8/12/09

When you aren't washing delicate clothing, be sure to run the fastest spin cycle on your washing machine. A super-fast drying spin at the end of the wash cycle will pull more water from the clothes. Less water means a shorter drying time. A short drying time means less energy is used. It also means your favorite dirty T-shirt will be clean in no time!

8/11/09

An old housewives' tale worth trying is to use soda pop to clean a clogged drain. The next time you have a party, gather up all the leftover soda and pour it down a slow or clogged drain. Let it sit overnight and then flush it with boiling water. The carbonation in the soda helps clear away debris and the boiling water forces it all down the drain.

8/10/09

If you have a personal digital assistant (PDA), like a BlackBerry or Treo, use it to e-mail yourself tree-free to-do lists instead of printing them out. Work electronically and start aspiring toward the wonderful, clutter-free ideal of a paperless office. And after your device is fully charged, remember to unplug the adapter completely from the wall, because it's still using electricity even if the BlackBerry isn't connected to the adapter.