Heard warnings about the downsides of using fabric softener and dryer sheets? There are so many opinions out there about whether or not you should use fabric softener. You might’ve heard it can stain your clothes, start a fire, cause buildup in your washer & dryer, scare away mice, ruin sportswear, soften hard water, and cause acne — among other things. It’s time to sort out the facts from the myths about fabric softeners and dryer sheets!
Go Green
It's a great big green world we live in -- and if you're trying to make eco-friendly choices when it comes to doing things around the house, we've got some great tips and ideas for you! Here, homeowners are sharing chemical-free and eco-friendly cleaning ideas (that actually work), tips for recycling & using energy-efficient appliances and household items, and money-saving tips that will benefit your family AND environment.
Do’s & Don’ts When Making A Rain Barrel For Rainwater Collection
Tired of paying high water bills? Have you heard of the ways you can use a rain catcher to lower those bills? You probably also didn’t know that 623 gallons of water can be harvested from 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof and as far as rain barrels are concerned, a typical 1/2-inch rainfall will fill a 50- to 55-gallon barrel. I’m sharing everything I know about making rainwater collection an efficient way to lower your bills and help the environment.
DIY Lamp Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Glow Lamp From Old 45 Vinyl Records (A Color-Changing Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Lamp!)
Here’s a really cool way to repurpose old 45 vinyl records into a DIY lamp that changes colors and plays music. Yep, this DIY glow lamp is actually a color-changing bluetooth speaker lamp! See how I did it…
I Tried The KonMari Method Of Living Minimally: Here’s My Experience After Following Marie Kondo’s Advice
After reading the Marie Kondo book and watching her ‘Tidying Up’ series on Netflix, I’ve been following the KonMari method of living minimally. It has taught me to surround myself only with things I love — not things I feel pressure to buy. As a result, I save money and I feel much more at peace in my own home — and in my own mind.
A DIY Universal Knife Block & Kitchen Utensil Holder For Sharp Objects Of All Shapes & Sizes!
To keep sharp objects in the kitchen out of my toddler’s reach, I made a kitchen utensil holder & universal knife block in one – with just a few pieces of wood and some bamboo skewers. This DIY wooden utensil holder cost less than $20 to make, and can be made any size you like!
My Tips For Making DIY Dryer Lint Fire Starters For Your Fireplace Or Campfire
I like to repurpose things whenever I can, and I’m always wanting a fast easy way to start a fire in our fire pit — so I came up with this simple idea for DIY fire starters using dryer lint, tealight candles, and toilet paper tubes. It’s a good way to repurpose dryer lint and cardboard tubes from paper towels & toilet paper. Plus, these dryer lint fire starters work really well! Here’s how I make them…
How To Clean Windows Without Streaks: My Foolproof Method & DIY Window Cleaner
Want the easiest way to get sparkling, streak free windows? I’m constantly removing dog nose prints, cat paw prints, and my son’s hand prints from our glass sliding doors using this method. It’s the fastest way I can clean the windows without streaks or chemicals!
I’ve Found The Best Reusable Shopping Bags! 16 Reasons Lotus Trolley Bags Are My All-Time Favorite Shopping Cart Bags (…And I NEVER Forget To Take These To The Store)
Honestly, I’ve never been diligent about using reusable shopping bags — because most are just too small. And you still have to carry a ton of bags from the shopping cart to your car… then again from your car to your kitchen. But since I’ve had these 4 large Lotus Trolley Bags, I use them all the time! Grocery shopping has never been easier. Here’s why I like the Lotus reusable shopping cart bags so much…
How To Roll Plastic Bags Into Small, Self-Dispensing Bundles + Clever Uses For Plastic Shopping Bags
I like to keep my plastic shopping bags rolled together, organized in self-dispensing bundles. It’s really easy to do. You just have to fold them together in a certain way. I’m going to show you how to roll plastic bags so you can easily pull out one bag at a time. Plus, fun ways to save time & money with your reusable shopping bags!
Are Invasive Species Of Insects Destroying Your Plants? Here Are 4 Ways To Rejuvenate Your Garden By Attracting Beneficial Insects
Are invasive species of insects eating your plants — maybe even starting to take over your garden? Instead of using chemicals to control pesky garden insects, here’s a list of beneficial insects you might want to release into your garden. They will naturally get rid of the pesky insects for you! Or, if you don’t want to release live predatory insects, then see our list of plants that attract beneficial insects naturally.
My Review Of The DIY Superior Bidet Attachment (…I’ve Always Wanted To Have A Bathroom Bidet Toilet!)
I’ve always wanted a bidet toilet… I finally got one. Hubby installed the DIY Superior Bidet attachment, and our rear ends have never been cleaner! To help you decide if a bathroom bidet makes sense for your family, read through my list of pros & cons of an add-on bidet first.
Got Yellow Underarm Stains? The Best Way To Remove Sweat Stains From Shirts AND Prevent Armpit Stains In The First Place
I’ve had a problem with the underarms of my white shirts turning yellow for years. If you want to remove sweat stains naturally, here are 3 things that have worked for me. Also, I’ve found 2 great ways to prevent sweat stains in the first place!
Chemical Free Cleaning: My Experience Using Laundry Balls & Dishwasher Disks With Ceramic Cleaning Beads
I tried 3 chemical-free cleaning products: A Dishwasher Disk and Laundry Balls that each use bio ceramic cleaning beads instead of harsh detergents. Also, scented dryer balls.
How To Clean A Sponge: 4 Most Effective Ways To Kill Germs & Bacteria On Kitchen Sponges (+ My All-Time Favorite Sponges!)
Want to know how to clean a sponge & remove 99.9% of bacteria? Facts about cleaning sponges in the microwave, dishwasher, with vinegar and with bleach.
Shark Steam Mop Review: Your Floors Will Be Clean Enough For Crawling Babies!
My personal experience with the Shark Steam Mop, including pros & cons. I’ve used 11 of them – at home and work. See why I like the Shark Steam Mop so much.
Green Moving Tips: How We Moved To A New House The Eco-Friendly Way
Here are green moving tips to help you save money while being environmentally friendly. Some ideas: find green moving companies, reuse green moving and packing supplies, and don’t move every single item that’s in your house. More here…
DIY Storage Organizers: Simple Ways To Get Organized Without Spending A Dime!
These are some of the best ideas I’ve seen for getting organized without spending a dime! I’ve added my 2-cents to each of these DIY storage organizers, and added a few new related DIY ideas of my own. The result: the best repurposing tips to help you get organized… for FREE!
DIY Tips For Making Your Own Foaming Soap Refills + Prettier Foam Soap Pump Bottles
I used to spend a fortune on those foaming soap dispensers filled with Dawn dishwashing soap! Not any more. Now I refill those pump bottles with my own homemade foaming soap. Here’s how to make foaming soap. Plus, how to make your foaming soap bottles look much more attractive on your kitchen counter!
Tankless Water Heater Cost, Pros & Cons, And Installation Tips
Tankless water heaters cost 3 times more than conventional hot water heaters to buy and install, so you’re probably wondering if they are really worth it or not. Following are the pros & cons and details about the cost and installation of tankless water heaters.
Recycling Trash 101: How To Dispose Of Things That Can’t Go In Curbside Recycling Or Your Regular Garbage
The following items pose a hazard to the environment and human well-being and, therefore, must be recycled in other ways. Usually, this means taking the item to a Household Hazardous Waste collection center in your community. Extra precautions should be taken when disposing of these items.
6 Ways To Have Efficient Hot Water ~ Energy-Efficient Hot Water Heaters
In addition to tankless water heaters, there are a number of other ways you can have more efficient and cheaper hot water in your home. Here are 5 more alternatives that are worth considering.
Stainless Steel Touchless Trash Can With 2 Compartments Makes Recycling Even Easier
We have a stainless steel 13-gallon touchless trash can with motion-sensor that I absolutely love. But I spotted this one the other day, and I think it may be even better… it’s got 2 bins!
Recycling Home Products: Companies That Help You Recycle Their Brands + 6 Recyclable Items You Might Not Think Of
Following are some of the more unusual things that you can indeed recycle that you may not have thought of, plus some tips for where to recycle such items.
All About Portable Space Heaters – Which One Is Best?
Before you buy a portable space heater, there are some things that you should know about electric space heaters, radiant space heaters, convection space heaters, and the differences between vented and unvented space heaters.
How To Do A Home Energy Audit Yourself
An energy audit can save you 5% to 30% on heating bills each year. That’s a savings of up to $1,000 per winter! And you don’t have to hire someone to come in and do an energy audit on your home; you can do it yourself! Here’s how to do your own home energy audit.
