12/3/11

With many of us cooking meals at home during the holidays, it's a good time to get the oven as clean as a whistle. Instead of using toxic oven cleaner that can leave a chemical residue behind, just mix a thick paste of baking soda and water. Cover the inside of the oven with the paste and wait three hours. Wipe the paste off with a damp rag and all the baked-on mess will come right off.

12/2/11

Here's an easy way to upcycle old business cards into a gift tag this holiday season. Take two identical-size cards that have one printed side and one blank side. Glue the two printed sides together, leaving the front and back sides blank. Fold the cards in half, use a hole punch to punch a hole and thread it with string or ribbon. Write whatever message you want inside the card and attach it to your gift. How easy was that?

12/1/11

A kitchen sink can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and germs. Instead of reaching for chlorine bleach to disinfect it, use common household ingredients like white vinegar and lemon juice to sanitize your sink. Rub the sink with a cut lemon and spray white vinegar all over the sink, faucet and handles; wait 30 minutes. The high acidity level of both ingredients will kill most household germs and bacteria. Wipe everything clean with a damp towel.