9/10/12

When you're done eating a ripe, organic banana, don't toss the peel -- give a boost to your rosebushes instead. Plants like roses love the beneficial potassium nutrients found in banana peels. Simply dig a small hole by your the bush, insert the peels and cover. In no time, it will decompose into compost for your roses.

9/9/12

The conventional thought was that prerinsing pots, pans and dishes before placing them in the dishwasher made them cleaner. With advancements in dishwasher technology and automatic dishwashing tablets, the detergents and machines actually need dirty dishes. The detergent is designed to attack grime and grease; clean pots and pans mean the detergent will attack the cookware more aggressively, leaving it scratched or cloudy. Just scrape off baked-on food and start the machine.

9/8/12

Want a natural way to keep pesky flies out of the kitchen? Common sense first: Cover all food and keep whatever you can in airtight containers or in the refrigerator. Second: Keep a small pine-tree plant in the kitchen. Of all the natural oils and scents that deter flies, pine oil is the most effective and the strongest. By keeping a living tree in the kitchen, you'll keep flies away and have something beautiful, too. You can find easy-to-care-for varieties at any home improvement store.