7/7/12

While childhood memories of feeding bread to ducks and geese may seem wonderful, it’s a practice that needs to be stopped. Bread has few needed nutrients for waterfowl. It causes birds' organs to become fatty, which leads to heart disease, liver problems and other health complications. Many animals never learn how to forage for food because they have become accustomed to being fed by humans, leading to death for less-aggressive birds.

7/6/12

Pillows filled with down feathers can clump up over time. Here's a simple way to revive your bed pillows while refreshing them, too: Place your pillow in the dryer, and tumble dry it on high for several minutes. The high heat will kill dust mites and odors that may be lingering inside, and the tumbling action will redistribute the feathers. After a few minutes, your clumpy pillow will feel, smell and look as good as new.

7/5/12

Don't preheat your oven too soon when you make your next batch of cookies. Ovens can be energy hogs, so it pays to prep first, then heat. If your oven needs a good cleaning, use the self-cleaning function after you've baked something. The oven's already heated up, and it will take less time for the function to run its course.