03/11/12

One way to significantly cut down on energy use when running a dishwasher is to skip the drying cycle. Take advantage of the time-saving benefits of using the wash cycle, then open the door when the dishwasher is done washing and let the hot water evaporate off the clean dishes. This is a great way protect your pots and pans; air drying helps keep nonstick coating from wearing off, which often happens during the dry cycle.

03/10/12

As for that unused treadmill, set of weights or soccer equipment you've never used ... If you have athletic and fitness equipment collecting dust in the garage, turn it into cash at secondhand sports stores, like Play It Again Sports. Bring your gear to the store, where a sales associate will review the items based on condition, brand and the store's current stock levels. The associate will determine the value of your items and either pay you on the spot or apply the value toward a trade. You can walk out of the store with new gear, money in your pocket or both!

03/09/12

Because this winter has been such a dry and warm one, many bags of deicer and salt have gone unused. To save your products for next season, add a few charcoal briquettes to the mixture to keep it fresh for next winter. The charcoal will absorb excess moisture, preventing the salt or deicer mix from clumping and becoming useless.