A tiny apartment with 24 rooms

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A tiny apartment with 24 rooms

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Catio: The patio for cats

What do you do when you live in a big city but want to give your kitty some outdoor time? Create a catio, of course!

What's a catio, you ask? The New York Times had a great article on the phenomenon, which involves screening-in an outdoor area so that cats can enjoy some fresh air.

Many of the featured cat owners came up with their own creative methods for creating these outdoor spaces on porches and patios. And, there are several companies (and even a catio blog) that specialize in outdoor pet enclosures, which range from do-it-yourself kits to elaborate, maze-like structures. Catios aren't just limited to city folk, either. People with backyards have unlimited options for outdoor kitty playgrounds.

As a former cat-owning city dweller, I know all too well that cats can get stir crazy when they don't get to go outside. So I'm intrigued by the catio concept. I think I'd still be a bit nervous having my kitty out on a high balcony, but some of the closer-to-the-ground options seem fun.

What do you think? Do you want a catio? Have you created one for your cat(s)?

Related:

• Cat Toys From Reused Household Items
• 10 Fantastic Cat Facts
• Cat vs. iPad (Funny Video)

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Six ingenious things to make from scraps

Breathe new life into old objects and reduce landfill waste by diverting leftover odds and ends that would be relegated to the dumpster into useful items.

Call it repurposing, call it recrafting, call it creative reuse, or call it trash transformed. No matter what you call it, this concept of "cradle to cradle" is one of the tenants of green living. It means that a product's lifecycle doesn't have to end up forever rotting away in a landfill. It can be endlessly reincarnated into useful items.

We EcoNesters talk a lot about purging clutter, living slower, donating and thrifting, and living minimally. So, this post is going to take a different tact. It isn't going to tell you that hording some things isn't such a bad idea. In fact, hold onto those scraps.

But, wait a minute ... scraps are junk, right? Not so fast. Scrap items can be put to use and given a "life after waste." In fact, the end products of materials are often called salvage. That's a great word for things that are "saved from the ruins" and eventually end up in dumpsters.

If you're like me, you've got all sorts of scraps hanging around just ready for a new practical renaissance of sorts. Think of it as part of the transformation of renewal for living a more resourceful life.

Scrap renewal projects using...

1. Yarn
If you read my posts with any regularity, you know that knitting is my number one DIY project of choice. Yarn scraps abound in the needle world, and this pin cushion from Craft Leftovers via the Craftzine blog is perhaps one of the best uses I've seen for small amounts of yarn scraps.

2. Wood
Keep those wood scraps out of the burn pile and make a beautiful and unique scrap wood cutting board from Instructables.

3. Fabric
I love wrapping gifts using fabric. Here is a pattern from Purl Bee to make an easy, little drawstring bag that could become the perfect packaging for gift giving.

4. Paper
While cardboard furniture has been making the DIY design rounds lately, I'm not sure how comfy these things are to sit on. This bowl, by A Little Hut that is created using scraps of magazine cuttings seems more useful.

5. Plastic
Not being much of a plastic user or a soda drinker, I don't have a lot of plastic recycling hanging around, but this is truly one of the post amazing things I've seen using tossed plastic: This plastic kayak shown here at Gizmodo with DIY instructions from Instructables is outrageous!

6. Glass
I've had a case of severe chandelier envy. You can read about it here and here. So, when I found this outdoor glass chandelier over on Casa Sugar crafted from recycled glass jars, it lit my fire.

Ronnie Citron-Fink is a writer and educator. Ronnie regularly writes about sustainable living for online sites and magazines. Along with being the creator of www.econesting.com, Ronnie has contributed to numerous books about green home design, DIY, children, and humor. Ronnie lives the Hudson Valley of New York with her family. 

More from Care2:

• Make Your Own Holiday Ornaments
• Foods Birds Like: How-To

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1-800-recycling makes recycling a snap

Fresno, California-based Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. (ERI) is the largest recycler in the U.S. of the growing tide of e-waste (electronic waste). Notably, the company does all its processing on American soil, and it works with a wide range of partners to take in material from consumers, businesses, governments and other sources.

Now, ERI is launching 1800recycling.com (and the associated toll-free phone number) as a user-friendly free service to make it easy for people anywhere in the United States to find the nearest drop-off center to recycle virtually any type of material.

URTH Guy recently chatted with John Shegarian, the founder of ERI. Shegarian also hosts a weekly radio show for Clear Channel, Green Is Good, on green business.

Shegarian points out that about 65% of the waste in the U.S. still goes into landfills -- yet 70% of it could have been recycled. "Some cities provide recycling bins nowadays but recycling is still not as widespread and simple as it should be," Shegarian explains. "By calling 1-800-Recycling or visiting 1800recycling.com, people can find their nearest recycling location and get in the habit of visiting it often -- no matter what type of waste they have. Cell phone chargers, old TVs, radios, computers, and phones -- the ones lying around garages or basements -- are not junk. They are actually aggregates of materials that find their way into other, completely different metal and plastic products. These should be given new life instead of to landfills around the globe."

Shegarian points out that the new Best Buy billboard in Times Square was made from ERI recycled products, will the medals from the most recent Olympics were made from e-waste.

URTH Guy: Can you give us an overview of Electronic Recyclers International?

John Shegarian: Sure. There was no e-waste recycling industry six or seven years ago when I got into it, it was all mom-and-pop scrap companies and regular trash companies doing it as a side business. So we got into it and modernized and professionalized it.

E-waste is the fastest growing part of solid waste in the world. I bought my kids and my wife Kindles for Christmas, then five months later we're playing with an iPad in the New York Apple store, and my son, who's going to Fordham, asked if he could have one. I said sure. He said, "I know we're spending money but it's good for your business."

We still are an invention society for the world, and we're going to keep inventing. I have a perfectly good TV, a wonderful flatscreen, but I have clients who come in and say, when are you getting a 3D? I'm 47, and my grandparents had furniture their whole lives that they never thought of exchanging, but now we're turning over electronics at the fastest rate in the history of the world.

So now we have an e-waste crisis. Electronics connect us more, make our lives more interesting, and give us more access to information than ever before, but we should not be filling up our landfills with these materials.

1, In our first month of business at ERI we recycled 10,000 pounds of e-waste. Last month we did 18 million pounds. There's no reason why this stuff has to go into a landfill. On end of life basis, we are the number one brand in this business, we are commoditizing your laptop, cell, TV, vacuum cleaner, and so on into plastic, glass and metals. We can keep everything above ground, get all materials to smelters for reuse and repurposing. There is an unquenchable thirst around the world for our commodities, especially in India and China, which are going through industrial and technological revolutions concurrently.

2, There is a massive trend called urban mining; that is, why fill landfills with stuff that we could use? We can also save a tremendous amount of energy. 99% of what we work with at ERI is being repurposed. All metals are called infinite recyclable. When you recycle aluminum you save 95% of energy as opposed to making it out of virgin ore. So this is a simple part of the solution to our energy crisis, and getting off foreign oil. We're saving energy to mine and smelt those resources.

How are you different than other recyclers?

I focus on people, and we professionalized this industry. The woman who wrote our environmental health and safety policies used to manage those areas for 12 states.

We also have the best technology. We developed a proprietary waste shredder, the largest in world, to produce the cleanest commodities. We have one in California and we are building 2.0 in Massachusetts, then next in Indianapolis, with others to follow outside the country.

We also have the best glass technology, imported from Europe, that we have exclusive rights to in the U.S.

Then you have our online technology; I did financialaid.com, which democratized the student lending process. I bought 1800-recycling and 1800-recycling.com, and we are quietly building the biggest recycling network in the world, so every ZIP code is covered for everything: tires, household waste, electronics and everything else, both by phone and Internet.

How does it work?

You type your ZIP code, then get information on a place where you can drop it off or pay to have someone come get it.

How is it different than Earth911.com?

It is similar to Earth911, but people don't know about that. This is an intuitive brand and a service. We're scaling up the site. This is like 1-800-Flowers, which revolutionized that industry. There is great power in such an intuitive brand.

Does the service only use your own network?

No, we want it to include everyone. It's a service for people

Have you seen difficulties with recycling efforts in recent years, given the weak economy? We've seen news articles about towns abandoning recycling or letting the materials stockpile until prices for the stuff bounce back.

Recycling rates are actually going up in America every year. In e-waste, we've had more business then ever, and e-waste is always going to grow. We're sustainable and profitable.

You don't want to get rid of your old cell phone the wrong way. If it gets into the wrong hands your data could be compromised, so there is also a serious security issue.

We've all seen photos of kids in Asia and Africa picking through piles of our circuit boards to "recycle" them, or we worry about lax environmental controls on overseas facilities that break this stuff down. Is that still a concern?

We do all our work in the states, so this isn't a problem for us. I say that 85% of recyclers are just packing and shipping, largely overseas, so they're really sham recyclers. Twenty-five states have landfill bans on e-waste now, so it's going to only grow.

But the clean, high-quality commodities that we produce, such as metals, glass and plastics, are ready to be sent to manufacturers, so there isn't much chance of them getting mishandled.

Have you worked with programs that incentivize people to recycle, like RecycleBank?

RecycleBank is a great program, and we intend to work with them in the coming years. We're also going to create a points system on the site.

But listen, people want to do the right thing once they know. So our stuff won't end up with human rights violations in India, China, or Africa.

How do you actually get the materials?

Big manufacturers are our clients, as are retailers like Best Buy, cities, the federal government, mom-and-pop shops, and individual consumers, who drop off their used items at many different locations, from Best Buy stores to town halls.

Making recycling accessible is the future trend. We think more than half of the stuff we use will be recycled before long.

Consumers, manufacturers, and governments all have to do their part. It shouldn't just be on Walmart and Costo or Samsung and Sony. Everyone has a stake in it: We're all enjoying these products, using them, and they connect us all.

People ask me if manufacturer responsibility laws [which compel producers to provide for recycling their goods] are a good idea, and I say no. It should be up to all of us.

How do we increase recycling rates around the world? For example, I was recently in Costa Rica, which is taking many strides to go green (including going carbon neutral over the next few years), but recycling infrastructure is sparse there.

I get inquiries every day from all around the world. We're going to take this global. We are in talks in China, India, South Korea, Latin America, Europe, and elsewhere.

We're still in the top of the second inning when it comes to recycling. The green revolution has taken hold, and is only going to continue to grow. Our motto: Everyone is part of the solution, whether we are talking about energy, water, or recycling.

 

More from The Daily Green

• Alternative Uses for 24 Common Household Items
• 12 Ways You Never Knew You Could Use Oatmeal
• You Can Use Ketchup for That?! Hair Care to Copper Polishing
• Don't Throw Out That Aluminum Foil! 12 Ways to Reuse
• 11 Creative Ways to Recycle Packing Peanuts

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc

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Stop throwing money away

There's no question that disposable items can be incredibly convenient sometimes. But if you stop and think about it, they're not all they're cracked up to be.

While it might be quicker to throw something in the trash when you're done using it than washing it and putting it away, you do have to have to spend time going to the store and buying the same products all over again. The costs for buying products again and again can really add up.

Plus you're not only throwing away your hard earned money. You're also disposing of the resources used to make the throwaway products and unnecessarily sending things to the landfill.

No one is suggesting that you stop using disposables altogether, just that you give it a little more thought. Some disposables are hard to live without (such as diapers), but the items on the list below will be barely noticeable once you change a few habits. You'll need to spend a little money up front to save down the line.

A family of four can save $3,164 a year by cutting back or eliminating the items listed below. Of course, the final savings ultimately depends on what you use now, how much you cut back, and local prices. No matter the exact total, wouldn't you rather spend money on a family vacation instead of disposable junk?

 

Paper napkins

Use cloth napkins instead. Worried about the laundry piling up? Assign a different color napkin to each family member (or try this fun DIY napkin project). The idea is that if the same person uses the same napkin at every meal, you can wash napkins less often.

Potential savings: Count on saving around $57 a year if everyone in your family uses one napkin at every meal. You'll also save 4,368 paper napkins from being tossed in the landfill each year.

 

Paper towels

Wipe up spills with cloth towels. Use rags for cleaning. You can make your own by cutting up old sheets, T-shirts, towels, etc., or buy microfiber towels. For windows try crumpling up old newspapers.

Potential savings: If your household uses one roll of paper towels each week, you can save around $83 a year.

 

Resealable, plastic storage bags

Reuse them by washing them out and letting air dry. (It's not a good idea to reuse bags that were used to store raw meat.) There are now several kinds of reusable sandwich and snack bags that are widely available. Store leftovers in plastic or glass reusable containers.

Potential savings: You'll save around $78 a year if you stop using throwaway plastic bags for weekday lunches and storing leftovers.

 

Paper coffee filters

Try a reusable coffee filter or make coffee in a French press, which doesn't require a filter. 

Potential savings: About $15 a year if you make one pot of coffee every day.

 

Single-serve bottled drinks

Carry a reusable stainless-steel bottle to transport water and other drinks when you're on the go.

Potential savings: About $2,187 if each member of your family consumers one bottled beverage a day. 

 

Aluminum foil

Save leftovers in reusable plastic or glass containers. Avoid using foil to line baking sheets.

Potential savings: Around $64 a year if you use six rolls of foil (200 square feet each).

 

Single-use batteries

It's much easier to use rechargeable batteries than you think. Rechargeable AA batteries and chargers, ubiquitous for TV and gaming remotes and kids' toys, are widely available. An added bonus: You don't have to run to the store when your remote runs out of juice. Just recharge the batteries and you're good to go.

Potential savings: If you use around 25 AA batteries a year, you'll save around $28 a year. You can also feel good about not unnecessarily sending batteries to the landfill.

 

Disposable razors blades

Use an electric razor instead. 

Potential savings: About $122 a year if your household uses 54 razor blades a year.

 

Paper publications

Read your favorite newspapers and magazines online instead of letting the paper pile up at home. You'll find a lot of interesting content for free online, but even if you have to pay to read articles you'll still come out ahead.

For example, subscribing to the electronic edition of the New York Times costs $29.95 a month. Compare that to the $769.60 price tag for seven-day home delivery (It's $608.40 if you live in the Tri-State area.)

Potential savings: Depending on where you live, you'll either save $530 or $369 a year.

 

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

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Sleep in planes, trains, and other vehicles

Many vacations start with a plane flight, a car trip, or even train travel. But have you considered a trip that ends with a night spent inside an airplane or other vehicle? Creative hotels around the world are reusing cast-off planes, trains, and trailers as stylish places for guests to relax.

You'll find posh suites in planes, retro-1950s trailers decorated by hip artists, and cozy cabooses with a view. Whether you're visiting Chattanooga or New Zealand, a recycled, upcycled, transit-themed hotel could be worth a stop.

Check out these unique places to stay. You might be inspired to hit the road and then sleep inside your choice of transportation.

 

 

(Photo: Hotelsuites NL)

Airplane Suite, Teuge Airport, Voorst, Netherlands

A Dutch hotel company has converted an entire 1960s plane into one luxury suite for two people. With a Jacuzzi, sauna, three flat-screen TVs, a Blu-ray DVD player, Wi-Fi, and more, the airplane is a far cry from like today's typical, cattle-car flying experience. And at 350 euros per night, these accommodations still cost less than coach-class tickets from the U.S. to the Netherlands.

 

 

 

(Photo: Winvian)

Winvian's Helicopter Cottage, Litchfield Hills, Connecticut, U.S.

Perhaps the most amazing of the 18 standalone cottages at this lavish getaway is the one with a 1968 Sikorsky HH37 Sea King Pelican helicopter as the fully stocked bar and high-tech entertainment room. This might be as close as you can get to sleeping in a helicopter. The suite features a whirlpool tub, walk-in steam shower, and fireplace, plus Winvian offers numerous outdoor activities and a lush spa. Rates start at $650.

 

 

 

(Photo: Woodlyn Park)

Woodlyn Park, Waitomo, New Zealand

Near the glowworm-filled Waitomo Caves, Woodlyn Park gives visitors a taste of kiwi culture and several unusual accommodation options. Guests can try out a train, ship, or an airplane as a bedroom. The 1950s Bristol Freighter might be the most historical option because this was one of the last Allied Forces planes to leave Vietnam. It now contains two double-bed hotel rooms available for NZ$160 to NZ$175. Kids can even sleep in the plane's cockpit, which has been turned into a bed loft.

 

 

 

(Photo: Kaitlin Wilson, Aurora-Express)

Aurora-Express, Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.

For a touch of local history along with a uniquely shaped room, try the Aurora-Express. Owners Mike and Susan Wilson bought a series of railcars that had previously been accommodations at the Denali State Park Hotel, and they started their own B&B with these vehicles. High above Fairbanks on 16.5 acres of spruce forest, the trains provide charming views for nightly rates between $145 and $225.

 

 

 

(Photo: Buchanan Railcar Inn)

Buchanan Railcar Inn, Buchanan, Virginia, U.S.

The entirety of a 1934 Hiawatha dining car makes up this elegant small hotel. Plush furnishings and fine wood details give the Buchanan Inn the feel of a private, upscale club. But no brandy or cigars are allowed onboard, and the rooms are a modest $135 per night. The inn is conveniently located near the town's shops, theater, and restaurants to make for a lovely stay.

 

 

 

(Photo: Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay)

Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.

Book the caboose room for a private train getaway in a completely restored Southern Pacific 1901 car. This place is perfect for couples or families — an additional rail roader's bunk is available for children. The B&B's four acres feature a pool and spa for guests, a cactus garden, and model railways. Caboose residents will be visited by native birds that come to feeders right outside the bay window. It's a train lover's and birder's paradise for only $135 per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Chattanooga Choo Choo)

Chattanooga Choo Choo, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.

Pardon me, boy, is that the — OK, it had to be said. Yes, this is the Chattanooga Choo Choo, and you can actually sleep in it. The historic hotel at the train station made famous by Glenn Miller's song has three buildings full of accommodations. But what makes this place extra-special are the 48 Victorian train car rooms. Top off your stay with dinner in the dining car. Rates for the train rooms start at $180 a night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Controversy B&B)

Controversy Train B&B and Controversy Tram-Inn, Hoogwoud, Netherlands

If the Dutch airplane hotel isn't right for you, how about a train or tram hotel? The fine people at the Controversy complex have turned a train compartment into a grandiose room featuring a boat as a bed. Nearby are several Dutch and German public transport trams that have been restyled into cheery hotel rooms with all the amenities. You'll even find a spacious family suite with room for the kiddos. These commuter-themed lodgings are available for 60 to 300 euros per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: The Shady Dell)

The Shady Dell, Bisbee, Arizona, U.S.

Heading out in an RV is expensive and wastes gas. Why not get the same experience while staying put? And what better place to relax than the mid-century modern oasis of the Shady Dell? You'll find nine beautifully restored vintage travel trailers, each outfitted in its own quirky retro style. Authentic 45-rpm records, black-and-white TVs, tiki gods, and leopard prints set the mood. One of these trailers can be yours for $50 to $130 per night.

 

 

 

(Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson, El Cosmico)

El Cosmico, Marfa, Texas, U.S.

If you're looking for a vacation with something more, try a trailer at El Cosmico. Not only does this site have well-kept vintage trailers, but it also sponsors a series of workshops and classes on art, writing, sewing, and more. Plus, you'll find tepees, yurts, and tent-camping nearby. The five 1950s trailers seem like the best deal — from $90 to $125 per night for a spacious lodging with Southwest style.

 

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40 fantastic uses for baking soda

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?

Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.

This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.

Personal Care

1. Make toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen your mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak oral appliance
Soak oral appliances (like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures) in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a facial scrub and body exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use. 

5. Skip harsh deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat insect bites and itchy skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower. 

8. Make a hand cleanser and softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean. 

9. Help your hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly — baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean brushes and combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a bath soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel very soft. Or just focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub. 

 

Cleaning

12. Make a surface soft scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile, and sinks — even fiberglass and glossy tiles — sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.

13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch-less scouring powder. 

14. Freshen sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

15. Clean the microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

16. Polish silver flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

17. Clean coffee and tea pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

18. Clean the oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

19. Clean floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. 

20. Clean furniture
Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

21. Clean shower curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

22. Boost your liquid laundry detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and odoriferous clothing.

23. Clean and freshen sports gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize and clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

24. Remove oil and grease stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

25. Clean batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc., because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a strong acid.

26. Clean cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.

 

Deodorizing

27. Deodorize your refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you add recyclables to the bin.

29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals
To deodorize your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water — it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.) 

30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

31. Deodorize lunch boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors.

32. Remove odor from carpets
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also deodorize your vacuum cleaner. 

33. Freshen closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh. 

34. Deodorize pet items
Cover the bottom of your cat box with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

35. Deodorize sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing.

36. Freshen stuffed animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.

 

Miscellaneous

37. Cure all camping needs
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer, pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and has many other uses.

38. Extinguish fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire — and call the fire department just to be safe. 

39. Care for the septic system
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

40. Scrub fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.

OK, so there are my 40 suggestions (with a little help from the Arm & Hammond baking soda site, thank you). Do you have any tips or tricks that I missed? Please share in the comments.

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• 23 Ingenious Uses for Vinegar
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Create a soothing outdoor retreat — on a budget

How often have you walked into a space and just got a feeling ... a feeling of peace, of happiness, of home?  It can be the small things that speak to your heart and say, “Come right in and get cozy.”

Summer is just around the corner, but there is still time to create an outdoor space that will make people want to hang out, gather round, and share some laughs. While you may not have the real estate or the dime for an outdoor fireplace, with a little panache it is still possible to create an oasis in your own backyard, courtyard, or terrace.

For deals on outdoor furniture, scour thrift stores in upscale towns, go online at eBay, or check out ‘big box’ stores such as Costco. Be prepared to spray-paint your battered finds white or charcoal gray.

Cushions can be found at large hardware or patio supply stores. Choose a restful color like “wheat” as your theme.   While you are there, pick up an inexpensive outdoor rug in a subtle pattern to place under the furniture.  You can thank me later for saving you the big bucks on that high-end landscape architect who would probably tell you the same thing.

Now your “outdoor room” is coming together. You can add from 20 to 200 square feet to your home by upgrading and extending the usable living space to the outdoors. Make sure to include outdoor throw pillows and at least two inexpensive, washable throws.  Yes, two smallish lightweight blankets.

Drape the blankets casually on the seat cushions. Your guests will be drawn to them AND these throws will protect the cushions from the weather.  Sure, you might have to toss them into the laundry every once in a while, but what’s a little work in exchange for the illusion of cozy and the inviting softness beckoning to “come relax and feel free to wrap yourself up in me on a cool evening.”

Be on the lookout for large pots to place near the furniture, and pick up some lettuce and herb seed packets.  Fill the pots with dirt and potting soil and then add the seeds.  In about a week, you will have the beginnings of pretty greens growing in pots and lots of salad and flavorful herbs in your future.  Antique jars are lovely filled with flowers, and scented candles add a warm glow that can set the mood.

These basic items can transform your yard or terrace into an inviting retreat. Depending on your budget, you could add:  Umbrellas, portable fire pits or waterfalls, dwarf potted fruit trees, outdoor stereo speakers that look like small boulders, or a lovely pergola. Ahhhhhh ... did someone say cocktail?

Sherry Brooks is a healthy, happy, and trim frugalista living the lean and green life near Malibu in sunny southern California.

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• Find natural remedies for headaches
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• What is your carbon footprint?

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Use boiling water to get rid of weeds

You know the feeling. You take pride in your home and landscaping.  It’s a beautiful day, and you are relaxing on the patio with a refreshing ice tea and there it is — a hearty little fellow.  Yes, it is a sprouted seed that found it’s way up through a crack in your hardscape and has grown into a hearty little clump of green.

You walk around to the front of the house and sure enough, some of his little cousins have also fought their way up through the driveway or sidewalk gaps into the sun from the depths of the dark, covered earth.

What to do? Pull the weeds, only to have them return and grow back more stubbornly?  Especially true if the stem broke off in your fingers, leaving the roots lodged underground.  Get into the car, drive to the store, and part with some of your hard earned cash for a potent weed-killer? Heck no! That poisonous brew, which will pollute the air, water and soil, will probably sit in the garage for the next few years.

Herbicides have been linked to a host of diseases including cancer in people and their pets. Glyphosphate is the active ingredient in most herbicides. It is an enzyme inhibitor, which chokes off the enzyme that plants require in order to grow, killing the weed and only one of many questionable chemicals in pesticides marketed for lawn and garden care.

California Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program indicates that glyphosate-related incidents are one of the highest reported of all pesticides.¹

According to the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked to cancer, 13 are linked to birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 26 with liver or kidney damage, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system.

There is a better way!  This completely free and non-toxic alternative is very effective and can be repeated as needed, without fear of toxic exposure. 

Fill a teakettle with water, bring it to a boil, and simply pour the boiling water on each of the offending weeds.  By the next day you will have a very dead, brown little weed that is easily pulled from the crack with just a little tug.

Sherry Brooks is healthy, happy, and trim frugalista living the lean and green life in and around Malibu in sunny southern California.

More from ecomii:

• Learn how you may be polluting your home instead of cleaning it
• Learn more about the potential of nutritional supplements
• Find natural remedies for headaches
• Does aromatherapy actually work?
• What is your carbon footprint?

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01. Goldstein DA, Acquavella JF, Mannion RM, Farmer DR (2002). An analysis of glyphosate data from the California Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 40 (7): 885–92.  Print This Post

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