Tax Credits For Energy Efficient Home Upgrades

To encourage homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which came out in February of this year, has a provision that offers tax credits for energy efficient upgrades to homes. Most projects can claim credits for 30% of the materials cost up to $1,500, and include … Continue reading “Tax Credits For Energy Efficient Home Upgrades”

MacCranberry Oatmeal Scones

This month’s scone is a tasty breakfast scone that is great warm with butter or margarine.  We had fun making this one because it was so simple and easy- it only took us about 20 minutes from measuring the ingredients until it was in the oven, so it’s great for making in the morning for … Continue reading “MacCranberry Oatmeal Scones”

The Art of Plunging a Bathtub

Sometimes a completely clogged bathtub drain can be plunged free- using a toilet plunger.  Plunging a bathtub drain works by forcing a pocket of water or air through the pipe to break up or loosen the clog- which is most often made up of hair and collections of soap in a bathtub. To plunge the … Continue reading “The Art of Plunging a Bathtub”

MacMolasses Scones

These scones make a good after-breakfast snack; with a hint of cinnamon and a mildly sweet flavor from the molasses- which is called treacle in Scotland. Ingredients: 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground/powdered ginger ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup butter (5 … Continue reading “MacMolasses Scones”

Kitchen Sink Odors

Kitchen sinks get a lot of food particles and other debris washed down the drain, especially if you have a garbage disposal.  There are a number of “home remedies” people prescribe for their stinky drains, and sometimes they can successfully tame a mild odor. Baking soda eliminates various odors around a home: for your kitchen … Continue reading “Kitchen Sink Odors”

Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Coffee grounds

A few stray coffee grounds here and there down the drain won’t cause much of a hassle, but a large amount of coffee grounds dumped down a drain at once can cause a clog.  Coffee grounds tend to attract grease, allowing small amounts of oils and grease to build up much more easily. Instead of … Continue reading “Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Coffee grounds”

Are mineral deposits in your water heater costing you money?

The water in your home contains naturally occurring small amounts of sediment and minerals, which can lead to limescale or other stains in your bathtub, sink or on chrome fixtures- which you may have noticed and had to clean before.  But these same minerals can build up in pipes and in the places you can’t … Continue reading “Are mineral deposits in your water heater costing you money?”

Is my toilet clogged, or just lazy?

Everyone has met a toilet like this before… you flush, and the water seems to just slowly swirl around for a while, and you wait and wait anxiously for what seems like days (though it’s only a few seconds) to see if it will actually flush or (oh no!) overflow. The best way to describe … Continue reading “Is my toilet clogged, or just lazy?”

MacLemon Mini Scones

These scones are a bite-sized lemon flavor scone: biscuity and not too sweet. Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons baking powder ¼ cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons grated lemon peel ½ cup butter (1 stick) 2 eggs, beaten 2/3 cup milk or buttermilk Directions: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  … Continue reading “MacLemon Mini Scones”

Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Paint

If you’ve just finished painting a room in your home and have some leftover paint you don’t want to keep, or you just found a stash of half-full paint cans in your basement and want to dispose of them…DON’T pour them down the drain- any drain in your home. Paint is highly flammable and dangerous … Continue reading “Don’t Put it Down Your Drain: Paint”