Thoughts from Home

I used to have a pack of resealable plastic bags in the pantry cabinet that I used for storing food in the fridge, or small things that needs to be stowed away. But here are other uses of the resealable plastic bags that is very helpful in the house or even during travel.

No longer just for storing bologna and rye, the humble plastic bag can help you (finally) bring order to the peskiest household items.

BEAUTY AIDS

• For overnight trips, fill bags with single portions of shampoo and conditioner.
• Keep moisture away from Q-tips and cotton balls.
• Stash powder compacts in bags to prevent spills in your purse.

ON THE MARK

• Collect stamps, paper, and pens for writing notes or paying bills.
• Stow markers to prevent ink stains.
• Keep paintbrushes moist during do-it-yourself projects.

KITCHEN HELP

• Reduce food preparation time by storing prechopped ingredients.
• Refrigerate marinating meats.
• Fill with frosting, snip a corner, and decorate cupcakes.

CHANGE OF PACE

• Retire the old coin jar – a plastic bag takes up less space.
• Organize camera batteries and memory cards.
• Separate nuts, bolts, and drill bits.

FOR THE RECORDS

• Keep receipts handy and wrinkle free.
• Corral keys, your phone, and loose change before hitting airport security.
• Store your car’s insurance card and registration in the glove compartment.

PRECIOUS GEMS

• Snack-size bags are perfect for packing a weekend’s worth of jewelry.
• Store silver jewelry to reduce tarnishing.
• Dedicate a bag to extra earring backs.

Reference: Real Simple Magazine, August 2006

Every household needs to do the laundry. I do the laundry for two people only – that’s me and hubby so it must be one light chore for me. BUT I don’t like doing the laundry when the laundry basket is not yet overflowing because there’s certain satisfaction in me when I see the clothesline filled with clothes in different forms and colors.LOL.

We might not be aware that we are hurting the environment every time we do the laundry. So here’s some Eco-friendly laundry tips that we can do to help save Mother Earth while doing the laundry.

1. Control the temperature. About 90 percent of the energy associated with doing laundry involves just heating up the water. The solution: Turn that dial to cold.
2. Wash Full Loads. Even the most energy-efficient loads use 40 gallons of water. Reducing the number of loads you do each week will save water and money. If you find yourself doing eight or more loads of laundry each week, skipping just one will save over 10 percent on your laundry costs.
3. Upgrade to Energy Efficient Washer and Dryer. This is not permission to go out and replace your current machine that’s running just fine. (But nice try!) If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer, buying an energy efficient model can save both water and energy, and lower your bills.
4. Switch to Natural Detergents and Stain Removers. Natural products tend to be free of chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrance, dyes, and optical brighteners. What’s in them? They’re usually plant (not petroleum) based, contain biodegradable surfactants, and are often specifically formulated to perform well in cold water. Be sure to read the fine print when shopping.
5. Choose Non-Chlorine Bleach. Use in the home isn’t quite as detrimental for the environment as industrial use (like bleaching paper), but chlorine bleach can irritate skin and eyes. Most non-chlorine bleach is hydrogen peroxide. You can buy branded versions, or just stick to the 3 percent version sold in drug stores. And doing so will really add up. In fact, if every U.S. household replaced just one 64–ounce bottle of chlorine bleach with non-chlorine bleach, we could prevent 11.6 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment.
6. Rethink Dryer Sheets. The chemicals–including synthetic fragrances—found in conventional dryer sheets and fabric softeners are similar to what is found in conventional detergents. They’re largely questionable for human health and the environment. Plus, don’t even think about recycling those dryer sheets. Either skip them entirely or choose eco-friendly ones like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day lavender dryer sheets.
7. Hang Clothes to Dry. Keeping your clothes out of a dryer extends their life, reduces energy use, and cuts costs. Whether indoors or outside, line drying can be done year round. Just don’t put dark colors in bright sunlight or they’ll fade. Bonus: Indoor rack drying during the winter doubles as a humidifier.

I hope we will keep those Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips in mind. So we won’t be doing a lot of damage to mother Earth while we are doing this house chore.