7/19/13

Summer months often mean homeowners use pressure washers to clean the sides of their home, decks and windows. When using a pressure washer, be mindful of the type of detergent you use. A chemical-based one with phosphates can hurt outdoor plants and leach into waterways. Instead, try this eco-friendly DIY recipe: Mix 1/3-cup phosphate-free laundry detergent, 1 gallon of water and 1 quart of white vinegar. It'll clean the gunk and keep the environment happy.

7/18/13

Children today have mastered smartphones and tablets with so much ease they've become a regular part of their lives. Why not marry education and entertainment by downloading the free wildlife app from the World Wildlife Fund? The interactive app brings endangered animals like elephants, whales, rhinos, butterflies and polar bears to life. Kids can chop bamboo for a panda or go on a "tiger vision" march. And there are even downloadable patterns to make wildlife origami from (recycled) paper at home.

7/17/13

If you have a stash of unused or about-to-go-bad beauty products at home, here are some easy tips to save them before they end up in the trash. Foundation that is too dark for your skin tone can be remade into a bronzer for your legs -- just mix it with moisturizer and apply to give your legs a sun-kissed glow. Old perfumes can become room diffusers -- just leave the caps off, and they'll gently evaporate as air deodorizers. And nail polish that's dried up in the cap? Add a few drops of nail polish remover and shake -- it'll loosen the paint and make it as good as new.