4/29/12

Your freezer is a free and highly effective way to deodorize and clean everyday things around the house. Musky books, a well-worn baseball cap and jeans you don't want to shrink can all be tossed into the freezer to be "cleaned." Freezing these items overnight helps kill smelly mildew and other bacteria. Even hard-to-wash throw pillows can be placed in the freezer to kill dust mites that might be lurking inside.

4/22/12

Flimsy plastic clothes hangers from the store can be upcycled into useful snack food closures in one easy step. The next time you go shopping and you come home with pants hangers -- usually with two clips holding your pants snugly in place -- pop off the clips, and use them to keep pantry staples fresh. Roll down a bag of cereal or chips, and clip it closed. Of course it's best to leave hangers at the store to be reused, but for the strays that make it home, this is great way to upcycle them.

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.