10/30/13

If you're battling an insect infestation in your garden, try this nontoxic tip: Save your bathwater. The residual soap in the bath water is both an insect repellant and a natural fungicide for plants. Just be sure to bathe using natural and organic bath products. If you soak your aching muscles using Epsom salts, save that water, too. The magnesium in the salts promotes plant growth. Just allow the water to cool completely before using it on your plants.

10/29/13

Whether it's for trick-or-treating on Halloween or ringing in the New Year, glow sticks are a popular item to generate light safely and cheaply. The light in glow sticks is created when the two chemicals inside are "cracked," or mixed, and a natural light is emitted. Once this happens, the light output can't be stopped, and the glow sticks can't be reused ... unless you do this one thing: Freeze them. The cold temperature stops the chemical reaction. Keep the glow sticks in the freezer until frozen solid; when you want to reuse them, just thaw them and re-snap to create the natural glow.

10/28/13

More than 11.1 million tons of textiles -- mostly clothes -- are thrown away every year and end up in landfills. Nearly 100 percent of clothing is recyclable and can be donated to charity; plus, many garments are repairable. Your local dry cleaner can do more than clean clothes -- many can replace or repair zippers on jackets, sweaters and your favorite pair of jeans. They can shorten shirtsleeves. And some can even re-dye faded sweaters and shirts so they look almost brand new. The best part? Repairs are inexpensive, fast and save you money in the long run.