Category Archives: house and home
A group of spare garden solar lights can be used indoors as light sources and are especially useful during power outages, writes Danella Roberson of Dolton, Ill. Just re-energize them during the daylight hours.
Posted in house and home, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged dolton, home, Illinois, lights, power outage, solar
10 Comments | | |
Ronald Moberg of Weaverville, NC, started saving money by putting a timer on a bathroom exhaust fan that was sucking up unnecessary electric charges: “After frequently realizing, hours later, that the bathroom exhaust fan was still running, I decided to … Continue reading
Posted in house and home, reader tip, saving
Tagged bathroom, Electric bill, North Carolina, saving, weaverville
38 Comments | | |
Daniel Briganti of Baldwin, NY, makes switching out trash bags less of a hassle by keeping replacements handy. “Place several bags (often a whole box will fit) into the bottom of the can before you add the new liner bag,” he … Continue reading
Janie Barcus of Parsons, KS., saves money on trash bags by reusing the plastic bags from the dry cleaners. She just ties a knot in the end where the hanger goes through, then uses the bag as a trash can … Continue reading
Posted in house and home, reader tip, reuse
Tagged kansas, parsons, reuse, saving, trash
17 Comments | | |
Feeling stuck? A new book, Instant Influence: How to Get Anyone to Do Anything — Fast helps people find their own reasons for completing a task. Here are author Michael V. Pantalon’s expert tips: Start small. Focus on the smallest … Continue reading
Posted in chores, home and organize, house and home, kids and family, office, print, usaweekend.com
Tagged book, Instant Influence, Michael V. Pantalon, motivation
28 Comments | | |
Need a better way to keep that recipe card visible while multi-tasking around the kitchen? Myra Kinsman of Milo, ME offers this tip: “Keep a recipe card upright by placing it in the tines of a fork and putting the … Continue reading
Posted in cooking, house and home, reader tip
Tagged cooking, Maine, Milo, recipes
30 Comments | | |
Alisa Tjelmeland of Littleton, CO offers this tip to help make sure you get the most out of your trash bags–and save yourself unnecessary trips to the trash can: “Instead of taking out a trash bag that is stinky but only … Continue reading
Posted in chores, house and home, reader tip, reduce
Tagged baking soda, CO, garbage disposal, Littleton, Save, saving, trash
21 Comments | | |
Loose screw giving you grief? Susan Goldsberry of Newalla, OK suggests grabbing a toothpick to keep it in place: “If you have a screw that is loose it’s probably because the hole has been wallowed out. An easy fix is … Continue reading
Teenagers can sleep through anything. Will your kids hear the smoke alarm when it goes off? WFMY in Greensboro, NC, has a startling report that will help you keep your family safe in a fire emergency.
Posted in house and home, kids and family, safety
Tagged emergency, fire, smoke alarm
26 Comments | | |
This report from KARE in Minneapolis-St. Paul has great advice on how to reduce the waste from your kitchen.
If your morning pot of coffee has grounds resting in the bottom of the pot, your coffee filter is probably collapsing in when you start the brewing process, says Laura Medley of Owensboro, Ky. Whether you get your coffee maker … Continue reading
A regular weekly, monthly and annual schedule of preventive home maintenance can thwart a host of expensive problems down the road and keep your house in tiptop condition.
Posted in chores, house and home, housework, print, usaweekend.com
Tagged Home maintenance
12 Comments | | |
Elisa Gustafson of Denver, Colo. has a clever idea! Add a teaspoon of water on the bottom of your glass candle holder. The water will help dissipate the heat and when the candle burns down it will come right out!
“An electric hot water heater uses about 20% of your monthly utility usage,” says RB Juneau of Orange Park, Fla. You can install an electric programmable timer for about $150 (electrician labor and parts). They can be programmed to turn … Continue reading
Posted in finance, house and home, reader tip, reduce, saving
Tagged Electric bill, Florida, Orange Park, Save
45 Comments | | |
This tip involves removing your wall paper in three easy steps. Spray paper with fabric softener Let it soak and remove. Thanks for the idea Gail Ferren of Sun City, Ariz.
Peggy Emerson of Bailey, NC, says, “I have found that I can tear dryer sheets in half and they are just as good as a whole sheet. This way, I can save money and still get soft, static free laundry.” … Continue reading
Posted in chores, cleaning, house and home, housework, reader tip, saving
Tagged Bailey, dryer sheets, laundry, North Carolina
18 Comments | | |
Sharon Knox of Denver, CO, is a step ahead with this idea. You know how 2 year olds get into everything! My grandson is no exception. I have one room off limits containing many untouchables. The door is often left … Continue reading
Posted in house and home, kids and family, reader tip, reuse
Tagged Colorado, Denver, wind chimes
Comments Off | | |
Spend a weekend this month to get your family and home prepared for a disaster. Make an emergency plan, collect important information, and stock this list of emergency supplies.
Posted in Cozi.com, home and organize, house and home, kids and family, Lists and Calendars
16 Comments | | |
Rubbing olive oil on your granite counter top brings out the luster and protects from water stains. Great idea from Lorri Hein of Midway, GA.
Posted in cleaning, house and home, housework, reader tip
Tagged counter tops, Georgia, granite, kitchen, Midway, olive oil, water stains
2 Comments | | |
To clean vintage glassware or stained glassware and vases simply put a denture tablet inside glass or vase, add hot water and let sit for a day. Repeat if stubborn stains remain. Thanks to Kay Vergnetti of Scottsdale, AZ, for … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, house and home, reader tip
Tagged Arizona, denture tablet, glassware, Scottsdale
1 Comment | | |
