1/16/14

Pet owners will inevitably face the problem of a flea infestation in their home from their beloved pets. Instead of reaching for chemical sprays or calling a pricey exterminator, try this household item instead: salt. Salt is a dehydrator and will dry out the bodies of fleas, effectively killing them without the use of chemicals. To de-flea your carpets, sprinkle a finely ground salt all over them. Use a light coating, but be even so it covers the whole carpet. Let the salt sit there for 24 to 48 hours (the longer, the better), and then use a vacuum to clean it all up. The fleas should be sucked up with the salt.

1/15/14

A wood-burning stove can be an efficient and affordable way to heat up a home, especially during cold winter days and nights. But just because something can be burned does not mean it is suitable to use in a wood-burning stove. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should never use household trash or recyclables like cardboard, magazines or waxy wrappers in the fireplace or stove. When burned, the inks, glues and other substances can release toxins and even damage your stove. The same goes for driftwood, plywood, particleboard or any pressure-treated wood, since they all could release toxins when burned. The rule of thumb is simple: Properly seasoned, split and dry firewood is the cleanest and most efficient wood to burn.

1/14/14

Even with the best care, an old cast iron skillet may need to be replaced eventually. Whatever you do with it, don’t throw it away. Cast iron pots and pans are 100 percent recyclable and can be given to scrap metal dealers to made into new metal products. Iron is one of the most predominant materials in steel, and old cast iron is coveted to be recycled. Almost 50 percent of steel foundries use recycled scrap metal in their furnaces to make steel, so cast iron can be recycled forever.