Extend bread’s shelf life in the freezer
If you want to prevent a loaf of bread from going stale, the easiest thing to do is to freeze it when it’s fresh. By freezing bread, you can extend the shelf life by as much as three months. The trick is to slice the bread before freezing it and storing it in an airtight freezer bag or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil; this makes it easy to grab a slice or two right out of the freezer. Simply use a toaster oven to reheat it; as the ice particles melt, the starches inside the bread re-gelatinize and the bread becomes deliciously chewy again.
GAS STOVES
If there’s a lot of sauteing, frying and cooking going on in your kitchen, do just one thing: Make sure your stove is working and venting properly. A gas range gives off a small amount of carbon monoxide (CO), which is perfectly normal and won’t get you sick. But too much CO, and you could be in for trouble. Take a look at the flames on your cooktop: Are they yellow-tipped flames? That means the CO levels are too high and the burners need to be fixed. And if you have an exhaust fan, use it: It removes excess CO, particulates and smoke. Be sure the exhaust fan filters are clean and also properly installed.
UPHOLSTERY DUST
When there is too much dust and dander in the air and on your furniture, it can provoke an allergic reaction that can range from minor sniffles to flu-like symptoms. Take the time to give your upholstery and mattresses a good cleaning with your vacuum. Use the handheld attachment to vacuum up dust from inside crevices, on cushions and on the backs of upholstered furniture. Are the cases or slipcovers machinewashable? Strip the furniture and give it all a good wash and dry. Vacuum bare mattresses and wipe them down with a damp (not soaking) towel and allow to dry before dressing the bed again.
BACKYARD CHICKENS
A recent news release from the animal sciences department at Purdue University has one thing to tell you: Don’t panic and buy chickens for your yard. Recent shortages in eggs and meat have caused an uptick in people purchasing chicks to raise in their backyard. But scientists at the university warn many people are blindly buying chicks, with no understanding of how to raise the animals. For example, it can take six months for a chick to mature and start to lay eggs. And the animals are very dependent on humans for shelter, food and water, which many people are not equipped to provide.
OPEN WINDOWS
One of the easiest ways to help flush out toxins in your home is really this simple: Open a window. During the cool months, airtight homes can lock in air pollution, making the indoor air quality of your home actually worse than that of the outdoors. Use the warmer weather to improve ventilation and air circulation by opening a window in the front and back of the house, creating a tunnel effect. Just a few minutes a day can go a long way to make your home fresher and cleaner.
ADOPTABLE PETS
Many dogs and cats are up for adoption at local shelters, and prospective pet owners should be adopting them instead of buying their pets from a store. Even if you’re not in the market for a new pet to bring home, you can help by visiting your local shelter’s website and sharing pets on your Facebook page, tweeting them to your Twitter followers and pinning them to your Pinterest page to help generate viral marketing support. Social media can help spread the word about great pets up for adoption and help them find a new home.
AVOCADO PITS
Do you love avocados? Turns out all of those pits you’ve been tossing can be a beautiful DIY to turn boring fabric into something gorgeously pinkhued. When the avo pits are boiled, they release a milky, tannin-rich liquid that’s deep ruby red. When simple white fabrics are left to soak in this natural dye, they turn beautiful shades of pink. To make avocado pit-dyed fabric, simply toss a few clean pits into water, add your fabric and bring to a boil. Let simmer for a few minutes until the dye is released, then turn off the heat; let it sit overnight before removing the freshly dyed fabric.