You know those annoying little stickers that are on most fruits you can buy individually in supermarkets? The ones that are so thin and so well-glued that they're often impossible to remove without gouging a hole in your fruit? Yeah, I always knew they were evil. In addition to being annoying on edible-skinned fruits, if … Continue reading Fruit Labels, Jar Labels, Six-Packs, Environment, and Health
cleaning
Easy, Earth-Friendly Way to Clean a Microwave Oven!
Today is the Spring Cleaning Tips edition of Works-for-Me Wednesday, and I'm hardly an expert cleaner . . . but I actually went on a little kitchen-cleaning binge last night and utilized a tip that I want to share! I believe I originally saw this in "Hints from Heloise." When the interior of your microwave … Continue reading Easy, Earth-Friendly Way to Clean a Microwave Oven!
Zippered Mesh Bags for Laundering
You can, in fact, machine-wash most "hand wash only" clothing in cold water with one of these bags to protect it from the washing machine agitator and your other garments' zippers! Being able to machine-wash nearly all of my laundry saves me a lot of time and aggravation. It also saves water because I can just toss the bag in with a regular load of laundry instead of filling my sink. Also, I've found some other uses for these nifty bags.
Reflections on a Bathroom Renovation
(I really, really want to say "Restroom Renovation" just for the alliteration, but I know this article will be more relevant to people searching for "bathroom renovation," so I'm stuck with this title!) We had our house's main bathroom completely renovated last month. We are thrilled with it and learned some things in the process … Continue reading Reflections on a Bathroom Renovation
Washing Plastic Bags
It's Works-for-Me Wednesday , so here's a mundane but easy tip that saves a lot of money and helps the environment, too! We wash and reuse plastic food bags, like zip-top freezer bags and sandwich bags. I always used to shake out crumbs or maybe rinse them a little, but if there was any significant … Continue reading Washing Plastic Bags
Steel Kitchen Cabinets!
Our house was a bargain, priced about $40,000 less than similar houses in the immediate area. Our realtor said, "Well, it's a bargain to you because you like the kitchen. Most people would expect to spend about $40,000 totally redoing the kitchen." Yes, we're charmed by our kitchen decor, which dates from the 1950s: pink … Continue reading Steel Kitchen Cabinets!
How to Clean a Basement or Porch Floor AND Use Up the Last Dregs of Liquid Laundry Detergent
This technique is suitable for any floor that has either a drain or an open side where water can spill onto the ground. I learned the cleaning technique at Girl Scout camp, and years later I realized its wonderful compatibility with those "still very soapy on the inside but with not enough soap to pour" … Continue reading How to Clean a Basement or Porch Floor AND Use Up the Last Dregs of Liquid Laundry Detergent
Layered Bedding
Something that really works for me in cold weather is putting layers on my bed, just the way I put layers on my body. I'm one of those people who's easily chilled and very bothered by feeling cold, especially when I'm tired, so having a cozy bed is very important to me. Daniel and I … Continue reading Layered Bedding
A Four-year-old’s Treasures
Nicholas loves stuff. He's constantly collecting things that he wants to keep. I get frustrated with how little he uses most of this stuff and how much it's underfoot or visually cluttering our house. But last night I noticed a little box of his treasures that he'd left on the dining table before going to … Continue reading A Four-year-old’s Treasures
7 Things I’m NOT Good At
Regular readers of this non-blog may be getting the impression that I'm an exceptionally competent person who is good at all kinds of things, packed with brilliant ideas, and highly successful at using every minute effectively. This is not true. The Earthling's Handbook is supposed to be a guide to doing things right if you … Continue reading 7 Things I’m NOT Good At
Kaper Chart
Kaper is the word Girl Scouts use for any of the little tasks that make a meeting or activity possible. As a Junior leader, I use the patrol system and give each patrol a responsibility, but when I was an assistant Brownie leader one of my roles in the troop was to make the kaper … Continue reading Kaper Chart
The Horror of the Porch!
One of the people to whom I e-mailed this story in 1998 requested that I post it. At the time this was written, Daniel and I were sharing a house with two friends, Bill and Steph. Lest any of you may be feeling that your housekeeping skills are deficient, here's a story to demonstrate that … Continue reading The Horror of the Porch!
It beautifies your complexion AND scrubs your tub!
A paste made of baking soda and liquid soap, that is. It's a versatile wonder-cleaner worthy of one of those over-blown TV commercials about the many many uses and the amazing value...except that it's so basic and inexpensive that nobody would buy it as a commercial product. (Oh. Wait. People will pay $1.50 for a pint of tap water … Continue reading It beautifies your complexion AND scrubs your tub!
Household Hints
Add a slosh of white vinegar--about a tablespoon--to the sinkful of hot soapy water when washing dishes. I started doing this last spring, when we'd all been sick, because vinegar kills germs. I found out that it also cuts grease and makes the dishes really squeaky clean! (Vinegar has many other uses, too!) Here's some … Continue reading Household Hints
One Thing and Three Things
[adapted from a post to a discussion board when our son Nicholas was 19 months old] When I was a young adult, having trouble adjusting to working full-time on a fixed schedule with a commute instead of being in the more flexible environment of college, and also was having some other problems that led me to … Continue reading One Thing and Three Things
Laundry Drying Dilemmas? Pull a Solution Out of Thin Air!
Many Americans, misled by the term "labor-saving device," assume that air-drying their clothes would be a waste of time and effort. Actually, reducing or eliminating your automatic dryer usage will bring you only a little extra work and a number of benefits.
The Earthling's Handbook 