7/17/10

Have you ever thought about cleaning the inside of your dishwasher? Over time, hard water can leave trace minerals inside the dishwasher and in all of the draining mechanisms. Rinse it all away by filling a cup with white vinegar and place it upright inside the dishwasher on the top rack. Then run the whole dishwasher with just the one glass and it'll clean the inside good as new.

7/16/10

Bamboo has become a popular landscaping plant because it can grow fast and very tall to create natural fencing and borders. If you're lucky enough to have bamboo or have a neighbor who is willing to part with some, consider using it in your home as a sturdy (and free) curtain rod. Just measure the length of the rod you need, cut the bamboo to the appropriate length, and thread the curtains onto bamboo.

7/15/10

Be wary when you see a "brand-new mattress; never used" ad in the classifieds like Craigslist. Old mattresses are sometimes picked up from the curbside before trash collectors can get them and are simply recovered in new fabric and wrapped in plastic to appear new to unassuming buyers. These old beds made to look new can sometimes be filled with bed bugs, dust mites, mold and mildew. Always buy from a reputable dealer.