4/30/10

Instead of using toxic oven cleaner to scrub the inside of your oven, take the lazier approach: Use the self-cleaning mode at least 4 times a year to avoid buildup inside the oven. The self-cleaning option uses high-intensity heat to incinerate baked-on food and grease, making cleanup a breeze; you just have to wipe it all up with a damp rag.

4/29/10

Upcycle the kids' used crayons into new ones. Grab an old muffin tin and toss unwrapped crayons of all shapes and colors together into each individual compartment. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes until thoroughly melted; swirl and cool in the freezer. They'll pop right out when solidified and can be used just like new crayons.

4/28/10

While many air purifiers do a good job at cleaning the air, it's not what they take out that should be of concern, but what some re-emit back into the air: ozone. Ozone is an air pollutant that the EPA says can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. Some air purifiers are so bad that the EPA has advised consumers against using them. The simplest tip is to avoid using these so-called "air purifiers" altogether and use common sense instead. On a breezy day, open the front and back windows of the house to cross-ventilate the air; the "wind" tunnel effect will flush the toxins out.