A recent survey found that the average Americans are stockpiling 23 unnecessary items in their home and 57 percent keep things for sentimental reasons. A third of Americans also procrastinate throwing out items they no longer need. The study of 2,000 people, commissioned by ClosetMaid, also found the state of the home is so bad […]
cleaning
Posted inAt Home
Make Your Holidays Merry… and Green
The holiday season is a wonderful time for family gatherings filled with cheer, delicious treats, gift exchanges and… trash. Do your part this holiday season to get more out of the former by producing less of the latter. Here are a few tips to cut the waste out of the season: Wrapping paper Nonfoil wrapping […]
Posted inHome
Laundry-Room Bliss
Among the current trends in remodeling and new-home construction are supercharged laundry rooms. Gone are the days when this room was overtly utilitarian, used for the sole purpose of housing the clothes washer and dryer. Today’s laundry rooms are multitasking zones that help the homeowner stay on top of chores such as pet grooming, garden […]
Posted inAt Home
The Great Debate: What Eco-Friendly, Chemical-Free Cleaning Products Should You Use?
Spring-cleaning is more than just a phrase; it is serious business for many people. After being cooped up in the house all winter with a growing to-do list — and, for some, a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder — it can be refreshing to give your life and your home an overhaul as soon as […]
Posted inHome
How Comfy is Your Comfort Zone?
A great deal has been written about mental comfort zones. The internet is full of Venn diagrams with a puny circle titled “your comfort zone” and a large circle with no overlap titled “this is where the magic happens” — implying that you must leave your comfort zone altogether to experience any magic. The notion […]
Posted inHome
How to Reclaim the Prime Real Estate in Your Own House
Most of us have some idea in our minds about what “prime real estate” means. We sometimes use this phrase to discuss a particularly good location, a convenient parking spot or even (according to the Urban Dictionary) a desirable person. We probably also think of the first rule of real estate: location, location, location. We […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Good for Body and for Planet — Clean and Green
There isn’t much that Laura Kneib can’t make by hand. Clothes. Butter. Wood boxes. Pottery. Growing up in a family that made anything from their own clothes to herbal remedies has taught her two things: You make everything you use, and then you reuse. She recalls her parents going “senging” — harvesting ginseng — on […]
Posted inAt Home
‘Can the Grease’ to Avoid Plumbing Clogs and Backups
The Sewer Utility Division of Kitsap County Public Works is offering free kits to residential customers to encourage proper disposal of fats, oils and grease, commonly referred to as “FOG” in the wastewater industry. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 65 percent of sewer spills are FOG-related. The majority of these spills are […]
Posted inHome
So, You Live with a Messie? Tips to Help Keep the Peace
Opposites attract: Night owls marry early birds, party people partner with homebodies and we, neat freaks, just can’t live without some messies in our life. We love them: They are our partners, our children, our aging parents. They are spontaneous, funny, out-of-the-box thinkers who challenge us to think in new ways and try doing things […]