| ...e goods, comprise major household appliances and may include: air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, drying cabinets, freezers, refrigerators, kitchen stoves, water heaters, washing machines, trash compactors, microwave ovens and induction cookers. white goods were typically painted or enameled white, and many of them still are.
small appliances
small appliances are typically small house... |
| ...ores easier and neater come in all shapes
and sizes. for example, discreet knife blocks tucked into drawers, drawer
dividers for maximum customization and sliders that make it easy to empty the
trash and recycling bins.
marble countertops
marble is not necessarily a new trend, but this year's attention is on slabs of
marble with eye-catching veins that make counters really pop. for a... |
| ...use chlorine is so pervasive in the environment, dioxin is a by product of natural events like forest fires, lightning and volcanoes, as well as of manmade activity, such as burning wood and backyard trash, diesel vehicle emissions and various manufacturing processes.
in the past 30 years, dioxin levels in the environment have sharply and steadily declined while production of vinyl has more than ... |
| ...ty. select new cabinets based on the current needs of your kitchen,
considering accessories that can improve functionality. think slow-close drawers
and doors, turntable corner cabinets, pull-out trash can cabinets, plus many
innovative storage features. the choice of design styles - framed or frameless -
will impact your kitchen's look. cabinets vary in price, depending on whether
they ... |
| ...chen cabinets have more wasted than usable space. optimize storage in these problem areas with closetmaid's premium kitchen cabinet organizers featuring multi-tiered pullout baskets, a spice rack and trash bin to deal with all kinds of kitchen clutter. each organizer is durable, scratch-resistant, easy to install and designed specifically for any kind of food or container storage. for more organiz... |
| ...lutter. add decorative containers to help keep everyday items like toys, magazines and other frequently used items organized on shelves.
bathroom
basic tactics:
* tackle the linen closet and trash any partial bottles of shampoo, tubes of toothpaste and towels that have seen better days. be brutal. if you haven’t used that half bottle of body wash so far, chances are you never will.
* c... |
| ...ke outdoor spaces look as put-together as the rest of the home. among the newest advancements is the trex outdoor kitchens collection, which features outdoor cabinetry and functional elements such as trash bins, ice chests and storage drawers that eliminate the need for back-and-forth trips inside the home.
railing redefined
even railings have taken on a more functional role in today's back... |
| ...priate bin is a teachable moment - and there's no reason why teachable moments can't be dã©cor-friendly! there are plenty of quick and easy diy hacks, from using a wicker basket to decorating a plain trash bin with wrapping paper that matches your taste.
3. involve your kids.
seventy-four percent of moms agree that involving their kids in their to-do lists helps them get more done, and 61 perc... |
| ..., such as sinks, countertops and other frequently touched, hard, non-porous surfaces where germs may live. bleach is especially handy with items that can get smelly over time, such as the bathtub and trash cans.
keeping cleaning simple is a new year's resolution you'll actually want to keep. with these tips and tricks, you can start the year off with a bang, fewer germs and a lightened cleanin... |
| ...(bpt) - americans generate about 254 million tons of trash annually, according to the environmental protection agency's (epa) most recent figures, and only about one-third of that waste is recycled. for many, one of the main barriers to recycling is not knowing how or where to recycle certain items.
for instance, many household cordless products we use every day are powered by rechargeable batte... |
| ...our home ready for the party, follow these tips.
cleaning
more often than not, the first step to readying your home for a house full of
guests is to clean. start by going room to room seeking out trash, recyclables
and things that can be stored away – anything to clear up much-needed space.
once the clutter is cleared, work from the top down to clean surfaces, so any
dust or debris that ... |
| ...sign rooms to different family members. put all rooms that need to be cleaned on a piece of paper, place them in a hat and have everyone pick. from dusting to loading the dishwasher to taking out the trash, the extra hands will be a big help; and before you know it, everyone will be out of the house and into the backyard to enjoy the sunshine.
for more tips to make your home a clean and welcom... |
| ...food in a sealed container and regularly clean out their food and water bowls. by cutting off their food and water source, most pests will look for a different, more welcoming place to dine.
* empty trash cans throughout the home on a regular basis. these are prime spots for pests to gather.
a natural defense to pests starts by following just a few simple tasks. for more tips to keep your home... |
| ...ng and leaking water into the home. in addition to structural damage, the leaks provide breeding grounds for mold to grow in areas like ceilings and basements.
* garage and basement clutter
remove trash and clutter from around the home and be sure not to let it build up for more than a few days. unattended trash can be a breeding ground for pests and parasites that carry bacteria and viruses in... |
| ...of the garage.
4. add final touches
once you have stored large items in your garage, it's time to add some final touches to maximize efficiency and make your workspace functional.
* keep a trashcan nearby your work area so it stays free of garbage and debris.
* hang tools near your workbench so you can easily put them back in their proper place.
* utilize smaller bins and storage cont... |
| ...-step installation you can upgrade your bathroom in no time.
new life to lighting
light is an important element for any room - but are your lamps looking a bit lackluster? turn older lamps from trash to treasure with a coat of spray paint. today's spray paint offerings provide endless choices - from shiny metallics to subdued hammered or brushed finishes - which can create the style you desi... |
| ...in between, work one shelf at a time. sort items by categories and dedicate one shelf or area of the closet to each group.
eliminate excess - but don't throw it away. as the saying goes, one man's trash is another's treasure. there are easy ways to donate your unwanted items to benefit those in need. one example is donatestuff.com, where you can request pre-paid ups shipping bags that make it s... |
| ...sources of heat, such as water heaters, space heaters, boilers and furnaces.
* keep flammable products in a dedicated storage container with a closed door.
* get rid of stacked boxes, recycling and trash.
find more fire safety information to keep your family and home safe at www.energizer.com.
change your clock change your battery(r)
daylight-saving time ends sunday, nov. 4, 2012 and ma... |
| ...e home looks, feels and smells clean, 64 percent of homeowners have even gone to extreme measures to rid their homes of pungent odors, such as replacing a rug or carpet (34 percent), purchasing a new trash can (26 percent) or replacing a couch or another piece of furniture (17 percent), according to a survey commissioned by filtrete filters from 3m.
but if you've become accustomed to the scents... |
| ...ir-tight and pest-proof containers, or in the refrigerator or freezer.
-don't leave your pet's food and water dishes out overnight.
-check for water leaks under the sink and refrigerator.
-keep trash and recycling areas clean, and rinse out food containers and beverage cans before disposing of them.
-baits, sprays and traps are effective ways to manage kitchen pests.
to learn more about ... |
| ...es.com."
* teach your family to pitch in: if you're the main housekeeper, it's reasonable to ask family members to help with chores such as loading the dishwasher, picking up toys, taking out the trash and doing the laundry. delegating small chores throughout the year makes larger organization projects a much easier task.
* stick to a schedule: the new martha stewart home office with avery... |
| ...nd antiques and wood furniture to accent your country retreat. a perfect - and often inexpensive - place to start is your local antique store, flea market, or even yard sales. after all, one person's trash is another person's vintage treasure.
select delicate, yet comfortable, furniture pieces to add to the relaxing and comfortable feel. accent chairs with coordinating floral patterns and over... |
| ...hake out the bathmat and use a few squares of toilet paper to wipe the floor.
* use a disinfecting wipe to clean the toilet seat. spray the inside with cleaner, and flush.
* lastly, throw out the trash.
five minutes to a clean kitchen
* stow away bulky appliances, pots and pans.
* recycle old newspapers and take out smelly trash.
* stick dirty dishes in the dishwasher or fill the sink... |
| ... rack next to the stove, perfect for cooks who like to experiment. a cutting board kit can neatly store knives within a drawer and has a built-in cutting board. this feature, combined with a pull-out trash underneath, can make food prep a breeze.
"people who love to cook often have a lot of pots and pans, and they are usually in a jumbled mess," says stone. "well, merillat has come up with an i... |
| ...according to the u.s. environmental protection agency, more than 90 percent of americans want to protect the environment. despite the desire to care for the earth, only 33 percent of trash in the u.s. actually gets recycled, and 54 percent gets buried in landfills.
in an effort to offset the amount of product waste that could potentially end up in landfills and motivate families to do their pa... |
| ...heir natural ingredients, water-based finishes do not need to be taken to a hazardous waste center. simply let open containers sit in a well-ventilated area, and once they solidify, place them in the trash. of course, you could always leave the lid on and pass the finishes along to a neighbor or charity organization.
beyond traditional low- and no-voc finishes, consumers can select from an inc... |
| ...there's no masking it: when it comes to unpleasant household odors, the stinkiness wafting from the trash can is tops. according to a recent survey, 75 percent of americans rated trash can odors as the most offensive smell in their home, beating out pet waste, dirty diapers and dead flowers.
and when it comes to trash can smells, food-related waste out-stinks the competition with those surveye... |
| ...rbor germs that not only cause odors but can spread to family members. these low-cost cleaning tasks, when done regularly and properly, can be effective in making the home healthier for your family:
trash cans: trash cans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into t... |
| ...laundry room. get rid of broken hampers, recycle used containers and give everything a thorough cleaning. sweep and mop the floor - and don't forget to clean up the washer and dryer, too. when dust, trash and grime are gone, you'll feel more efficient already.
sort it out. set up a three bin sorter - one bin each for lights, darks and hand washables. if you don't have room for a permanent one, l... |
| ...ere anything else i can use this for?" (storing toys, sorting change, craft projects, etc.)
buy recycled. for paper product must-haves, purchase recycled, unbleached paper towels or napkins. kitchen trash bags made from recycled materials are becoming more widely available as well.
car smarts. save water by cutting the number of times you wash the car each month, and make sure to turn off the f... |