5/20/12

Most dry cleaners will gladly accept wire hangers for recycling. You can also recycle them yourself: Wrap fuzzy pipe cleaners around the hanger. The pipe cleaners reinforce the hanger and make it soft, fuzzy and slip-proof. Bonus tip: To cut down on plastic garment bags, ask that all your dry cleaning be wrapped in one bag and not separate ones.

5/19/12

Every year, millions of birds die when they fly directly into panes of glass. To help our feathered friends, consider leaving your windows a bit dirty or marred so they can recognize the glass when they're flying. Also, consider putting up a reflector -- like a paper cutout or a hanging ornament -- in front of the window as another deterrent to help them avoid a collision.

5/18/12

Take a minute to pull your refrigerator away from the kitchen wall a few inches. By allowing extra air in the back, the condenser coils will work more efficiently, thanks to the increased air circulation. When you have time, pull the fridge out completely and vacuum the back to remove dust and debris. Doing this twice a year will improve the efficiency of your fridge.