9/13/13

With summer on its way out, now is a good time to clean your gardening tools so they’ll be pristine and ready to use in the spring. If rust has encrusted trowels, shovels and shears, reach for this common item in your kitchen pantry: black tea bags. Brew a pot of strong black tea -- using about four bags -- and allow to cool. Pour the tea into a bucket, and fill it with cold water. Soak the tools for one to eight hours, depending how rusty they are. As the tools soak, the tannic acid in the tea gently attacks the rust. Remove the tools and scour them with a coarse brush or sponge. Your tools will be as good as new!

9/12/13

We all know that spending too much time outside on a sunny day can be bad for our health. But the ultraviolet radiation from the sun can be a natural and effective way to deodorize and kill smelly bacteria in hard-to-wash household items. On a sunny day, bring items like area rugs, yoga mats and throw pillows outside. Place them on a clean tarp away from animals and cars. Allow the items to absorb the sun’s rays for several hours to fully deodorize them.

9/11/13

When moving to a new home, some of the most expensive items movers charge to wrap up and carefully transport are flat-screen TVs. These pricey electronics can be broken and need to be wrapped with considerable care; some moving companies charge as much as $150 extra just to move one television. Instead of wasting money and packaging, use social media to see if someone you know recently bought a new TV. Use the old packaging -- a sturdy cardboard box and Styrofoam inserts -- to pack up the TV yourself.