5/19/09

Try to stop junk mail from being sent to you in the first place. Whenever you order something online, be sure to read the page prompts carefully before hitting "Submit Order." Most online stores will ask you to check a box if you do not want to be solicited with e-mails and mailers for special promotions. Since many of us are so computer savvy now, we often skip through the prompts quickly and neglect to check the box, therefore agreeing to junk mail. Check it in order to stop it.

5/18/09

On a warm, sunny day, hang your laundry outside on a clothesline to dry, instead of using the energy-hogging dryer. Your dryer is the second biggest use of energy in your home, so line-drying can be a huge energy- and money-saving idea. To capture the true scent of summer, mow the lawn right before you hang laundry; the sheets take on the smell of freshly cut grass. P.S. -- Make sure you are allowed to hang clothes outside to dry; some neighborhoods don't allow it.

5/17/09

To unclog a shower drain, try some home remedies before pouring down the caustic drain cleaner. First, use a toilet plunger to force the clog away. If that doesn't do the trick, pour a box of baking soda and white vinegar down the drain; the combination of the two causes a fizzing chemical reaction. Follow that mixture with boiling hot water to flush away the clog and use the plunger -- again -- to blast the clog down the drain.