5/5/13

Reselling unwanted items on eBay is a simple and easy way to find a home for things you no longer need. But it can also be hard to determine ahead of time if what you’re listing is going to sell. One way to lessen the risk is to look at eBay's “What’s Hot” list of items for sale. The online auction site lists what items are “Super Hot,” “Very Hot” and “Hot” in terms of averages in what sells. The "Hotter" the items you list, the better your chances of making some money.

5/4/13

If you’re replacing your nonstick Teflon cookware for safer alternatives -- Teflon chemicals like PFOA and PTFE have been found in the blood of newborns and polar bears -- think about repurposing the pricey plants first. If you have Teflon-coated pans, it might be worth the investment to have them sandblasted. Local furniture businesses can use gentle walnut shell abrasives to sandblast the Teflon right off, leaving you with professional-grade stainless steel cookware. It costs about $100 to do a whole set, and it’s fairly fast and clean.

5/3/13

Heavy curtains do a great job to block out light and insulate windows during the chilly winter and hot summer. But over time, drapes needs to be cleaned and sterilized to help maintain a healthy indoor air environment. One easy way to keep mold, mildew, dirt, germs and dust mites at bay is to use a hand-held steamer to clean your drapes. Using just tap water, hot steam can deodorize and sanitize your drapes without having to be removed. Just plug in the steamer and clean away.