Do Just One Thing

Do you buy fresh eggs from your local farmers market? They are usually the freshest, often laid just a day or two before they're sold. (Conventional eggs at the supermarket are often up to eight weeks old before they reach consumers.) But consider this when storing farm-fresh eggs: Mother Earth News suggests not washing them; fresh eggs have a "protective bloom on the surface of their shells that keeps out air and bacteria." Washing eggs removes that bloom and can shorten the shelf life of your eggs.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Buying vintage and antique furniture is a great way to be sustainable and find stylish pieces for your home. But when considering very old furniture that's painted, be wary that it's possible the item was painted with lead paint. There are kits you can buy from the hardware store that immediately tell you if the paint contains lead, which is one way to make sure. The other solution is to brush a clear varnish on top of the piece to seal in the harmful paint.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

To prevent clogs and deodorize sink drains, reach for a box of regular salt. Pour 1/2 cup of salt (coarse salt works best) down the drain, then pour very hot water after it. The salt will act as a corrosive to scrub the drain walls, and the hot water will help flush clogs down the drain while dissolving the salt. This process also naturally deodorizes, so any foul odors will be neutralized, leaving your drain clean and smelling more fresh.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION