4/11/12

When installing a programmable thermostat in your home, you want to avoid a few places. Don't install it anywhere temperatures can fluctuate dramatically. Avoid the kitchen, where the stove heats up the room quickly; anywhere near a fireplace; and anywhere bathrooms steam can read as hot air. Make sure the thermostat isn't located anywhere sunlight streams through windows during the day -- if the light hits the thermostat, the hot rays can force the air conditioning system to go into overdrive.

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.