Water from backyard pool OK for lawn, not plants
You might wonder if the water from a backyard pool can be used to water plants. The answer is yes and no. Unfortunately, if you have a chlorinated pool, the chlorine can harm plants because chlorine is meant to kill bacteria and algae in the pool. But if you use the water on the lawn, it’s fine. As long as the water is spread over a great deal of space and the lawn receives a ton of sunlight to neutralize it, chlorinated pool water won’t damage your lawn at all.
gIFT BOxES WITH ‘WINDOWS’ ARE RECYCLABLE
Are gift boxes with the thin plastic “window” on the front recyclable? The good news is yes, they are. But you have to do just one thing to prepare them for recycling: Peel off the plastic sheet (it’s usually barely adhered), then flatten the box for recycling. Leaving the plastic on can be a problem for recyclers because it can muck up the recyclables during the pulping process. Paperboard boxes are recyclable in most curbside programs.
USE SmALL FLAT CONTAINERS FOR LEFTOVERS
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an astounding 40% of food in the United States ends up in the landfill. To help cut back on food waste, try this simple tip to save leftovers at home: Invest in reusable, small flat containers with matching lids and divide leftovers into them. This will help the food cool down faster and prevent bacteria spores that can germinate when food is stored in one large container. The smaller containers also help with portion control, so family members can opt to reheat one serving versus an entire batch of food.
WHICH FOODS ARE SAFE AFTER POWER OUTAgE?
If you’re not sure what’s safe to eat after your house has lost power for a lengthy period of time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a website that lists the foods you can keep and the ones you should toss. Department officials warn that appearance and odor are not good indicators of which foods are safe to eat. Dairy products like milk should be tossed, but butter and processed cheese are fine to keep. Fresh fruits that are cut should be tossed, but an open jar of fruit juice is fine to keep. For the whole list, visit foodsafety.gov.