8/26/10

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies that can make sleeping at night difficult. One often-overlooked area that can be a breeding ground for dust mites is our drapes. Every few months, remove your drapes and run them through the dryer (without washing) on high heat for a few minutes to remove all the dust, dander, pollen and dust mites. If that isn't possible, be sure to use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to give them a good cleaning.

8/25/10

Don't confuse the words "organic" and "healthy" with each other. Just because a box of chocolate-dipped cookies filled with white frosting are certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it doesn't mean they are good for you. What does make them better is the fact the ingredients have been grown without harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers. So while your waistline may not go down by eating organic cookies, at least your eco-guilt can lighten up.

8/24/10

If you use a window box air conditioning unit to cool your home in the summer months, choose windows that are shaded from the sun. An air conditioner that draws in cooler air from shade can have a significant improvement on the efficiency of the unit. And because air conditioners can be huge energy hogs in the hot summer months, this can lead to some major savings.