4/30/13

When a major appliance goes bust, many people go to the store and buy a new one immediately. But with new high-tech appliances costing thousands of dollars, a simple $75 to $100 fix can bring your refrigerator, dishwasher or washer/dryer back to perfect working order and save you money. The life cycle of major appliances like fridges, freezers, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers is between 10 and 15 years. A window box air conditioner lasts about seven years. If your appliance falls within those spans, consider a repair before replacement.

4/29/13

Packing peanuts can be reused for shipping purposes or dropped off at shipping stores to be recycled. But did you know that they can also help deodorize a refrigerator or musty drawer? If you want to get rid of a smell, fill a drawer or the compartments inside a refrigerator with packing peanuts. Let it sit for 24 hours to absorb odors. Remove the peanuts, and recycle them as you normally would. It really works!

4/28/13

If your kids have outgrown crayons or you have a stash of broken ones you're unsure what to do with, you can donate them to the Crazy Crayons Recycling Program. Since the program started in 1993, more than 88,000 pounds of unwanted crayons have been recycled into new crayons, all made by people with developmental disabilities. To donate, all you have to do is send in your crayons. Learn more at crazycrayons.com.