John O'Brien

Have you ever heard of a thing called “Vampire Power”? It’s a term used for the constant draw of electricity by idle devices and electronics. We never think about the steady drip of energy used by your tv, microwave, printer, etc. when they aren’t in use, but that toll on your electricity bill is always […]

Did you know, almost 90% of the energy used to run a load of laundry in your washing machine goes to heating the water? By simply switching your cycles to run on cold water, you can reduce nearly 1,600 lbs of CO2 emissions every year. Plus, the cold water keeps your colors more vibrant and

After your next dentist visit when you come home with a shiny new toothbrush, stop yourself before you throw out your old one! There’s still life for those bristles after it’s scrubbed its last incisor. Old toothbrushes are nifty for getting into those hard to clean areas where a sponge just can’t compete. Try using

We’re all feeling the pinch of higher energy costs these days, but a simple switch to LED light bulbs could go a long way to help reduce your electricity usage. Approximately 9% of your home’s energy goes to lighting! Believe it or not, standard incandescent light bulbs radiate a surprising amount of heat… and in

One of our favorite solutions to tarnished silver/silverware is grabbing a bottle of ketchup. Use ketchup to clean your silver by squeezing a small amount onto a towel and rubbing it gently on the tarnished areas. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes so the ketchup can soak into the silver. If your silver

Believe it or not, you can use Sprite or any lemon-lime soda to clean the dirt and grime off of silver kitchenware or jewelry. Soak your silver in the lemon-lime soda for about an hour, and then rinse with water. Let the pieces dry thoroughly and then see them shine!