Check roof for popped nails
Take a moment to examine your roof for “popped” nails. These are nails that were used to secure roofing shingles that, due to age, humidity or other environmental causes, have risen up out of the underlayment. Why are they important to address? Because each one represents a spot where water can seep into your roof and cause damage, or your roof can “lift” during a storm. If you see several popped nails, have a professional fix them to prevent long-term damage and wasted materials.
EXACT SHADE
Did you know that one of the top reasons household paint is wasted is because the homeowner chose the wrong shade? It can be hard to choose the perfect shade from myriad paint chips, and often when we pick something we like, it appears to be too bright, too dark or just wrong on our walls. To help avoid this financial and material waste, look to other homes and spaces for color inspiration. When you find a wall color you like, you can use a number of apps to immediately color-match it on your phone. Then order that exact shade, so you have the perfect color in your soon-to-be perfect home.
WASHER LOADS
When you have lots of laundry to do, it might seem like an economical and time-saving idea to slightly overload the washing machine. The problems with this corner-cutting strategy are manifold: The weight of the excess wet clothing wears out the machine’s internal drum and decreases the machine’s overall cleaning efficiency; clothing that doesn’t have room to be agitated during washing doesn’t come out clean; and running your load again means more water and energy waste. Keep your washer loads at or below the maximum recommended by the manufacturer.
SOIL WASTE
Can you reuse old soil from potted plants? The answer is no, unless you know for certain the soil is free of any disease. Since it can be impossible to tell, the best way to reuse potting soil is to sprinkle it in the yard, where the sun will have a chance to “bake” it (killing any disease) and it will eventually blend right into the ground. And those plastic pots that once held your houseplants? Reuse them or bring them to a big-box retailer to be recycled free of charge.
SODA CLEANER
A little party at your home may mean you have some leftover soda pop in cans and glasses at the end of the festivities. But don’t toss it down the drain when it can be used to get your pots and pans gleaming. Just pour the leftover soda into your dirty cookware and let it simmer on very low heat for 30-45 minutes. Soda — the dark kind like Coke and Pepsi — is highly acidic and does wonders to eat away at stubborn messes.
HOME WASH
There’s no need for chemical dry cleaning when wool sweaters can be safely and easily washed right at home. You can do a bunch of sweaters at the same time, too. All you need to do is fill a bathtub with lukewarm water and add gentle laundry detergent. Soak the sweaters for 10 minutes in the soapy water and drain. Refill with water, let them soak and then rinse them by hand in cold water. Lay the sweaters on clean towels to blot out the excess, then let them lie flat until dry.
FRIDGE ENERGY
The Natural Resources Defense Council says a typical refrigerator uses around 10% to 15% of an entire household’s energy bill each month. That’s a lot. While unplugging a fridge when you go away is the most efficient action you can take, it really isn’t realistic. So do the next best thing: Raise the temperature of your refrigerator to 38-42 degrees. That’s cold enough to keep food preserved but helps make your appliance much more energyefficient while you’re away.