4/10/12

If your home needs to be illuminated with lamps at night, try this simple tip to get the maximum light from the least number of lamps possible: Place floor, table and hanging light fixtures in the corner of the room instead of in the middle of the room. Corners allow the light to reflect off two walls instead of one, which gives you more usable light. It's a designer trick that really works!

4/9/12

Refrigerators can become dangerous breeding grounds for bacteria that can make your food unsafe to eat. Twice a year, make it a priority to clean the inside of your fridge and freezer, and purge any food past its expiration date -- just remember to recycle the containers. Wash the interior of the fridge with warm water and baking soda, which can loosen stuck-on spills. If it's possible, pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum behind it, since dust buildup forces fridges to work harder.

04/08/12

Donating food to your local food bank or soup kitchen is a great way to get rid of unexpired food and help others. But keep in mind that just because it's food, it doesn't make it OK to donate just anything. Generally, unlabeled or rusty cans should be tossed in the trash. Homemade food items, beverage mixes and soda should be avoided, too. Food banks' most-wanted items include healthy foods like canned and boxed meals, pasta, rice, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, cooking oil and 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices.