Grease and grime help detergent clean your dishes
Did you know modern-day dishwashers and detergents depend on grease and grime on your dishes to work as efficiently as possible? It’s your dirty dishes that help activate the compounds that get everything clean. So if you’re pre-rinsing all of your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, stop. First, it’s not necessary anymore; you can scrape the remaining scraps into the trash or compost before you load up your dishwasher. And second, it’s a waste of water, to the tune of approximately 55,000 gallons over the life of the appliance.
KITCHEN HEAT
During the hot summer months, there are a number of things you can do to help keep the inside of your home cool without turning down the thermostat. Instead of turning on the oven, consider a tabletop toaster oven or use the grill outside. Run the dishwasher at night; it’s less strain on the energy grid and it reduces daytime heat buildup in the kitchen. And keep the exhaust fan running for a few extra minutes after cooking. It’ll keep removing airborne particles and will also help blow excess heat out of the house.
LEMON SQUEEZY
Hard water or lime scale stains on your bathroom fixtures can make them unsightly and even hinder their ability to perform properly. One chemical-free solution is to grab a cut lemon and squeeze the juice all over the fixture. Then use the cut side of the lemon as a scrubber to work the citric acid all over things like faucet handles, the showerhead and anywhere else you see lime scale buildup. Let the natural acid do its magic overnight, and then rinse away in the morning to see gleaming fixtures!
RANCID OLIVE OIL
It happens: Your good bottle of olive oil can go rancid. But while that oil may not be good for sauteing or salad dressings, that doesn’t mean you should toss it away. Olive oil has a whole variety of useful applications all over the house. Got paint on your hands? Use a little oil to help break it up so it washes away easily. Dull furniture? Buff scuffed wood and old leather chairs with oil on a soft towel, and they’ll shine up like new. Are your rattan, wicker or wood chairs dried out and brittle? A little olive oil helps moisturize, renew and strengthen them so they’ll last longer.
CURBSIDE RECYCLABLES
Have you noticed a change to your curbside recycling program? Many communities are no longer accepting recyclables like glass and plastics in their program. The reason is pretty simple: These recyclables are too contaminated and are worthless to recyclers. And items such as glass shatter and contaminate valuable recyclables like cardboard. The lesson here is pretty simple: Only put what is recyclable in the bin, make sure it’s clean, and when in doubt about something, toss it away.