<xmp> <body><!--'"</title></head>--> <script type="text/javascript"> //OwnerIQ var __oiq_pct = 50; if( __oiq_pct>=100 || Math.floor(Math.random()*100/(100-__oiq_pct)) > 0 ) { var _oiqq = _oiqq || []; _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageBrand','Lycos']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageCat','Internet > Websites']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageLifecycle','Intend']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_doTag']); (function() { var oiq = document.createElement('script'); oiq.type = 'text/javascript'; oiq.async = true; oiq.src = document.location.protocol + '//px.owneriq.net/stas/s/lycosn.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(oiq, s); })(); } /////// Google Analytics var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21402695-21']); _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', 'angelfire.com']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 1, 'member_name', 'talora45', 3]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); ////// Lycos Initialization ///////////////////// var lycos_ad = Array(); var lycos_search_query = ""; var lycos_onload_timer; var cm_role = "live"; var cm_host = "angelfire.lycos.com"; var cm_taxid = "/memberembedded"; var angelfire_member_name = "talora45"; var angelfire_member_page = "talora45/EarthTips.html"; var angelfire_ratings_hash = "1711673289:5c2ba8b856a2ad40c921e5a16f8ab9dc"; var lycos_ad_category = null; var lycos_ad_remote_addr = "209.202.244.9"; var lycos_ad_www_server = "www.angelfire.lycos.com"; var edit_site_url = "www.angelfire.lycos.com/landing/landing.tmpl?utm_source=house&utm_medium=landingpage&utm_campaign=toolbarlink"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type='text/javascript'> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/ANG_300x250_dfp', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1450207484070-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/ANG_above_728x90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450207484070-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/ANG_below_728X90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450207484070-2').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(isV) { if (!isV) { return; } //this.lycos_search_query = lycos_get_search_referrer(); var adMgr = new AdManager(); var lycos_prod_set = adMgr.chooseProductSet(); var slots = ["leaderboard", "leaderboard2", "toolbar_image", "toolbar_text", "smallbox", "top_promo", "footer2","slider"]; var adCat = this.lycos_ad_category; adMgr.setForcedParam('page', (adCat && adCat.dmoz) ? adCat.dmoz : 'member'); if (this.lycos_search_query) { adMgr.setForcedParam("keyword", this.lycos_search_query); } else if (adCat && adCat.find_what) { adMgr.setForcedParam('keyword', adCat.find_what); } for (var s in slots) { var slot = slots[s]; if (adMgr.isSlotAvailable(slot)) { this.lycos_ad[slot] = adMgr.getSlot(slot); } } adMgr.renderHeader(); adMgr.renderFooter(); }((function() { var w = 0, h = 0, minimumThreshold = 300; if (top == self) { return true; } if (typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number' ) { w = window.innerWidth; h = window.innerHeight; } else if (document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.documentElement.clientHeight)) { w = document.documentElement.clientWidth; h = document.documentElement.clientHeight; } else if (document.body && (document.body.clientWidth || document.body.clientHeight)) { w = document.body.clientWidth; h = document.body.clientHeight; } return ((w > minimumThreshold) && (h > minimumThreshold)); }()))); window.onload = function() { var f = document.getElementById("lycosFooterAd"); var b = document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]; b.appendChild(f); f.style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('lycosFooterAdiFrame').src = '/adm/ad/footerAd.iframe.html'; // Slider Injection (function() { var e = document.createElement('iframe'); e.style.border = '0'; e.style.margin = 0; e.style.display = 'block'; e.style.cssFloat = 'right'; e.style.height = '254px'; e.style.overflow = 'hidden'; e.style.padding = 0; e.style.width = '300px'; })(); // Bottom Ad Injection ( function() { var b = document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]; var iif = document.createElement('iframe'); iif.style.border = '0'; iif.style.margin = 0; iif.style.display = 'block'; iif.style.cssFloat = 'right'; iif.style.height = '254px'; iif.style.overflow = 'hidden'; iif.style.padding = 0; iif.style.width = '300px'; iif.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; var cdiv = document.createElement('div'); cdiv.style = "width:300px;margin:10px auto;"; cdiv.appendChild( iif ); if( b ) { b.insertBefore(cdiv, b.lastChild); } })(); } </script> <style> #body .adCenterClass { margin:0 auto; display:block !important; overflow:hidden; width:100%; } #body .adCenterClass #ad_container { display:block !important; float:left; width:728px; } @media (min-width: 768px) { <!-- For 300px or less ads ONLY --> #body .adCenterClass #ad_container { width: calc(100% - 372px); } } @media (min-width: 1110px) { <!-- For 728px or less ads --> #body .adCenterClass #ad_container { width: calc(100% - 372px); } } </style> <div style="background:#abe6f6; border-bottom:1px solid #507a87; position:relative; z-index:9999999"> <div class="adCenterClass"> <a href="https://www.angelfire.lycos.com/" title="Angelfire.com: build your free website today!" style="display:block; float:left; width:186px; border:0"> <img src="/adm/ad/angelfire-freeAd.jpg" alt="Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!" style="display:block; border:0" /> </a> <div id="ad_container"> <script type="text/javascript">document.write(lycos_ad['leaderboard']);</script> </div> </div> </div> <!-- ///////////////////////////////////// --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write(lycos_ad['slider']);</script> <div id="lycosFooterAd" style="background:#abe6f6; border-top:1px solid #507a87; clear:both; display:none; position:relative; z-index:9999999"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:936px;"> <div id="aflinksholder" style="float:left; width:186px;"> <a href="https://www.angelfire.lycos.com/" title="Angelfire.com: build your free website today!" style="display:block; border:0"> <img src="/adm/ad/angelfire-freeAd2.jpg" alt="Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!" style="display:block; border:0" /> </a> </div> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> <!--- UNDERDOGMEDIA EDGE_lycos.com JavaScript ADCODE START---> <script data-cfasync="false" language="javascript" async src="//udmserve.net/udm/img.fetch?sid=17754;tid=1;dt=6;"></script> <!--- UNDERDOGMEDIA EDGE_lycos.com JavaScript ADCODE END---> </xmp> Earth-Tribe.NET

"A person saying it can't be done, shouldn't interupt the person that's doing it."
Old Chinese Proverb



Click link above to learn about stuff!

GREEN TIPS YOU CAN PRACTICE EVERYDAY

Water
•Fix any leaky faucets, toilets or water pipes. Even a small drip can add up to a lot of water over time.
•Wash your car the natural way - wait until it rains.
•Install water saving faucets.

Energy
•Conserve fuel by turning down the heat at night and while you are away from your home — or install a programmable thermostat.
•Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
•Insulate your home against heat loss and periodically check insulation.
•Fix air leaks with weather stripping and caulking.
•In the winter, change your furnace air filters once a month. The heater uses more energy when it is full of dust.
•Insulate your electric hot water heater and pipes. Do not, however, insulate gas heaters and only start insulating gas heater pipes about six inches away from the heater.
•Avoid using cars — walk, cycle or use public transportation whenever possible.
•Avoid anything battery operated (or use rechargables or solar rechargables if batteries are unavoidable).
•Buy locally — not only is it good for the local economy, it will save energy because products haven’t traveled across the globe to get to you OR Grow your own!
•If you’re not using an appliance unplug it. TVs, stereos, microwaves, etc all use energy even when turned off!

Toxics
•Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives in your home
•Furnish your home with furniture made out of natural fibres, wood, metal and glass.
•Avoid the use of polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC or vinyl) in your home. The entire life cycle of products made from PVC pollutes the environment and your home. PVC items include shower curtains, flooring, even some children’s toys.
•Avoid the use of aerosols.
•Use castor or mineral oils to lubricate switches and hinges instead of lubricants containing solvents.
•Choose water based latex paints over solvent based paints when painting your home. Never use lead based paints.
•If you have a furnace, fireplace or gas heater, have them serviced regularly to prevent deadly fumes and install a carbon monoxide detector.
•Ensure you have good ventilation and balanced humidity in your home to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, which can be harmful to your health.

Waste
•Do not throw out your toxic household wastes, such as paint, paint thinner, and car fluids, in the garbage or down the drain. Check with your local facilities for proper disposal and avoid these products in the future.
•Take your own bags to the grocery store. If you take plastic bags, use them until they are worn out.
•Compost your food waste and use as nutrient rich soil for your lawn.
•Avoid excess packaging.
•Always use reusables mugs, lunch containers, batteries, pens, razors, etc.
•Replace paper products with reusable ones (use recycled, non-chlorine bleached paper when you do have to use paper).

REDUCE REUSE & RECYCLE
Reduce
Really, the best thing that we can do for the planet is to use less of it. At the heart of the environmental crisis is our consumer society. Here are a few questions you can ask before you buy: Do I, or the other person I am buying this for, really need this? Is there another product that would do the same thing but more sustainably? Will this last a long time? Do I know how this item was made, how it will be used and how it will be disposed of? Where was this made and under what circumstances? Are the materials used to make this renewable and have they been harvested in a sustainable manner?
Reuse
Regrettably, because we live in a “disposable society,” we are encouraged to buy a new “improved” item even if the one we have can be repaired. When we buy, we should buy items that are durable, and we should maintain them and have them repaired when necessary. If we do this, many things can not only last a lifetime, but can be passed along from generation to generation. If something is truly unusable for its original purpose, try to be creative and think of how else it might be used. When you are done with it, think if someone else might be able to use it.
Recycle
Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can make use of it, have it recycled. And while recycling is not perfect — it requires energy and the process of changing something into something else often produces by-products — it is better than sending goods to the landfill or having them incinerated. Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area. Clean and sort the materials before putting them out on the curb as often collectors will not pick up recycling that is mixed or contains non-recyclables.

Join
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AndersonSCFreeGifters/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecyclegreenville/

BASIC INGREDIENTS FOR GREENER LIVING
Pure Soap
For generations, people washed their clothes, their homes and themselves with pure soap. Today, it is the key ingredient of many alternative cleaning recipes. Soap biodegrades safely and completely, and is non-toxic. Make sure that you use soap without synthetic scents, colours or other additives. Even phosphate-free biodegradable laundry detergent contributes to water pollution.
Vinegar (5% acetic acid)
Vinegar is a mild disinfectant which cuts grease, cleans glass, deodorizes, and removes calcium deposits, stains and wax build-up.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is an odourless powder that is great for carpet cleaning and greasy stains.
Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
A key ingredient for washing clothes, washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, disinfects, and softens water. Washing soda should not be used on aluminum.
Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)
Baking soda works well as an abrasive in alternative recipes. Baking soda also deodorizes, removes stains, polishes, and softens fabrics.

CLEANER RECIPES
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup (125 ml) pure soap
1 gallon (4 litres) hot water
For a clean scent and to help cut grease add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of lemon juice.
This solution is safe for all surfaces, should be rinsed with water, and is very effective for most jobs. For a stronger cleaner, double the amounts of soap and lemon juice.
Scouring Powder
Use a firm bristle brush and scrub with pure soap combined with either table salt or baking soda. Baking soda alone on a damp sponge is also effective on most surfaces. You can also personalize your scouring powder by adding an aromatic herb or flower. Put the ingredients in a blender and run until the fragrance has infused the powder.
For oven spills, scrub using straight baking soda or combine with the stronger version of the all purpose cleaner.
Remember to wear gloves when scrubbing.

Air Fresheners
Commercial air fresheners work by masking smells and coating the nasal passages with chemicals which diminish the sense of smell by deadening the nerves. Avoid these products. Instead, try the all-natural air purifiers — house plants. Or try these natural recipes to diminish odour and add a fragrant smell to your house:
•Use baking soda in your garbage or refrigerator to help reduce odours at their source.
•Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda in 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water, add 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray as you would an air freshener.
•Place a few slices of a citrus fruit, cloves or cinnamon in a pot with enough water to simmer gently for an hour or two.

Liquid Dish Soap
Grate a bar of pure soap into a sauce pan. Cover with water and simmer over low heat until they melt together. Add some vinegar to the water for tough grease and to remove spots. Pour into a container and use as you would any liquid dishwashing soap.

Mirrors, Glass and Windows
Wash with pure soap and water, rinse with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Use washable, reusable cheese cloth instead of paper towels.

Carpets
To fully clean and deodorize carpets Vacuum, liberally sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda, leave one hour, then vacuum again. For tougher stains, try cold soda water or repeatedly blot with vinegar and soapy water.

Polishes
Most store-bought polishes contain solvents harmful to the environment. Aresol sprays are wasteful and also contain harmful gases.
•Furniture Polish: Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon oil in 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable oil. Apply with a clean dry rag.
•Floor Polish: Melt 1/8 cup (30 ml) paraffin wax in a double boiler. Add 1 quart/litre mineral oil and a few drops of lemon oil. Apply with a rag, allow to dry and polish.

Polishing Metals
•Copper: Try lemon juice and a little salt or hot vinegar and a little salt on a rag.
•Chrome: Try white flour on a dry rag.
•Brass: Try equal parts salt and flour, with a little vinegar on a dry rag.
•Silver: Bring to a boil in a large pan: 1 quart/litre water, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) salt, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil. Drop in silver, boil for 3 minutes and polish with a soft cloth. Or polish with a paste of wood ash and water. Note: These methods should be done on sterling silver only and not on silver plate.

IN THE KITCHEN
Your kitchen combines many of today’s environmental concerns such as energy consumption, waste, toxics and genetic engineering. Here are some tips for a healthy lifestyle and a cleaner environment.
Appliances
Your refrigerator uses more energy than any other appliance in your home, but there are a few things you can do to keep energy consumption to a minimum:
•The fridge should be kept at 38-42°F (3-5°C), the freezer at 0-5°F (-17 to -15°C).
•Try to open the fridge door less frequently and for a shorter duration to conserve energy.
•Don’t place your fridge in a warm spot — near a heater or in direct sunlight.
•For efficient operation clean the condenser coils on the back or bottom of your fridge at least once a year.
•Keep the door gasket clean to make sure the seal isn’t broken by dried food.
You should also:
•Check and compare energy ratings before buying large appliances. These tell you how many kilowatt hours of energy it uses per month.
•Use electric kettles to boil water which consume half the energy needed to boil water on the stove.
•Cook food in glass dishes which are quicker than metal pans. The bottom of your pan or pot should be the same size as the burner to use the minimum amount of energy.
•Use pressure cookers which use very little energy and are best for food that is “low on the food chain”.
•Don’t waste energy preheating your oven, most ovens don’t need it. For pastries and cakes, preheating 10 minutes is plenty. You can also turn your oven off 15 minutes early for major items like roasts and casseroles — the heat left in the oven will finish the job.
•Turn down the heat after water boils. Lightly boiling water is the same temperature as a roaring boil.
•Water will boil more quickly if there is a lid on the pan.
•Cooking frozen foods uses more energy — thaw them out first.

Food
•Eat lower on the food chain — fruit and vegetable production requires far less energy than meat production.
•If you do eat meat, buy free-range, organically raised meat and poultry products. These have been raised humanely and on untreated feeds.
•Grow your own vegetables, fruits and herbs without using pesticides.
•Eating organically grown fruits and vegetables doesn’t just reduce the amount of pesticides getting released into the environment, it’s also more healthy for you, the farmers and food handlers. Just look for the “certified organic” label.
•Eat local fruits and vegetables which are fresher and less likely to be waxed. Also, some imported produce may have been treated with pesticides and chemicals that have been banned in Canada and the U.S.
•Cut excess fat off of meat and poultry and avoid high fat dairy products. Many chemicals released into the environment are stored in fat tissue and are cumulative.
•Avoid storing food in plastic. Use reusable glass containers for storing food in the refrigerator, but be careful, not all glass containers can be frozen.
•If you use plastic for storage, use containers specifically designed for this.
•Never microwave food in a plastic container. Even plastics that are approved for food storage and are ‘microwavable’ may leech chemicals into your food when heated.
•If you must use plastic wrap, do not let it come in direct contact with your food and make sure that it is not made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl).
•Don’t use plastic or paper bags at the grocery store, bring your own cloth bags

Waste
•Buy in bulk. It’s cheaper and it uses less packaging.
•Buy vegetables loose, not in plastic bags.
•Avoid plastic containers, they are made of different types of plastic which are costly and difficult to separate and recycle.
•Choose products in refillable or reusable containers.
•Compost your food scraps.
•Look for products made from recycled materials.
•Use cloth instead of paper napkins and towels.

Water
•Keep a covered container of water in the fridge for drinking - you won’t have to run the tap until the water is cold every time you want a drink.
•Keep a bowl of water in the sink while preparing food for quickly rinsing your hands.
•If you must use a dishwasher, only do full loads and use the econo setting. To save energy, stop the machine after the rinse and open the door to let the dishes air dry.
•Don’t let the water run while doing dishes.

In the Bathroom
Drains
Your drains can be kept open, clean and odor-free without the use of corrosive drain cleaners. There are two simple rules: never pour liquid grease down a drain and always use a drain sieve.
•Use this preventive measure for drains once a week:
mix 1 cup (250 ml) baking soda and 1 cup (250 ml) salt. Pour 1/4 cup (60 ml) of this mixture into the drain. Follow with a pot of boiling water, and flush with cold water. Done once a week, your drain should remain open and odour free.
•For clogged drains, pour in 1/4 cup (60 ml) baking soda followed by 1/2 cup (125 ml) vinegar. Close the drain until the fizzing stops and flush with boiling water. As a last resort, use a plumber’s snake, available at most hardware stores, but beware, it can damage pipes.
•If hair comes out while showering, don’t wash it down the drain . Just put it at the edge of the drain and throw it out afterwards.

Tub and Tile
Most commercial tile cleaners do more harm than good because many contain chlorine, a serious irritant to the eyes, nose and skin, and one of the most dangerous chemicals found in municipal sewers.
•For bathroom cleaning, use a firm bristled brush with either baking soda or the mild all-purpose cleaner and baking soda. Rinse with hot water.
•For hard-water areas use vinegar or lemon juice to dissolve the mineral build-up. For really tough jobs, saturate a rag and lay it on the problem spot for a few hours before rinsing.
•For mould and mildew, rub tiles and grout with a cloth which has been moistened with vinegar and scrub with an old toothbrush.

Quick Tips
•Use a toilet dam or a plastic container filled with water, to reduce the amount of water used for each flush or install a dual flush toilet.
•Mend any dripping taps or leaking pipes immediately.
•Use handkerchiefs instead of disposable tissues. This will not only help save trees, but the cotton will be softer on your nose.
•Install water saving devices for your taps and showers. Energy saving shower heads can save up to 20 per cent of hot water usage – and cut your electricity bills. A faucet aerator will reduce the flow without reducing the water pressure.
•Don’t leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or shaving.
•A shower (about 10 minutes) uses 2/3 the amount of water as a bath.
•Keep your water heater down to 130F (54C). This is hot enough to kill bacteria and still save energy.
•Use your waste basket for miscellaneous bathroom wastes. Flushing garbage wastes water and can cause treatment problems.
•When buying a new shower curtain, get cloth instead of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

In the Laundry Room
When making the initial switch from a detergent to a soap laundry cleaner, wash items once with 1/3 cup (80 ml) washing soda only. This will eliminate detergent residues which might otherwise react with soap to cause yellowing of fabrics. Remember as well that if you have any concerns about the colour fastness of any item which you are cleaning, spot test it first.

Detergent
Add 1/3 cup (80 ml) washing soda to water as the machine is filling (Arm & Hammer or Nellies All Natural Laundry Soda). Add clothes. Then add 1 and a 1/2 cups (375 ml) of soap. If the water is hard, add 1/4 cup (60 ml) soda or 1/4 cup (60 ml) vinegar during the first rinse. For heavily soiled items, try presoaking in warm water with 1/2 cup (125 ml) washing soda for 30 minutes. Rub the soiled areas with liquid soap or a solution of 2 Tbsp (30ml) washing soda in 1 cup (250 ml) warm water.
Softening fabrics (including wool): Add 1/4 cup (60 ml) white vinegar to rinse water.
Wool de-shrinking: Dissolve 2 cups (500 ml) salt in hot water and allow to cool to lukewarm. Soak the garment for 3 hours.
Silk: Soak in approximately 1 cup (250 ml) pure soap and 2 to 3 Tbsp (30-45 ml) baking soda. Squeeze garment gently and rinse thoroughly.
Bleach: Try adding 1/2 cup (125 ml) washing soda to each load of wash to whiten whites and brighten colours. Or add lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang your clothes outside in the sun which will bleach clothes naturally and will also save energy.
Dry cleaning
Most dry cleaning solvents are toxic — including chlorine and formaldehyde which are highly toxic and carcinogenic. These chemicals can often remain in your clothes even after you bring them home. Try to buy clothes that you can wash rather than dry clean. Many of the clothes that are ‘dry clean only’ are actually washable by hand with soap and cold water or can just be pressed or ironed. If the item can’t be washed by hand, call around for a cleaning service that practices wet cleaning. Wet cleaning uses heat, steam, vacuum, water and natural soaps to clean your clothes. Wet cleaning also emphasizes skilled labourers who inspect and clean each item of clothing individually.

Quick Tips
•Only do full loads of laundry, use as little water as possible.
•Up to 90 per cent of the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water. A warm wash and cold rinse will work just as well as a hot water wash and a warm rinse on nearly all clothes.
•Only wash clothes that need it. Outer layers of clothing like shirts, sweaters and pants can be worn more than once without laundering.
•Hang clothing outside to dry or inside in a dry, warm room and just think of the energy you've saved!.
•If you must use a machine to dry your clothes, clean your dryer’s lint trap after every load to keep the air circulating efficiently. Lint build-up is also a fire hazard.

Stains
The first rule of thumb with stains is the sooner you treat them, the more likely you are to completely remove them. The second rule of thumb is to spot test any “remedy” on your fabric first. If the spot you are testing starts to discolour, you can stop it from leaving a stain by “neutralizing” the cleaning agent. For example, the effects of an acid like lemon juice or vinegar, will be neutralized or reversed by adding an alkaline like baking soda and vice versa. Remember to wash after the spot test.
Soiled Diapers: Pre-soak in 3 Tbsp (45 ml) baking soda dissolved in warm water in either a tub or washing machine.
Fruit and Wine: Immediately pour salt or cold soda water on the stain and soak in milk before washing. In general, it is a good idea to keep some soda water in the fridge as a stain remover.
Grease: Strain boiling water through white cottons and follow with dry baking soda or rub with washing soda in water. For other materials, blot with a towel, dampen stain with water, and rub with soap and baking soda. Follow by washing in water as hot as possible using extra soap. Note: make sure to check washing instructions before using boiling water or washing in hot water.
Ink: Soak in milk or remove with hydrogen peroxide.
Blood: Immediately pour salt or cold soda water on the stain and soak in cold water before washing. For a more stubborn stain, mix cornstarch with either talcum powder or cornmeal in water and apply mixture. Allow to dry and brush away.
Coffee and chocolate: Mix egg yolk with lukewarm water and rub on stain.
Chewing gum: rub with ice. Gum will flake off.
Lipstick: Rub with cold cream or shortening and wash with washing soda.
Rust: Saturate with sour milk (add 2 tsp/10 ml of vinegar to a cup of milk to make it sour) or lemon juice and rub with salt. Place in direct sunlight until dry, then wash.
Mildew: Pour strong soap and salt on the spots, or spray with vinegar and place in sunlight. Keep the spots moist and repeat as often as necessary.
Scorches: Gently boil scorched article in 1 cup (250 ml) soap and 2 quarts/litres milk.
Water marks on wood furniture: Using a dry cloth, rub the mark with vegetable oil or a mixture of butter and enough cigarette ashes to make the butter brown.

Indoor Pests
Ants: Locate the place of entry, squeeze a lemon onto it and leave the peel. Ants will also retreat from lines of talcum powder, chalk, bone meal, charcoal dust and cayenne pepper.
Cockroaches: Plug all small cracks along baseboards, wall shelves, cupboards and around pipes, sinks, and bathtub fixtures. For a trap, you can try lightly greasing the inner neck of a milk bottle and putting a little stale beer or a raw potato in it.
Fruit Flies: Pour a small amount of beer into a wide-mouth jar. Put a plastic bag across the mouth of the jar with a rubber band. Poke a small hole in the bag. Flies will enter through the hole and not be able to find their way out again. Change the beer when necessary.
Flies: Sunny windows are flies’ most common entrance into your home, so close windows before the sun hits them. Use regular sticky flypaper to catch unwelcome flying guests. You can make your own with honey and yellow paper.
Moths: Keep vulnerable clothes clean, dry and well aired — moths are attracted to your body’s oils on the clothing. Camphor can be used, as it is the major, non-toxic, ingredient of moth balls. To trap moths, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar and place it in a margarine or yogurt container. Clean regularly. Cedar chips or black pepper also work well as all-natural moth deterrents. Cedar chips can be placed in cloth bags and hung in the closet or placed in drawers.
House Plant Pests: Blend 2 or 3 very hot peppers, 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic in water, boil, steep for two days and strain. Used as a spray, this liquid is good for indoor and outdoor plants and can be frozen for future use. Also try spraying 2 Tbsp (30 ml) liquid soap, or 5 grams dry soap, diluted in 1 quart/litre of water. Remember to spray with fresh water a few days afterwards (the shower can be used for this).
Silverfish: Traps can be made with a mixture of 1 part molasses to 2 parts vinegar. Place near cracks and holes where pests live. Silverfish can be repelled by treating baseboards, table legs and cracks in cupboards with a mixture of borax and sugar or honey.
Spiders: Under ideal conditions, do not kill spiders because they help to control pests.
Stored Food Pests: Keep mites and moths out of your staples by drying food in a warm oven for one hour or by freezing for 2-3 days. Always store food in air tight containers.
Weevil’s favourite foods are beans and grains. To keep weevils away, hang small cloth sacks of black pepper in your food bins or around your food storage area. A few soap berries per bushel of stored wheat will also drive out weevils.
Ticks and fleas: If your pets are infested, wash them well with soap and warm water, dry them thoroughly and use this herbal rinse: Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of fresh or dried rosemary to a quart/litre of boiling water. Steep 20 minutes, strain, and allow to cool to body temperature. Spray or sponge evenly onto pet and allow to air dry. Do not towel down as this will remove the residue. Make sure pets are dry before letting them outside.

In the Yard
Every little bit of greenery on our planet helps clean the air, contributes to our oxygen supply, helps prevent soil erosion and improves our quality of life. Whether you have a few square feet or a forest behind your home, preserving and promoting the diversity of the area and maintaining it chemical-free will enhance your life and keep you, your family and the animals in the area safe from harmful toxins.
Lawns
•Set your mower blades to high. The minimum height for grass is two and a half inches. Anything shorter is hard to maintain, encourages weeds and disease and requires more intervention. Longer grass also protects the roots, offering more shade and preventing water evaporation.
•Keep your lawn mover blades sharp. Dull blades will tear the grass, damaging the plant, making it require more water than healthy plants.
•Take the grass catcher off the lawn mower. The sun and rain will break down the grass clippings and reward you with instant compost or use the clippings in your compost.
•Choose well adapted and disease resistant varieties of grass such as ryegrasses and bluegrasses.
•In a drought, don’t waste water on a lawn beginning to turn brown, it will revive after normal rainfall resumes.
•Place rain barrels under your drain spouts from your roof and water your garden or lawn with the water.
•Plant flowers, trees, ground cover and vegetables instead of grass. A lawn is an unnatural ecosystem. Planting one plant species over a large area encourages weeds, insects and other plant and animal life.

Organic Gardening
Organic gardening begins with your soil. Healthy soil breeds healthy plants which can fend off weeds, pests and diseases without chemical treatment. Have your soil tested in early spring; home testing kits are also available at most garden supply centres. These tests will tell you where your soil is deficient and what organic ingredients your lawn needs.
Compost, made from rotted organic material, is the best all around soil conditioner available. It improves the physical and biological condition of the soil, providing beneficial micro-organisms, excellent drainage and both major and minor plant nutrients. Use a shovel or hoe to turn over and break up soil.
Digging is an important part of conditioning your soil:
•It allows roots to reach deep, unimpeded by stones and clumps of hard earth.
•It adds to good drainage and air circulation in the soil.
•It works compost and other organic material into the soil.
•Digging discourages harmful root feeding insects.

Companion planting is the cornerstone of organic gardening. There are many plants that repel insects and provide natural protection for other plants that are susceptible.
French marigolds repel certain insects that are attracted to tomatoes and potatoes. You should plant them throughout your garden.
•Interplant potatoes and collards to reduce flea beetle damage.
•Garlic repels the larvae of many harmful insects and can be planted with anything else except onions.
•Onions repel many species of insects and should be dispersed throughout the garden.
But some plants are bad for each other too. Avoid planting broccoli and cauliflower close to each other as well as other varieties of plants that are closely related.

Quick Tips
•If you must water your lawn and garden, water in the morning or at night to prevent evaporation. One inch of water a week is better than several short showers.
•Plant native plants in your garden - they need a lot less water and maintenance than introduced species.
•Grow ground cover or use mulch in your garden to cut down on water use (it also helps control weeds).
•Spend an evening outdoors weeding your lawn by hand early in the season.
•Put a barrel under your eavestrough downspout to catch water when it rains. You can use this to water indoor plants, your garden and wash your car.

Outdoor Pests
Pesticides carry the suffix “-cides” which means “killer.” Natural pesticides are cheaper and safer for your family and are usually “pest-specific.” As is the case in nature, your garden is healthiest when it has a diversity of things growing and living in it. It is important, therefore, to distinguish between those pests which are truly detrimental to your garden, and those little creatures which are actually beneficial. Lady bird beetles, fly larvae, lace-wing larvae (aphid lions), praying mantis, dragon flies, predacious mites, thrips, spiders, toads, garter snakes and birds are all creatures you should be happy to have in your garden.
Natural ways to rid pests
•Companion planting is the practice of placing plants which pests dislike around those plants which pests relish. For instance, aphides hate chives, so chives are a great companion plant for roses.
•Hand Picking is time-consuming but unbeatable. Use gloves and remove all visible offending pests.
•Put a cone of birdseed in your garden. Birds are much more efficient than people at killing bugs. Flickers, warblers, finches, jays, robins, grackles, sparrows, cedar waxwings, starlings and many other birds will consume thousands of insects every day.
•You can also plant flowers that attract birds: pincherry, white flowering dogwood, honeysuckle, holly, white pine, Russian olive, sunflowers, marigolds, or ask your local nursery for other examples. The birds will come for the berries and seeds, but they’ll stay for the bugs.

Organic Pesticides
Tobacco water: place a large handful of tobacco into 4 quarts/litres of warm water. Let stand for 24 hours. Apply with a spray bottle. This tobacco water is also poisonous to humans, so use caution when handling it.
Hot Peppers: Blend 2 or 3 very hot peppers, 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic in 4 quarts/litres of water, boil, steep for two days and strain. Can be frozen for future use.
Garlic: Mix 4 quarts/litres of water, 2 Tbsp (30 ml) garlic juice (do not use garlic powder as it will burn the plants), 1 and 1/5 ounces (30 grams) of diatomaceous earth (see below), and 1 tsp (5 ml) rubbing alcohol. Can be frozen for future use.
Soap: Use only pure soap, as detergents will damage your plants. Liquid soaps: 2 Tbsp (30 ml) per quart/litre of water. Dry soaps: 1/5 oz (5 grams) per quart/litre of water. If it has not rained after a few days, remember to rinse plants.

Barriers
Collars: To stop hatching larvae from burrowing into the soil surrounding your plants, use “collars” made of stiff paper, heavy plastic or tar paper. Cut a piece a foot square and fit it snugly around the base of the plant on top of the soil. Use a paper clip to hold it in place.
Netting: Fine netting such as cheese cloth, placed over the bed, will protect seedlings from chewing insects, keep cats and birds away, and prevent flying insects from laying eggs.
Pyrethrum Dust: Very effective against soft bodied insects such as caterpillars, with a low toxicity to mammals. Avoid inhaling.
Diatomaceous Earth: made from the skeletons of tiny organisms, this dust controls pests by causing dehydration and death. Can be used indoors and out. Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Note: diatomaceous earth can be processed in a variety of ways. Please be sure that the diatomaceous earth that you are using in your home is not the crystalline or chemically produced variety (which is manufactured for use in swimming pools). Avoid inhaling.
Insecticidal soap: This soap is available in gardening, hardware and drug stores.

A typical household produces 2/3 of a ton of waste each year which could be composted. Starting a compost heap in your back yard is a great way to help save the environment.
Organic materials are broken down naturally by bacteria and fungi. Composting speeds up this process by providing an optimum environment for the transportation of organic wastes to the nutrient-rich end-product: humus. The whole process takes anywhere from weeks to months, depending on the composition of the pile. Composts add moisture and nutrients to your soil and improve soil structure so you will have a healthy and productive garden.

Getting started
You can start your compost in a heap in the corner of your yard in a well drained spot. You can also buy a compost bin or make a wooden box for the compost. Just remember to leave space between the slats of wood for air circulation. Alternate layers of garden waste and food scraps with a thin layer of soil. Keep it moist and stir up the compost every 1 to 3 weeks with a shovel.
The smaller the pieces of food and yard waste the faster it will decompose. Composting slows down in winter, but you can continue to add organic materials. It’s fine if your heap freezes, but if you want your heap to continue decomposing throughout the winter, add an insulating layer of plastic over the heap.

In spring and summer
When your compost is dark and crumbly rather than lumpy, work it into soil for a general conditioner. You can add your compost to gardens and lawns throughout the growing season.

In the city
You can start a compost wherever you are with a garbage bag. Compost made in a plastic bag will be more moist than outdoor piles and will therefore decompose faster. Put your small scraps of kitchen waste in a black plastic bag, try to add coffee grounds and a few cups of top soil. Tie the bag and place it outside in a sunny spot. Composting should be completed in two to three weeks. Empty the contents of the bag in a corner of your backyard or leave the bag open, dig in some more top soil and let the pile continue to work for a few days. You can add your compost to indoor plants, your garden or potted plants outside. You can also investigate vermicomposting. The main ingredient in vermicomposting is red wiggler worms. The worms are kept in a box with bedding made from such materials as straw, grass clippings, or shredded paper. Within a few months a dark rich compost can be harvested for house plants and the garden.
Good materials for composting:
In general, yard wastes and organic foods are good:
grass clippings (if not recently treated with chemicals), dead leaves, shredded twigs and branches, weeds (avoid the seeds), flower cuttings, pruned material, all fruits, vegetables, grains, egg shells, baked goods, tea bags, coffee grounds, manure, hay and straw, even human hair and nails.
You should avoid:
Roots of hardy weeds, dog or cat faeces, diseased plants, meat, poultry, fish, fat or oil, dairy products, bones, highly fatty foods such as salad dressing, paper wastes, large amounts of wood ash and any toxic materials such as household cleaners.

After School
Everyone must play a part in protecting the environment.
There are many suggestions on this site you can do, just ask an adult for help. There are also many things you can do on your own every day to help save the planet. Here are a few suggestions:
Save water
•Don’t leave taps running while you’re not using them.
•Take a short shower instead of a bath.
•Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are fully loaded.
Save energy
•Turn lights on only when needed and turn them off when you’re done to save energy.
•Avoid using cars. Walk, cycle or use public transit whenever possible.
•Organize a walking school bus. Plan a route that allows you to pick up people as you walk to school.
•Keep the outside doors and windows closed during the winter — turn down the heat if you’re too warm.
•Leave your curtains open during the day to let the sun heat your house and close them in the evening to prevent heat from escaping.
•Put on a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat. Avoid waste and toxics
•Think of ways to reuse things before you throw them out, like jars for food and scraps of paper for notes.
•Use recycled paper instead of plastic products.
•Save leftover food instead of throwing it away.
•Buy products that use the least packaging.
•Give away clothing when you’re done with it instead of throwing it away.
•Use the public library for books and magazines or give them away when you’re finished with them.
•Take a backpack with you when you go shopping to avoid plastic bags.

Give the Earth a hand
•Plant a tree. Trees can absorb and store huge amounts of carbon dioxide and generate oxygen while purifying the air we breathe. Start the seedling in a pot indoors and plant it outside in spring. Seedlings need a lot of care the first two years, including water, vertical support and mulch, so you will be able to see the tree grow and take its place in the cycle of nature as you care for it.
•Use an old milk carton to make a bird feeder. You can watch the birds that come to feed. Remember to keep the feeder stocked; once the birds know they can eat at your house they’ll keep coming back.

At school...
Protecting the planet can also be part of your daily life at school. Here are a few ideas for getting your friends and teachers involved in the fight to save the planet:
•Pack a garbageless lunch, take a reusable container instead.
•Before buying school supplies in September, take a look at what you have left over from June.
•Start an anti-litter campaign at your school.
•Join the environmental club if there is one or start your own.
•Make environmental studies part of every subject taught in your school.
•Brainstorm environmental projects with other students and teachers. You could clean up the environment from the school yard to the river and beyond.
•Request a non-toxic environment in your school. Examine your school’s cleaning supplies, lawn care, supplies and paint. Ask your environmental group to come up with a list of environmental guidelines for the school.

In Your Community
•Write your local energy utility asking them to promote energyefficient programs, give customers financial incentives to use energy efficient appliances and begin planning to provide alternatives to fossil fuels and nuclear power.
•Get involved in one of the local environmental groups in your area that work on issues ranging from local air and water pollution to effective community recycling programs.
•Lobby your politicians, council members and company leaders. Tell them your concerns and ask them to clean up their acts.
•If there is an environmental issue in your community that concerns you — start your own campaign.
•Organize a street/neighborhood clean-up.
•Start a community curb-side composting program. You can then sell the compost to gardeners and nurseries to help cover your costs.
•Make your community bicycle-friendly.
•Set up a “pollution patrol” to report any signs of pollution in your local rivers, lakes, air and land.
•Organize a tree planting program.
•Conduct an environmental audit of City Hall. Put together a list of environmental questions to ask your representative, city staff and caretakers. Ask them about heating, light bulbs, lawn care, purchasing policies, cleaning supplies, etc. Use the information you gather to suggest changes. Give copies of the results to the people you spoke with and send a copy to your local newspaper or environmental group.
•Organize a fund raiser and donate the proceeds to your favorite environmental group!

Mari suggested use a washable/reusable filter on your A/C unit. A lot of them are made of plastic but you just rinse them off, let them dry and you can use the same one over and over without having to buy a new one. Some of them only run $15.00 or so.

I read your email and then went to your website. One of the ways you mention to save energy is to use compact florescent light bulbs. I have been using these light bulbs for about six months now, and believe it or not, my electricity bill has gone from $130 a month to about $70 a month. So they really do work.
Regards,
Aonghas