Home Tips of the Month

When the inside of your microwave is messy with stuck-on food, spray it with Fantastik; put the microwave on High for 1 minute; and wipe it clean with a wet sponge or cloth. Oh so easy! 
 
Through trial and error, I think I have found the best way to make a cut lemon last. The most important part is to cut a wedge or slice to suit your needs (don’t make a slit in the lemon and squeeze some juice and put the lemon back in the refrigerator). To store the cut lemon, just put it, as is, in the vegetable crisper until you want to use it again. If there is a long time between uses, you  might need to slice a thin section off the surface; but the lemon could last for weeks with this procedure. It doesn’t work with limes.
 
If you look around your house and would like to divest of some items for a simpler, less cluttered lifestyle, I’d be glad to email you my list of sources for selling or donating your artwork, furnishings, books, clothing. The list also includes sources for people to haul your junk. 
 
When putting flowers in a vase, cut the bottom of the stems on the diagonal; remove any leaves below the water line; have warm water at an upper level in the vase and continue to add as the water evaporates. Your flowers should last longer.
 
Please remove English ivy from your trees (and garden) and pass the word along to your friends, family, and neighbors. English ivy is an invasive species, strangling and killing our beautiful trees. Besides being lovely to look as an awesome product of Nature, the leaves help to purify the air.
 
 
Happy Spring!
 
Very best,
Bonny



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September Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

 
Safety first:  In Massachusetts, a recent Law requires that when you replace your battery smoke detectors, the replacement detector must have a 10-year battery. Please don’t assume the battery will last 10 years; for your safety, test the detectors regularly. It’s probably a good idea to keep the the receipt so that if the detector doesn’t work for 10 years, you might be able to get it replaced for free. Another reason to keep the receipt is for a record of its installation, especially if you might sell your home. That thought then then brings up the question: When you buy a property, how much time has lapsed since the installation of the “10-year” detector in your new home? Test your detectors regularly! 
 
Be aware that detectors have a shelf life, even hard-wired detectors. If you have a hard-wired system for smoke, security, etc., have the metal box containing the mechanicals checked regularly to be sure the fuses are working. Just because your electricity is on doesn’t mean that your system is in working order.
 
Photoelectric detectors were developed for installation within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom. These detectors are not as sensitive to steam from showers and cooking smoke; the detectors were created to keep residents from dismantling nuisance detectors and having no alarm at all.
 
 
Buy king-size pillows for your single, double, queen-sized beds–much more comfortable and luxurious than regular-sized.
 
 
When you buy a bunch of radishes, add the green tops to your other salad greens. Radish greens are chock full of vitamins. Your radishes will last longer with the greens topped, too. Click Here
 
 
Alea Air has developed a little machine to clean the air and to regulate the temperature of your room. The product won’t be available until January, but early orders are possible. https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/alea-air-smart-vent-system/?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-brief
Have a good end of summer!
 
Best,
Bonny Lamb



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April Home Tips

​​​​​​​​Hello, Everyone!
 
From Consumer Reports on Health:
 
An almond a day can help to deter Alzheimer’s; kiwis can help lull you to sleep; canned pink or red salmon has more omega-3’s than fresh.
 
 
It’s almost white sneaker time and here is the recipe for cleaning white canvas or leather sneakers:
 
 
 
The best portable chargers for juicing your devices:
 
 
 
The 4 photos below show how destructive English ivy can be. English ivy is an invasive plant which strangles the tree; starves it of water; and within a couple or few years, depending on the size of the tree, kills it. The owners of this tree removed a good portion of the ivy which had encircled the tree but still need to saw one very large line of the ivy. The ivy clings to the bark with centipede like pincers, insinuating itself into the grooves of the tree, making thick lines impossible to pull off without seriously damaging the bark. The leaf of the English ivy is distinctive; there is a lot to read on the web. If your tree or the tree of a friend or neighbor is affected, do let them know. For some obscure reason, Harvard still plants the ivy and their trees along Garden and Linnaean are ivy-covered. Trees are beautiful; provide us with shade and comfort; add value to properties; and their leaves absorb pollution. 
 
 
 
Happy Spring!
 
Very best,
 
Bonny 
 
 



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February Home Tips

Hello, Everyone,

This month’s tips will deal with food safety and the way to shop in a grocery store, courtesy of Consumer Reports:

  • Wash or clean the inside of your reusable bags monthly and keep them in the cleanest part of your car.
  • Wipe the cart handle with the disinfectant item the store provides or bring your own. The Journal of Food Protection Trends found E. coli on 50% of shopping cart handles (astounding!).
  • Check your eggs. Open the carton to be sure they’re all intact. If an egg breaks on the way home, cook it within 24 hours.
  • Bag meat of any kind separately and, at home, keep it in the same separate bag until ready to use.
  • Organize your cart; keep meat/poultry separated from other foods around it. After you have handled meat, disinfect your hands before shopping for other items.
  • Keep frozen foods together to help to keep them cold longer.
  • Get your food home in 2 hours; 1 hour in hot weather.

Very best,
Bonny




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