ArcaMax

One of the easiest chemical-free ways to prevent ants from coming into your home is to seal the cracks where they enter, but figuring out where the cracks are can be tricky. Try this simple tip: Cut a piece of cardboard a few inches square and cover it with maple syrup. Leave it in the general vicinity where the ants have been spotted. The next ...Read more

You've heard of secondhand smoke, but did you know there is also thirdhand smoke? The children's health advocacy group Healthy Child Healthy World says thirdhand smoke occurs when toxic residues are left behind from a smoker on things like clothes, fabric, furnishings, walls, bedding and other porous surfaces in a room. While the simplest step ...Read more

Are you tired of receiving supermarket and drugstore circulars in the mailbox on a seemingly daily basis? One of the largest distributors of these advertising circulars, Valassis, has made it easy to opt out of the mailings. All you have to do is submit a request on their website; in a few weeks, you will stop receiving the mailings. In order to...Read more

One way to know if your car is in need of service is to simply do a gas audit. Next time you fill up on gas, take a note of your mileage. Then the next time you fill up, note the new mileage. The third time you fill up, compare the mileage from the first and second fill-ups. If there is a decent-sized disparity between the two, there is a chance...Read more

The e-commerce site eBay was started with the simple idea that one person's trash is another's treasure. It's also a great way to make money and avoid sending things you don't want to the landfill. But when it comes to heavy items like furniture, eBay is not a great option, since heavy items are expensive and difficult to ship. Instead, look at ...Read more

Yes, leaded crystal containers can release lead into your body when you drink from them. But there are ways to minimize the risks if you have a collection of glasses and decanters at home. First, never store anything in leaded crystal; studies have shown that alcohol and wine left in leaded crystal decanters have significantly higher amounts of ...Read more

The next time you change out the water in an aquarium, don't toss the "dirty" water down the drain. That cloudy, murky water is full of nutrients that your plants will love, including good bacteria, nitrogen, minerals, phosphorous and potassium. It's perfect for houseplants and ornamental plants, and a little goes a long way. Just dilute the ...Read more

Tipped-over trash cans are usually the work of wild animals foraging for food at night. Even the tightest trash can lid can be maneuvered open by clever animals, such as raccoons, to get the last bits of food from last night’s dinner. Trash that gets strewn about can harm animals and creates litter. To prevent this, look for smart trash cans ...Read more

When hot air seeps out of the house while you’re trying to heat it, you’re wasting energy and losing money at the same time. What many people don’t realize is that the fireplace can be to blame. A leaky chimney can suck up to 8% of the warm air out of your home. If you can’t replace the damper inside the fireplace, do the next-best thing...Read more