3/22/14

Ever wonder if your wooden cooking spoons are safe to use after a long period of time? Could they be harboring foodborne germs and bacteria in small scratches on the surface? The good news: Wood is naturally anti-microbial. In nature, trees fight infection, so the properties of wood will also inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. But to keep them healthy and working for you, always hand wash wooden spoons with hot water and dish soap. While they are dishwasher-safe, many modern dishwashers will actually over dry them and cause the wood to split and fall apart.

3/21/14

Most hotels have made it easy to go green today by giving you the option to not have your bedding and towels changed every day. The choice of reusing your linens more than once is not only good for the environment, it can actually be rewarding to you. When staying at Starwood properties, like Westin Hotels, guests who choose to decline housekeeping when staying there will be rewarded 500 Starwood preferred points or a $5 voucher, applicable toward food or beverages. So skip a night of housekeeping, help the planet and get rewarded. What's not to like?

3/20/14

When hot air seeps out of the house when you're trying to heat it, you're wasting energy and losing money at the same time. What many people don't realize is that your fireplace can actually be to blame. A leaky chimney can suck up to 8 percent of the warm air out of your home. If you can't replace the damper inside the fireplace, do this next best thing: Cut a piece of thick cardboard to fit snugly inside. It will block drafts and cost you nothing to do. Just remember to remove the cardboard when you do plan to use the fireplace.