October 8, 2007
I deal with allergies and asthma, so I'm always keeping an eye out for remodeling or home improvement advice that offers ways to make a home friendly for sensitive people. Here's a list of 5 ways to a healthful home that I found in the Fall/Winter 2007 issue of "Exteriors" by the Better Homes & Gardens magazines:
Home Improvements that Help with Allergies & Asthma
1. Consider exterior-wall vapor barriers
These are barriers (often just plastic sheeting) installed in wall cavities or airtight drywall systems. They help prevent moisture, drafts, and pollutants from entering your home.
2. Use low-VOC (volatile organice compounds) sealants
It's smart to keep windows sealed so they don't leak energy, but make sure you use nontoxic, water-base adhesives and caulks when you seal windows and other perforations, because asthma and allergy sufferers can be sensitive to the other stuff out there.
3. Install more windows
If you're doing a full scale remodeling gig where you can tinker with exterior walls, consider installing more windows. The more windows the better since they provide natural ventilation.
4. Use untreaded, kiln-dried timber
When building, opt for wood or steel studs, rafters, and joists. Just avoid treated lumber that may contain chemicals that emit VOCs.
5. Landscape with native plants
When landscaping your yard, try to use indigenous vegetation. These plants often require fewer pesticides and fertilizers, which can be tracked into the home where they'll bother sensitive noses.
August 30, 2007
We all like a little luxury in our lives. It's okay to pamper yourself, even if you don't have the biggest paycheck on the block, but there's no reason to pay outrageous prices and rack up credit card debt, especially not when there are ways to get luxury items more cheaply.
Here's a list of 5 reasons you're paying too much for luxury items:
- You're not shopping at outlet malls. Yeah, yeah, they're always out of the way, but save up your shopping until you can do a bunch at once and make a day trip out of a run to the outlet mall. You can find luxury items, everything from tableware to purses, at 40-70% off retail prices. Also, since true outlets get their merchandise directly from the manufacturers that supply the goods, outlet stores often have a better inventory in that brand than retail stores.
- You're not doing your research before you go shopping. Did you know that retail jewelers mark up their goods as much as 150%? If you can tell a jeweler exactly what you're looking for (i.e. cut, carat, rating), the jeweler will know you're a serious customer who has done some research (and knows what's a good deal) and will probably buy as soon as he can show you the right ring. Many jewelers are willing to cut their profits way down for an easy sale on their part.
- You're putting your luxury purchases on high interest credit cards! Think those snazzy new stainless steel kitchen appliances were expensive to start with? By the time you're done paying them off, you might have paid two or three times the sticker price, all in interest. It's better to save up to purchase luxury items, but if you must finance, make sure the interest rate is low (watch out for 6 or 12 month no-interest gigs, because you'll still be charged handsomely if you don't pay the item off before the no-interest period runs out).
- You're buying in the wrong season. You may think about buying a fur coat in the winter, but the best time to buy furs is when nobody is thinking about them. Think summer. The slowest time of year for furriers is late July through August, and you can get luxury goods for half the regular price (up to 70% off if you buy last year's items). This isn't just for furs but for virtually all items that have seasonal use. Always buy off-season for the best deals.
- You're not hitting the pawn shops. While pawn shops once had a reputation for fencing stolen goods, heavy regulation has stepped in, and most of today's dealers won't handle merchandise they suspect might be stolen. You can find everything from diamonds to antiques to valuable collectibles at great discounts in pawn shops.
Source: Cut Your Spending in Half: Without Settling for Less : How to Pay the Lowest Price for Everything 
August 24, 2007
Freezers are for freezing ice cream and corn dogs and that's it, right? Actually there are some other handy uses for this home appliance that everybody has. Here's a list of 5 smart uses for your freezer:
- Remove odors -- If you've got a plastic container that smells like fish, a musty-smelling book, or other small item with a bad odor, just stick it in the freezer overnight. By morning, it'll be smelling fresh again.
- Unstick photos -- If you've got a bundle of old photos that were stored someplace damp, they might be stuck together. Pulling them apart will ruin them, but if you stick them in the freezer for 20 minutes first, you'll be able to salvage them. After they're frozen, use a butter knife to carefully separate the photos (if they don't come free, put them back in the freezer and try again when they're colder).
- Extend candle life -- I love burning candles, but the nice ones are so expensive. However you can extend a candle's life by putting it in the freezer for a couple hours before burning it. This will make it burn more slowly.
- Clean the impossible pot -- If you've got a pot that has all sorts of burned-on food that's a pain to remove, even by scrubbing, just stick that pot in the freezer for a couple hours. Once the burned food is frozen, it's much easier to remove.
- Eliminate unpopped popcorn -- Are there always a lot of unpopped kernels in the bottom of your popcorn maker after you pop a batch? You can eliminate duds by storing your unpopped popcorn supply in the freezer.
Source: Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things: 2,317 Ways to Save Money and Time
August 19, 2007
If your house is on a busy street, you may be looking for ways to reduce traffic noise. You can buy special windows that absorb sound, or you can insulate your existing ones, but you might also want to look outside the windows to address the problem.
The best way to reduce traffic noise is actually to break up the sound waves. Generally speaking, if a barrier blocks your view of the road, it will do a good job reducing noise transmission. You can put up a sturdy fence, or you can plant some trees (trees do tend to be prettier than fences).
Though hedges grow quickly, evergreen trees work the best for blocking noise. They are better than hardwoods, too, because they are fuller and they stay that way all year long. If they will thrive in your climate, plant a screen of evergreens as close to the roadway as possible to create a barrier that will reduce traffic noise for years to come.
I've used an air purifier for a long time, since I have allergies (and I insist on having a dog), but I just read that there are certain house plants than can work as natural air purifiers to remove organic chemicals and toxins from the air. (That kind of pollution can plague asthma sufferers.) The plants are also supposed to reduce your stress and enhance your mental well-being. Here are three of the top plants:
Christmas Cactus -- This plant gives off oxygen at night (most plants produce oxygen during the day), which makes it a good choice for your bedroom, family room, or other spot where you spend a lot of time in the evening.
Rubber Plant -- The plant pictured here is good at removing indoor chemicals, such as the formaldehyde found in particleboard (think cabinets) and furniture, as well as ammonia and benzene. The rubber plant also acts as a natural humidifier, so you can put one anywhere you'd like a little more moisture in the air.
Snake Plant -- Despite the dubious name, this plant has some good benefits. Aside from being nearly indestructible, the snake plant removes toxins in rooms where other plants just won't grow (i.e. rooms with no windows). Keep one in your bathroom, work cubicle, or other spots with limited sunlight.
Source: How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office
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