6/18/13

Recycling bins for compact fluorescent light bulbs are commonplace in stores such as Home Depot, Lowe's and Ikea. They're a free and safe way to dispose of these energy-efficient bulbs. But ever wonder how to safely dispose of or recycle a broken lamp? The website lamprecycle.org has a listing of recyclers in your area that can take old lighting and safely create scrap material from it. While it's not as convenient as recycling bins at big-box stores, it's a start to get old lighting recycled instead of trashed.

6/17/13

Many of us don't think twice about wearing sunscreen when we spend a day at the beach, but what about in your office? If you spend a lot of time by a sunny window, you're exposing yourself to harmful ultraviolet rays all day long. Not only is this harmful to your skin, it can also fade interior furnishings. Instead of slathering on zinc oxide or covering up the window, consider investing in a UV protection film that is placed right on top of the window. It will block 99 percent of the UV rays and is virtually invisible.

6/16/13

It's summer, which means going to the pool to cool down. After taking a dip in the pool, be sure to rinse off with fresh water to remove as much residual water from your bathing suit as you can. When you get home, wash any clothing you brought to the pool, including T-shirts, cover-ups and swimsuits. Even in low levels found in pools, chlorine can still oxidize to fabrics, causing it to fade, stiffen and wear out quickly.