5/25/13

Have a drawer full of mustard, ketchup, lemon juice or mayo packets and not sure what to do with them? Toss a few into the freezer. The next time you need a small cold compress to soothe an insect bite or bee sting, or de-puff the bags under your eyes, place the frozen packets right on top. You can reuse them over and over, too, as a quick homemade first-aid remedy.

5/24/13

Smart planning for your flower beds can lead to significant water and time savings. According to National Geographic, consider "companion planting" by grouping certain plants together to help them grow mutually. By planting taller, sun-loving plants in the front with shorter, shade-loving plants in back, they help each other thrive. The taller plants block the sun's rays and help reduce evaporation of water on the shorter plants. The symbiotic planting will help your flower beds thrive.

5/23/13

Generally, reusing items is one of the greenest things you can do. But when it comes to plastic disposable utensils like forks, knives and spoons, it's best to use them only once. While it's tempting to rinse plastic utensils and reuse them, they really aren't designed to be used more than once. When you wash plastic utensils, microscopic spaces are created that can harbor food particles that will turn into bacterial growth. So, if you must use plastic utensils, don't reuse -- but try to opt for reusable silverware whenever possible.