10/1/13

If your home runs on central heating and cooling, be sure to replace your air filters about every three months since a dirty filter can make the system work harder, which wastes energy. Did you know the air filter needs to be installed in the right direction in order to work effectively? One side is more porous than the other, so if the filter is installed backwards, your furnace or air conditioner will have to use more energy to pull air through the incorrect side. The result is an increase in energy waste and filters that do not properly capture dust particles and other debris. To prevent this, install the filter correctly.

9/30/13

Thrift stores can be a green way to reuse something old and save money. But according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there are commonly found items at these stores that should be avoided at all costs. These items include children’s clothing with drawstrings, which can cause a choking hazard; outdated hair dryers that do not have adequate protection from electrocution; halogen lamps that can become a fire hazard in the home; and cribs that fail to meet current standards for safety. Use common sense when shopping for thrift store bargains, and check cpsc.gov for updated lists of recalled items.

9/29/13

Instead of reaching for chemical chlorine bleach to kill mold spores in your home, reach for something just as effective but less toxic: hydrogen peroxide. Insert a clean spray nozzle into a bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and saturate the moldy surface completely. Allow the hydrogen peroxide sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub the surface clean with a microfiber towel. The natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide are an effective way to kill mold and can work on a variety of surfaces. Added tip: Sprinkle a little baking soda on stubborn mold as an abrasive, and then saturate with the hydrogen peroxide spray.