’s there where the soap can continue to lead the way – as long as it keeps hold of the right ones.

You’ve got powerhouse performers like Sally Carman and Georgia Taylor, and comedic geniuses like Sally Ann Matthews and Sue Devaney – give them the material to work with.

To survive this storm, Corrie needs the best characters to stay – and that includes Sue Devaney. It would be a catastrophic mistake to lose Debbie Webster from the cobbles. 

She is classic Corrie and even if her dementia story is heartbreaking and moving and brilliant – the end result is that Debbie is gone forever. That’s not something the soap can afford.

It also has to be said that Craig Tinker should probably have gone several years ago and he’s not alone.

Now is the time to really focus on what Corrie is and should be – and reshape it in the hopes that ITV solves its cash crisis.

But actually this is a bigger issue than just Corrie and ITV – and the Government need to step in. 

There are proposals for tax cuts for so-called high-end British TV production – but they also need to lend the soaps a helping hand. 

A future without soaps is not something that will benefit any of us – even if you don’t watch them.

The survival of soaps is not just important for fans but to the wider TV business.

Soapland often gives new writers, producers and actors their first breaks.

Stars such as Sarah Lancashire, Michelle Keegan, Katherine Kelly and Surrane Jones all started out on Corrie along with writers Russell T. Davies and Sally Wainwright, who wrote Doctor Who and Happy Valley, respectively.

So while there might be a crisis on the cobbles now – if something isn’t done to fix it rapidly – it could spread and take great chunks of British television with it.

Catherine Cawood, a police officer from Happy Valley, stands in front of a police van.
BBC
Sarah Lancashire began her career on Coronation Street – and it made her a beloved star[/caption]
Undated Handout Photo from Fool Me Once. Pictured: Richard Armitage as Joe, Michelle Keegan as Maya. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Keegan Lumley. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Keegan Lumley. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Vishal Sharma/Netflix ¿ 2023. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV Quickfire Keegan Lumley.
Michelle Keegan has become the Queen of Netflix but she began her career on Corrie
Vishal Sharma / Netflix

Read More »

I’m convinced my girlfriend sleeps with her ex whenever she visits her dad

Woman using smartphone in bed while partner sleeps.
Young Asian woman using smartphone at midnight

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M convinced my girlfriend sleeps with her ex whenever she goes to stay with her dad.

She denies it, saying she no longer loves him, but I know her dad wants them to get back together.

I’m 30 and she’s 27. We’ve been together for two years.

Before we met, she had a long relationship with a guy she met at school. 

Her father liked him so much that he became part of the family. He offered him a job in his family’s shop, and even let him live with his daughter at his house.

When my girlfriend split up with him, her dad said her ex didn’t have to leave, but could become his lodger.

This means that whenever my girlfriend goes to visit her dad, her ex is still hanging around. 

I know he wants her back because after we got together he besieged her with messages. 

She assured me she wasn’t interested, but I found it hard to believe her. They had so much history.

What’s more, her dad isn’t very nice to me. He thinks the ex is wonderful, and that I don’t measure up.

A couple of weekends ago, my girlfriend went to see her dad. 

Ever since she came back, she’s been on her phone a lot, messaging someone, even in the early hours.

I asked her who she was talking to and she said she was helping a friend in distress.

But I am so suspicious that she’s actually talking to her ex, and that they got closer when she went to stay.

I’m finding it so hard to trust her. What should I do?

MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE

DEAR DEIDRE

My husband has a fancy woman but is bribing me to stay to save his image

DEIDRE'S STORIES

Rachel's boyfriend tries to make it up to her

DEIDRE SAYS: This is an unusual situation, and it’s not surprising you’re feeling insecure.

But you need to remind yourself that despite her dad’s fondness for her ex, your girlfriend has chosen to be with you, not him.

It must be tricky for her to have to have him hanging around like a bad smell whenever she visits her dad, especially if he wants her back. 

The only way to get over this is to communicate with her about your feelings, let her know you are worried, so she can reassure you. 

When you talk, if she gives you no reason to worry, you need to learn to trust her.

My support pack, Looking After Your Relationship, should help you both.

Perhaps you could invite her dad down to stay with you next time, so he can start to appreciate your relationship on your turf.

Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team

Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.

Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.

You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:

deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk

Read More »

I found 28 missing socks in a secret compartment in my washing machine – you need to check yours too

IT’S one of life’s greatest mysteries: the infamous sock saga. 

Every time you do a load of laundry, it feels like a sock has mysteriously vanished into thin air. 

Laundry basket of clothes next to a washing machine and laundry detergent.
Getty
Many people are all too familiar with the frustration of constantly losing socks[/caption]
Woman hanging white socks on a clothesline.
Getty
No matter how careful you are, it always seems like a sock is destined to go missing[/caption]

But one homeowner may have finally solved the case.

Brittany Spurlock was astonished when her husband discovered the unexpected hiding spot for their missing socks. 

Posting on TikTok under the handle @brittanyspurlock627, she shared a video of the surprising find, revealing a collection of socks that “almost all have a pair.” 

She captioned it: “When my husband called me in to show me this, I couldn’t believe it. 

“We have a pile of missing socks that almost all have a pair.”

In the video, her husband is seen carefully using the end of a knife to slide through a slight gap at the top backside of the washing machine. 

He taps it in, causing the back of the washing machine to clip off. 

Once he has done this, he pulls the back down to get a clear view inside the machine – and there, he found 28 missing socks.

The couple add: “If your socks have gone missing and you’ve been wondering where they’ve been. Check your washer.” 

The area in which the socks were found is called the agitator, and it is a known place that people tend to lose their socks, according to Lake Appliance Repair. 

The agitator is the spinning part of the washing machine that helps clean your clothes.

If a sock gets stuck in it, it can be hard to spot and might go missing.

Socks can also often go missing between the inner and outer tubs of the washing machine, especially when the washer is overloaded.

Brittany’s video was a gamechanger for many people on TikTok as it got over 362,000 likes. 

28 missing socks found in a washing machine's secret compartment.
tiktok.com/@brittanyspurlock627
He separated the back side of the washing machine to open it up[/caption]

More winter laundry tips

Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:

  • Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
  • Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
  • Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
  • Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
  • Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
  • Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
  • Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.

These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.

Many also rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts. 

One wrote: “That’s crazy! Now we know.”

To which Brittany replied: “Yes girl! Years of socks under there.”

Another joked: “Noooooooo are you serious?! I was convinced it was that old man from Halloween town?!”

Whilst a third said: “No way so my socks don’t actually just disappear.”

Twenty-eight missing socks found in a washing machine.
tiktok.com/@brittanyspurlock627
The couple found 28 hidden socks inside the washing machine[/caption]

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Кілька ознак того, що ви шукаєте нові відносини саме через безвихідь

  Часто ми вступаємо у відносини, щоб приховати невпевненість у собі або заповнити внутрішню порожнечу. Порожнеча при цьому залишається, а ми у відносинах перетворюємося на залежного партнера. У чому різниця між «потребувати» і «кохати»? Потреба у чоловікові виникає, коли ми перебуваємо у стані відчаю Бажання або кохання до чоловіка виникає із стану наповненості і сили. […]

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Фабінг – моветон 21 століття. Що ви відчуваєте, коли ваш співрозмовник дивиться весь час в смартфон

0 У всьому винен фабінг — звичка відволікатися на безцільний скролінг стрічки під час будь-яких, навіть найінтимніших справ. Начебто “розумні” телефони мали з’єднувати людей, полегшувати їхню комунікацію. Ми повинні були навчитися домовлятися про зустрічі та важливі справи, використовуючи чати та швидкі повідомлення. Але вийшло те, що вийшло: тепер ми під час реальних зустрічей домовляємось «списатись […]

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My hairy back makes me so self-conscious that I now avoid meeting women

A shirtless man styles his hair.
Overweight adult man arranging his hair – Buenos Aires – Argentina

DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING a hairy back and shoulders is making me feel so self-conscious that I now avoid meeting women. 

I feel more  like a gorilla than a man. Is there any medication I could take to get rid of it?

I’m a 35-year-old man and started growing back hair in my late 20s. 

As I have fair skin and black hair, it’s really noticeable.

But it’s impossible to shave off myself. 

Chest hair is one thing, but people always joke about hairy backs, making it clear they’re seen as unattractive. 

And good-looking men invariably have hairless chests and backs. 

After being teased mercilessly by some mates, I no longer want to take my shirt off. I’ve stopped going swimming or to the gym. 

As for dating, I feel too shy to get undressed in front of a woman in case she is repulsed. 

So I’ve given up on that too. 

Can the doctor help me? It’s spoiling my life. 

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DEIDRE'S STORIES

Rachel's boyfriend tries to make it up to her

DEIDRE SAYS: Having a hairy back and shoulders is very common in some ethnicities, and runs in families.

Unless you have extreme hair growth all over your body – a very rare condition called Hypertrichosis – there’s nothing you can do medically. 

Try not to let it get you down. Lots of women actually like hirsute men, and see it as a very masculine trait.

But if you can’t embrace your hair, there are various hair removal treatments available, from waxing to lasers – although they can be costly and painful.

See my support pack, Unwanted Hair for more.  

Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team

Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.

Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.

You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:

deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk

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My partner has fallen out of love with me and moved into the spare room

A man comforts a crying woman by holding her hands and kissing her head.
young man touching hands and kissing head of crying, depressed woman

DEAR DEIDRE: MY long-term partner has moved into the spare bedroom because he’s fallen out of love with me. 

He now only sees me as a friend and wants to split, but I don’t understand what I’ve done to make him give up on our relationship.

I’m 36 and he’s 40. We’ve been together for 12 years.

I thought we were so happy and that we’d grow old together. 

Everybody saw us as the perfect couple. We’ve never even had an argument!

There were no signs anything was wrong. We’ve been having sex, talking, laughing, going out – like normal.

So when he suddenly announced that he wasn’t happy and it was over, even though I’d always be his best friend, I was totally blindsided. 

He cried and said it wasn’t what he wanted either, and it was destroying him, but we had to break up.

Afterwards, he held me, and we made love one last time. But it didn’t change his mind.

Now he’s planning to move out into his own flat. I am so confused and I still love him so much. 

I know I need to let him go, but I don’t know how. I don’t want to be alone. 

I never understood why he loved me, as I’m so fat and ugly. Now it feels like I was right all along, and he was too good for me.

MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE

CARRYING ON

How can I move on after my fiancée cheated with a colleague at their works do?

DEIDRE'S STORIES

Rachel's boyfriend tries to make it up to her

DEIDRE SAYS: The sudden end of a long-relationship is devastating, especially if you didn’t see it coming.

It’s like a death –  you’re grieving for what you’ve lost and the future you anticipated. 

Your partner either doesn’t understand why he’s ended your relationship, or doesn’t want to hurt you more by telling you.

But you need closure. 

Perhaps he would agree to some relationship counselling, where you can talk honestly in a safe space.

See my support pack, How Counselling Can Help.

Also read Mending a Broken Heart and Raising Self-Esteem, as it sounds like your confidence is low.

Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team

Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.

Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.

You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:

deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk

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