1/30/11

During cold and flu season we all make efforts to avoid germs, whether it's using a paper towel to open a door or covering your mouth when you cough. Here's one common way to get sick without realizing it: eating a banana. If you peel a banana and eat the fruit inside, you risk cross-contaminating yourself with germs. The outside of the banana has been touched countless time by lots of people: farmers, packers, store employees and countless shoppers who've pawed their way through it. Best to peel the banana and eat it with utensils to stay healthy.

1/29/11

Dry cleaning can be wasteful because many cleaners still use harsh chemicals, clothes get wrapped in plastic and hung with disposable hangers, and it can cost a lot of money to keep your clothes maintained this way. Take a moment to look at the labels of your clothes and separate those that read "Dry Clean Only" from those labeled simply "Dry Clean." The ones marked "Dry Clean Only" should be cared for by a professional, while those marked "Dry Clean" can be washed at home in a delicate cycle and hung to dry.

1/28/11

The Natural Resources Defense Council says a typical refrigerator uses around 10 to 15 percent of a household's energy bill each month. Since you can't plug and unplug a refrigerator, the next best thing is to increase the temperature of the fridge to between 38 and 42 degrees, which is enough to preserve food and help you save energy at the same time.