4/21/12

Polystyrene packing peanuts are a lot of people's pet peeves, but they can come in handy when planting container gardens outdoors. Use packing peanuts to lighten the weight of heavy plant pots by layering them inside the pot and sprinkling soil on top. It will make transporting the pots easier and will help with water drainage to keep the plants healthy and happy. And, as always, any leftover peanuts can be donated to pack-and-ship stores to be reused.

4/20/12

If you use chlorine bleach to keep your whites whiter and disinfectd, be sure to use the exact amount listed on the bottle. While using a little extra bleach here and there may sound like an easy way to make sure your clothes are superclean, using extra bleach actually breaks down your washing machine faster over time. Chlorine bleach speeds up the deterioration of the plastic seal around and inside the washing machine, which, over time, makes the machine ineffective.

4/19/12

On a warm, sunny day, use the sun's rays to disinfect and deodorize your mattress. Completely strip the bed, open the bedroom windows and let the sun's rays pour onto the mattress. The ultraviolet light will help clean the bed. While you're at it, vacuum the top, sides and bottom of the mattress to collect dust, pollen and dander. And wash the mattress cover in hot water to sanitize it as well. That night, you'll have a fresh, clean mattress that will be almost as good as new.