Use cinnamon to prevent plant fungus
Do you have an old bottle of ground cinnamon in the pantry and are unsure what to do with it? One natural attribute of cinnamon is that it has fantastic antifungal properties and can help keep fungus like slime mold and mushroom spores from sprouting in your garden or on household plants. To use cinnamon, simply dilute it with warm water and let it steep overnight. When the mixture is cool, transfer to a bottle and spray all over the leaves and on top of the soil of potted plants.
VINEGAR CAUTION
It seems white vinegar is the go-to, all-natural solution to clean and disinfect all over the house. And while white vinegar is a mild acid that does a great job in cleaning, it should also be used with caution. For example, many people use white vinegar as a rinse aid in the dishwasher, but you should never fill the rinse-aid compartment with it. The reason is simple: Vinegar will eat away at the rubber gasket, making it inoperable. Instead, fill a cup with vinegar and place it right side up in the dishwasher.
SPICY PAINTS
Looking for a rainyday crafting idea that makes use of items you already have? Reach into your spice drawer for colorful spices to make DIY all-natural watercolors. Spices like nutmeg, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and Chinese five-spice powder work best and produce beautiful deep colors. Just dilute with a little warm water (the warm water helps make it less grainy), and paint away. Since they’re totally nontoxic, paints made from spices are completely safe to use when crafting with small kids.
HAWAII SAND
Did you know it’s illegal to take sand from beaches in Hawaii? It’s also illegal to purchase sand online if it’s taken from Hawaii. The reason? There’s been an uptick in erosion in recent years, and Hawaiian beaches are shrinking. It’s easy to understand why this sand is for sale: It’s colorful, it’s unusual and it comes from a breathtaking destination. If you do see sand for sale online, report it to help get the listing removed. And always remember: Even small amounts in your shoes and bags should be shaken out and left on the beach!
ORGANIC BARGAINS
Do you know what time and day of the week is the cheapest for stocking up on organic fruits and vegetables at the supermarket? It’s Wednesday night! Supermarket managers take inventory of perishables at night and mark down items that are overstocked. Supermarket circulars advertising sales that begin on Wednesday are circulated on Tuesdays. Combine the weekly sale with the markdowns, and you have a chance to score organic bargains every Wednesday night.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Have you heard of the Kindness Rock Project? Its intentions are good: large, smooth rocks are hand-painted with goodhearted messages and left on hiking trails or in parks. The problem? The paints can be toxic, the rocks can disrupt natural environments, and it’s technically leaving graffiti behind on something natural. While tens of thousands of rocks have been painted, it’s always best to leave no trace behind you in nature and to send your kindness messages with a simple photo on your preferred social-media platforms.
CHIMNEY PEEP
A properly working fireplace is key for the most energy efficiency and for safety in your home. One way to inspect your fireplace (if you’re physically capable) is to lay a medium-size mirror at the base of the fireplace and then go on the roof and look down the chimney with a flashlight. You should see a light reflect. Of course, if you are afraid of heights, leave the task to the pros and schedule an inspection and cleaning of your chimney annually.