9/19/13

When moving potted plants into the house from outdoors, there’s no need to use chemical insecticides to prevent insects and other creepy crawlers from getting a free ride. Use this trick instead: Fill a large bucket with water and submerge the potted plant for about 15 minutes. This will give the plant a good drink and force whatever insects may be living in the leaves or pot to rise up. Allow the plant to dry out, and you can bring it indoors safely. Just don’t submerge arid-loving plants like cactuses and succulents; you’ll have to carefully inspect those leaves and remove insects by hand.

9/18/13

One way to motivate kids to help save electricity around the house is to ask them to conserve with the items they are most familiar with, like video game consoles. Gaming devices -- including PlayStations, Xboxes and Wiis -- still use electricity when they're plugged in, even if they're turned off. If the kids make it a habit to unplug the gaming device when they're finished, they’ll save enough money each year to buy a free game. Even better: Plug the TV, gaming device and lamp into a power strip; cut off the power completely by turning off the power strip, and you’ll save even more electricity and money.

9/17/13

One of the areas of the house where it makes the most sense to avoid chemical cleaners is inside the refrigerator, since an airtight fridge can create a chemical cocktail that can spoil your food. To keep your fridge smelling fresh, try this tip: Use an old sponge to absorb odors. When your sponge is ready to be replaced, dampen it, then microwave it for 90 seconds. When it's cool, generously sprinkle baking soda on top of it and place in the back of the fridge. The sponge will absorb odors and help keep the fridge smelling fresh.