10/9/13

Did you know that wall-to-wall carpeting can hold up to eight times its weight in trapped dirt, dust mites, chemicals and pesticides? While it may not be green to rip up your carpet and replace it with hardwood floors, you can be mindful of what goes on in rooms with carpeting. First, make a habit to not wear shoes in carpeted rooms. Second, if you get your home treated by an exterminator, ask him or her not to spray directly onto the carpet but on the baseboards. Insecticide chemicals can settle in carpets and remain there for many years, accumulating each time you have your home treated.

10/8/13

After you’ve boiled a pot of pasta or potatoes, ever wonder what you can do with all that leftover starchy water? Instead of pouring it down the drain, let it cool to room temperature and reuse it to water your garden. The residual starch in the water actually spurs the nutrients in the soil, which helps feed the plants, making them stronger. In essence, they are carbo-loading for strength! Just remember this one tip: Don’t add any salt to the water when cooking, since salt is harmful to all plants.

10/7/13

While many people choose not to use chemical chlorine bleach in their home, there are those of us who still use it to disinfect and brighten whites when doing laundry. When used properly, chlorine bleach can be safe. And many of us know that when mixed with acids -- like ammonia -- it can be very toxic since mixing bleach with acid turns it into chlorine gas. But that warning also includes ALL acidic products, including seemingly harmless white vinegar. If you do buy chlorine bleach, designate a sole reusable bag for it, and don’t put anything else with it. Accidentally dropping a grocery bag with both bleach and any acidic product could create an unwanted chemical cocktail in your car.