MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Stores Sell Halloween Candy So Early
The first sign of fall isn’t always colorful leaves or a nip in the air. No, the first sign of fall nowadays is seeing fun-sized candies in black-and-orange wrappers going on sale in stores, up to a month before their holiday’s actual start date. Why do stores start selling Halloween candy so far ahead of Halloween?
You might assume that seeing Halloween treats around Labor Day would turn customers off, but retailers & candy makers insist that isn’t the case. Through clever manipulation, businesses have been able to stretch the candy-buying season (and their profits) as a result. The start of autumn isn’t decided by the calendar or the public, at least not economically. Retailers actually control when shoppers start to get in the Halloween spirit. Because when we shoppers see candy corn & mini chocolate bars at our local stores, that primes us to prepare for the upcoming holiday…even if it’s 90° outside & we’re still shopping for pool party supplies. You might get annoyed momentarily by the premature holiday display, but through the power of suggestion, we’re all more open to picking up some treats on that visit or our next.
So why do companies want people to adopt a fall mindset in mid-August? Not at all surprisingly, the answer is…money. The Halloween season is a lucrative time for candy manufacturers & the stores that sell that candy. They already know we’ll buy a bag or two for trick-or-treaters ahead of October 31st. The trick is getting us to make multiple candy purchases ahead of Halloween. So, by stocking seasonal candy before the actual start of autumn, businesses get people craving (and then buying) Halloween treats earlier in the year than we otherwise would. And that enables companies to artificially tack an extra month onto their most profitable season.
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics
Wake Up Crew highlights: September, 16, 2022
House of the Week 9/16/22
Picture perfect and move in ready, this beauty is going to make some new homeowner very happy! Situated on 1 acre, this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial is spacious and flooded in natural light. Main level includes a 2 story entry flanked by a formal living room and home office. The formal dining room sits just off the open concept kitchen, breakfast room and family room. The kitchen boasts a center island, pantry and ample counter and cabinet space while the family room features wall to wall carpeting and a gas fireplace. The upper floor hosts the primary suite complete with a vaulted ceiling, walk-in closet and attached bath with dual sinks, a walk-in shower and a soaking tub. Rounding out the top floor are 3 additional bedrooms, all with brand new ceiling fans, and a full hall bath. Plenty of storage and possibilities await in the unfinished basement which offers walk-up access to the rear yard. Additional highlights include the attached garage with a brand new garage door, a new 50 year roof with a transferable warranty, a new sump pump and water system/well pump.
Wake Up Crew highlights: September 15, 2022
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: How Does Febreze Work?
Funky smells are everywhere around us, from rough body odor to whatever your pet might’ve gotten into & tracked into your house. And rather than wait for the smell to fade on its own, some people reach for products like Febreze to neutralize the odors. But does that actually get rid of the smell, or just hide it?
Well, according to Mental Floss, actually it’s a bit of both. Febreze chemically attacks smells. When odor molecules are emitted in the air, that stimulates receptors in your nose. When you use Febreze, the spray utilizes compounds called cyclodextrins to trap the odor molecules. So, while it doesn’t disappear, the odor gets contained (like the ghosts in Ghostbusters). Febreze does have other properties, too, like sodium citrate which affects the odor molecules’ pH level & its proprietary duo PSB polymers that help the Febreze get deep into fabrics.
But if Febreze can neutralize an odor, how can it give off a pleasant aroma of its own? Shouldn’t it neutralize itself, too, in the process? Well, not necessarily. Both the cyclodextrins and the odor molecules are hydrophobic, which means they repel water. The perfume content of an odor neutralizer is hydrophilic, meaning it’s attracted to water. The two don’t mix, so Febreze is able to both neutralize existing odors while emitting a pleasant scent of its own without interfering with itself.
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].
Achilles the Jay Day and The Day Home Team PET OF THE WEEK
MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Your Steering Wheel Feels Sticky
Leaving work, you might not have paid too much attention to your usual routine: you sit down in your car, turn on the radio to WFRE, adjust the AC, drop your wallet into that aggravating space between the seat & the center console, curse, dig out your wallet, then prepare to drive off. One thing you might not have specifically focused on, however (though you’ve at least subconsciously noticed along the way), is that the steering wheel feels kind of sticky. Why is that? Why does nearly everyone’s steering wheel seem sticky (even if you don’t remember sneezing or spilling anything on it)?
There’s actually lots of reasons why your steering wheel feels tacky, kinda like flypaper. Steering wheels are frequently upholstered in faux leather or vinyl, which are both materials that can collect a lot of surface residue like sweat or oil from your hands, or lotion, or food grease. So, while you might not think your hands are dirty when you notice the tackiness, it could be an accumulation from past trips when your hands weren’t as pristine.
Genuine leather is breathable, though, so it might not retain as much surface oil as synthetics. But that doesn’t mean it’s exempt from the sticky feeling. And when UV rays hit the leather, it can bring the oils in the leather (or even the adhesives use to bond the leather to the wheel) to the surface, giving it a slippery feel. It might even begin to crack, which, while it might improve your overall grip, doesn’t look too hot.
So, how can you avoid the sticky wheel syndrome (or at least minimize it)? Well, one easy solution is just to clean the wheel with a wet washcloth or, preferably, a cleaning cloth made for your wheel’s specific material. If it’s leather, you’re going to want to also apply a conditioner suitable for your specific wheel material. Or you could go retro & get yourself a pair of driving gloves, which not only improve your grip on the wheel but also prevent the transfer of oils & other contaminants from your hands.
No matter how it may feel, though…sticky or otherwise…always aim to keep both hands at 10-and-2 on your steering wheel, keep both eyes on the road, and keep both ears right here on WFRE.
And if you’ve got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved, send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].