8/5/09

If you use the garbage disposal, use cold water. It's energy efficient and will help speed up the process. Cold water will help solidify grease and oils, making the disposal work more efficiently. And remember, to keep the disposal clean and fresh, run ice and lemons through it. The ice will help sharpen the blades and the lemons disinfect odors.

8/4/09

Reduce, reuse, recycle and ... repair? This is the fourth "r" that many of us have long forgotten. When a TV, vacuum, or kitchen appliance breaks, the normal reaction is to throw it away and buy a new one. But sometimes a simple repair will fix your broken appliance and make it almost as good as new. When something is damaged, look in the phone book for local businesses that can mend it. Many chain stores also have repair centers to help you with everything from computers to lamps. These fixes will also save you money: On average, repairing a broken item costs significantly less than buying a brand-new one.

8/3/09

Take a few seconds to clear out the clutter in your medicine cabinet. If you haven't used a beauty product in months, either A) try to start using it up, or B) wash it out and recycle the packaging. All outdated prescription medicine should never be flushed down the toilet; it can contaminate the water supply. Instead, mix it with used coffee grinds and place everything -- the medicine and packaging -- in a plastic bag and toss into the trash. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.