5/11/11

A sofa is a major purchase for the living room that can become so integral to TV watching and get-togethers, it almost feels like a member of the family over time. Instead of replacing a sofa when it gets stains or tears in the upholstery, think about getting a fitted slipcover. Slipcovers have come a long way from their days of being bulky and unsightly, and many now look so perfectly tailored that it's hard to tell if your sofa even has a slipcover on it! This will help extend the life of your sofa and save you the money and the hassle of replacing it.

5/10/11

If you're lucky enough to live near a body of water -- a stream, lake or river -- take advantage of it the next time you're entertaining. By placing bottles of wine, beer and soda in a sturdy wire basket and submerging it into the icy water, you're eliminating the need for extra refrigeration for your drinks. Guests can help themselves and take a stroll down to the water. Just remind folks not to leave empty bottles in the basket and to always bring bottle caps up to the house for proper disposal.

5/9/11

While the most energy-efficient way to dry your hair is to air-dry it, sometimes that's not convenient in the morning. Do the next greenest thing: use a lower heat setting on your hair dryer. By switching to a cooler setting, you're not only protecting your hair from damage, you're also cutting down on your dryer's overall energy use.