4/1/14

The freezer part of the refrigerator is actually the biggest user of energy of all kitchen appliances since it's on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One easy way to help your freezer be as energy-efficient as possible includes keeping it as packed as possible with frozen foods. The residual chill from already-frozen food will keep the interior temperature cold, allowing the freezer to use less energy to stay cold. Common sense tips help, too: Only open the freezer to get exactly what you need -- so no idling in front trying to make up your mind -- and keep it set between zero and 5 degrees for maximum efficiency.

3/31/14

Here's a simple way to save water: Stop prerinsing all of your dishes and cups before you put them in the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers are designed to be as energy- and water-efficient as possible, so they are a much greener option than washing by hand. Dishwashing tablets we use today are also far more effective than detergents of the past. The tablets use formulations that activate when they interact with grease, grime and food debris. If your dishes are too clean, the excess detergent will attack the top-rack glassware, leaving scratches and marks on them. Instead, scrape excess food into the trash and place the plate right into the dishwasher for the cleanest clean.

3/30/14

Buying vintage or antique furniture, like dressers, bedside tables or freestanding wardrobes, is a great way to reuse items and add character to your home. But many drawers inside of these pieces can have a musky smell that may seem impossible to remove. An easy way to neutralize the smell is to line the inside with several layers of newspaper and bags of dry green tea leaves. The newspaper is porous and will absorb odors, and the green tea leaves will absorb additional odor while leaving a pleasant scent behind. Let this sit for at least a week for maximum results.