2/8/14

Not only is pre-shredded cheese from the supermarket expensive, it also comes packaged in hard-to-recycle plastic. One way to go green and save money is to buy blocks of cheese from the cheese counter and shred it yourself. To save time, shred the entire block of cheese at one time and store it in a large freezer bag. To prevent it from sticking together, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the freezer bag and shake. The cornstarch will lightly coat the cheese and prevent sticking and will also help keep it fresher longer. Store it in the freezer and use the cheese as needed.

2/7/14

Energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs can be turned on and off about 7,000 times before burning out. The lifespan makes them the perfect choice for light fixtures that are on for extended periods of time, but for light fixtures that are on for only short periods of time -- like walk-in closets or fixtures with motion detectors -- it's best to avoid CFLs. The constant turning on and off of those fixtures will burn out CFLs very quickly. Instead, invest in LED bulbs for those fixtures to reap the energy savings and long-lasting attributes of the bulbs.

2/6/14

Cigarette butts are some of the most commonly littered items around the world. If you do a litter cleanup in your neighborhood, save used cigarette butts to create a free and easy DIY nicotine insecticide for your plants. Nicotine is toxic to harmful insects like aphids, gnats and leafhoppers, but is relatively harmless to good insects like bees and ladybugs. To make a nicotine insecticide, simply soak 1-cup cigarette butts in 1-gallon warm water with 1/4-teaspoon soap flakes for 30 minutes. Strain and put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray away.