Why small leaks become big problems

A slow leak does not stay in one place. Water slides along pipes, screws, and seams. It soaks into timber and plaster. It hides under tiles and behind skirting boards. As it moves, it weakens glue and softens paint. Wet areas also invite mold, which brings a musty smell and can bother breathing. None of this needs to happen if a small change is spotted early.

There is also the cost factor. A tap that drips once each second can waste buckets of water in a week. A hidden pipe leak can push a water bill up with no change in daily use. So the best plan is to check simple signs often and run short tests when something seems off.

Early clues you can see and smell

Start with what the eyes and nose can pick up. Paint that bubbles or peels on a wall or ceiling often means moisture behind it. A faint yellow or brown ring on a ceiling can show a path where water has dried. Floorboards that cup, swell, or feel soft underfoot are not normal. Tiles that sound hollow when tapped may have loose glue because water sat under them. Near sinks or toilets, a white, chalky crust on fittings can mean slow weeping from a joint.

Smell matters too. A stale or earthy odor in a bathroom, laundry, or cupboard can point to damp air that is not clearing. If a room smells musty after a shower has been off for hours, something holds moisture where it should not.

Simple tests that take minutes

A few quick checks help confirm if water is moving when it should not.

Water meter test: Turn off all taps and water-using machines. Check the meter. If the small dial spins or the digital screen shows flow, water is moving somewhere. Wait 10 minutes. Check again. If the meter keeps ticking with everything off, there may be a hidden leak.

Toilet dye test: Add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank, not the bowl. Wait 10 to 15 minutes without flushing. If colored water shows up in the bowl, the flapper or seal is not holding tight.

Paper towel check: Dry the base of taps and the pipes under sinks. Then run the tap for 30 seconds and turn it off. Wipe again. New damp spots around joints mean a slow drip.

Hot patch scan: Walk barefoot over the floor where hot water pipes might run—near bathrooms or kitchens. A warm patch on a cool day can hint at a leak from a hot line under the floor.

If clues feel mixed or the meter test points to a hidden problem, a professional leak detection service can trace it through walls and floors without ripping them open. Early checks save both time and repair costs.

When the noise gives it away

Sound is a helpful signal. A steady hiss behind a wall, when no tap is on, can mean water under pressure escaping from a small crack. A ticking sound in a wall after a shower might be pipework cooling, which is normal, but a constant hiss or drip is not. Gurgling from a sink can mean a vent issue or partial clog, which is not a leak by itself, yet clogs can push water into places it should not be. Trust the ear: steady, repeating noises deserve attention.

Room-by-room walkthrough

A short walk through the home each week can prevent surprises. It does not take long.

Bathroom: Look at the base of the toilet, the silicone around the bath and shower, and the grout lines. Any gaps, dark spots, or movement underfoot should be fixed. Check the exhaust fan works well. Poor airflow keeps surfaces wet longer and invites mold.

Kitchen: Open the cupboard under the sink. Feel the back corners for dampness. Look for stains on the cabinet floor. Around the dishwasher, check the hose connections. A light wipe with a dry cloth shows if joints weep during a wash cycle.

Laundry: Inspect both washing machine hoses and their valves. Old rubber hoses can bulge and fail. Braided steel hoses last longer but still age. Make sure the drain hose sits firmly in its standpipe and does not bounce out during a spin.

Water heater: Look for rust trails, damp ground, or a wet pan. A slow seep at the relief valve can run for months without notice. If the heater sits outdoors, check for water paths leading away from the base.

Ceilings and roof lines: After heavy rain, scan the ceilings under roof valleys or skylights. Tiny stains often show up first near lights or cornices.

Outside and garden: Patches of grass that stay extra green or soft can sit over a leaking pipe. A fence post or paving area that feels damp when the rest of the yard is dry points to a line below. Drippers and sprinklers should not spray the house wall; repeated wetting of brick or timber invites leaks inside.

What to do in the first hour

When water shows up, calm steps help most. Turn off the nearest isolation valve if possible. Kitchen and bathroom taps often have small shutoffs under the sink. If the leak is bigger or hard to reach, use the main shutoff near the meter. Move rugs and small furniture away from the area. Place towels to guide water toward a drain or into a bucket. Open a window or turn on a fan to move air. Take a few photos of the area before drying everything; images can help later if repairs or insurance are needed. If there is any chance water touched power points or appliances, keep clear and call an electrician before switching power back on in that zone.

When a pro is the right call

Some signs point to a problem that needs tools most homes do not have. A meter that spins with all taps off, a ceiling stain that grows each week, or a wall that stays damp after a sunny day are strong clues. Warm floor areas, loose tiles that keep returning after re-gluing, or a sweet, stale odor that will not fade can also suggest water behind surfaces.

A trained technician can listen for leaks with acoustic gear, trace hot water lines with heat cameras, and use pressure tests that show where a line fails. This finds the exact spot to repair, which avoids pulling up floors or cutting random holes in walls. Calling a professional early often costs less than waiting for a bigger mess.

Keep it from coming back

Prevention takes small, steady habits. Keep grout and silicone in good shape around showers, baths, and splashbacks. Repair gaps as soon as they appear so water cannot slide behind hard surfaces. Clean exhaust fans and make sure they vent well. Air that moves keeps rooms dry.

Replace washer hoses every five to seven years, and check them each season. Tighten tap fittings gently; over-tightening can crack threads and cause slow leaks later. Empty and clean gutters so water does not pool at the roof edge. If water pressure feels extremely strong, ask a plumber to check it. High pressure wears out seals and valves.

A few helpful tools are worth the small spend. Leak alarms with simple sensors can sit under sinks, behind toilets, or near the water heater. They beep when water touches them. A smart meter add-on or basic flow monitor can show if water runs when the house is empty. Even a cheap box fan and a spare stack of towels stored in a handy spot make a big difference on the day something goes wrong.

How to talk to family or housemates

Leaks are easier to manage when everyone knows the plan. Show where the main shutoff is and how to turn it. Keep a short note on the inside of a cupboard door with key steps: shutoff, towels, call for help. Remind everyone to report small changes right away—musty smell, soft floor, or a stain. Early notice is the best tool any home has.

Simple myths to ignore

A few ideas sound right but cause delays. “It’s only a drop, so it can wait.” Small drips often get worse and waste water in the meantime. “Tiles are hard, so water can’t get through.” Water moves through grout and around edges. “The stain dried, so the leak is gone.” Dry weather can hide a problem until the next rain or shower. Trust patterns, not a single day.

Key takeaways and next steps

Water problems start small and spread fast. Spot the early signs—bubbling paint, musty smells, soft floors, and stains that grow. Run quick tests with the meter and toilet tank. Use isolation valves and basic clean-up steps to limit damage when water shows up. When clues point to a hidden line or when the same area stays damp, book a professional to pinpoint the source and fix it right. Keep habits simple and steady: care for grout and sealant, check hoses and gutters, and help air move. Share the plan with the people in the home so everyone knows what to do.

If a question comes up or a new sign appears, describe what changed, where it is, and when it started. Clear notes make it easier to get fast, focused help—and keep water where it belongs.

The post Water on the Move: Easy Ways to Spot Trouble Before It Spreads appeared first on InstantELLA.

Despite that, you could feel like some of them could be left off. You might leave it a while until you’ve more money set aside for it, for example.

That isn’t always the best approach to take. If you go down that path, some issues will get worse and worse. You’ll end up having much larger home repairs to sort out. They’ll be more stressful, and they’ll end up costing a lot more money. Don’t let that happen.

Take the time to invest in some of them as early as possible. A few of these shouldn’t be left off, and they’re best done as quickly as you can sort them out.

Plumbing Problems

Plumbing is one of the more obvious types of home repairs to get sorted quickly. If not dealt with fast, it’ll get much worse quite quickly and even cause a lot of damage to the rest of your home. Even a small leak can turn into something big before you know it.

You’ll end up needing to spend quite a bit of money if you leave it too long. Even a few weeks could be too long. Keep an eye out for any leaks or similar issues, and get a professional in to sort it out.

Electrical Issues

Electrical problems don’t come up too often, but they’re usually some of the more dangerous ones that could come up. If left unchecked, they could pose a fire hazard, and you even risk electrocuting yourself by using them. That’s why it’s always worth being on the lookout for them constantly.

While a lot of this depends on how large the problem is, it’s still worth getting them addressed quickly. Let a trained professional sort it out for you. That way, the repairs can be done safely, and you wouldn’t need to worry about any further issues too soon.

Roofing Damage

Your roof can often be neglected, as it’s one of the more overlooked parts of your house. It’ll put up with a lot of wear and tear, though, so you’ll need to put some time and effort into looking after it. Check it regularly for damage.

A lot of this can be replacing shingles and taking similar steps. Looking into a metal roofing contractor or similar professional to help with this is recommended. They’ll make sure your roof is as well looked after as possible.

Problems With HVAC Units

HVAC units are put through the ringer quite a bit. They’ll get a lot of use, no matter what time of the year it is. That causes a decent bit of wear and tear. While this mightn’t matter much at the start, it’ll get worse and worse in time, leading to even more issues.

It’s worth taking the time to check your HVAC unit regularly to make sure there aren’t any problems with it. If there are, then get them sorted out quickly. You’ll avoid your unit breaking down, and you’ll save a lot of money from needing to replace it.

Flooring Issues

Your flooring goes through a lot of wear and tear, especially when you have a growing family. It’s worth putting a decent bit of time into looking after it. Even small cracks in wooden floors, for example, could pose quite a health and safety risk later on. As soon as you notice something, get it sorted.

With wooden floors, for example, the wood could end up coming up and leaving a large hole. Even tile flooring can get more damaged faster than you’d expect when there’s already an issue. Sort out whatever flooring issues you find quickly to avoid the problems getting too large.

There’ll be plenty of times when you’ll need to deal with home repairs. Some of these will be relatively minor, and you could feel like they can be left until another day. That doesn’t mean you should procrastinate with them, though.

It’s more important that you get them sorted early than you might think.

That way, you’ll avoid them getting larger. If that happens, they’ll cost a lot more money to sort out, and they’ll even involve a lot more stress and hassle. Nobody wants that to happen, so sort them out early.

The post 5 Important Home Repairs You Should Get Done Quickly appeared first on InstantELLA.

By putting a plan together and being consistent, you will find your mental health and overall health improving. The chances of you getting ill will be lower and you will have more energy – helping improve concentration, mood and daily performance at work, for example. 

Below we have put together our guide on ways to get your health back on track. 

Reduce bad habits 

There are several bad habits that we all enjoy in life that you may want to reduce if you find that your health is struggling. If you are drinking alcohol on a regular basis, smoking regularly or eating fast food, these can all have a negative impact on your health. Try to drink less during the week, and look to buy one of the best thca vape to help you quit smoking and cook at home as this makes it easier to be healthy. 

Drink plenty of water

Water is so important for your overall health. So many people don’t drink the recommended 2 to 3 litres of water a day which can be detrimental to their wellbeing. Spend the week tracking how much water you drink and see if any improvements can be made moving forward. Our best tip is to buy a one-litre water bottle and try to drink it all twice a day. By having a larger water bottle, you can easily keep track of how much you are drinking. 

Improve your diet 

As you can imagine, along with drinking more water and reducing bad habits, improving your diet is also an area that you can work on. Try to eat five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day as well as reduce the amount of sugar and fats you are consuming. If you struggle to eat vegetables, a good tip would be to add them into any sauces you are making, such as peas and sweetcorn into your spaghetti bolognese sauce. We mentioned it above, but try to cut down on any fast food meals that you are consuming as these can be very bad for your overall health. If one of your goals is to lose weight, you can do this by tracking your calories and having 500 less than the recommended 2000 for women or 2500 for men. 

From our guide, you will see there are numerous ways to help get your health back on track. Start by making small changes and see how they help. Once you have felt the benefits, you can then start making additional changes. 

What advice would you recommend to someone trying to get their health back on track? Which of the above tips did you find most useful? Is there anything missing in our guide? Let us know in the comment box below. We look forward to hearing from you. 

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Drought

In the height of summer, one of the most common reasons for a dead lawn is lack of water. During periods of drought, it’s important to keep your lawn hydrated by either using a hose or sprinklers. Think carefully about when you water your lawn – it’s often better to water a lawn early in the morning or in the evening. If you water your lawn in the middle of the day during a heatwave, much of the water will evaporate before it’s soaked into the grass and soil. 

Lack of sunlight

If most of your lawn is in the shade for long periods of the day, this could be another reason why your lawn isn’t growing well. Like all plants, grass needs sunlight to survive. Some types of grass need less sunlight than others. For example, ryegrass can still thrive in areas that are shaded for most of the day. This could be a solution if there is no way of increasing your lawn’s sun exposure (such as cutting back trees). 

Dog urine

Got a pet dog? Their pee could be damaging your lawn! Dog urine is full of nitrogen, which kills off grass over time. Many dogs like to choose the same locations to urinate, so you’ll often get bare patches forming. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should ban your pooch from peeing on your lawn. Regularly watering your lawn or spraying your lawn with dog urine neutraliser could solve the problem.

Leaves and debris

Decomposing leaves in autumn can provide nutrients to your lawn’s soil. However, a thick layer of leaves will do more harm than good. Too many leaves will prevent your grass from getting any sunlight or water. To prevent this from happening, consider raking away leaves and debris in autumn. Alternatively, make light work of those leaves by looking into the best battery powered leaf blowers.

Cutting too short

A common mistake people make when mowing their lawn is cutting grass too short. There needs to be enough grass poking out of the earth to trap sunlight and trigger photosynthesis. If blades of grass are cut too short, the grass will not absorb enough sunlight and will die. Aim to keep grass between 1.3 and 4cm long. 

Fungal disease

If there are brown, orange or reddish patches all over your lawn, it may be due to a fungal disease. Red thread, lawn rust and fusarium are common examples. Fortunately, you can combat these diseases using a fungicide. You can compare some of the best lawn fungicides here. 

Insects

Infestations of certain insects can also cause damage to grass. Ants, chafer grubs and leather jackets are a few pests to look out for. If you suspect that bugs are destroying your lawn, you can look into various chemical or organic forms of pest control. Sprinkling a solution of dish soap and water over your lawn is a strategy that could potentially work. 

The post Lawn of The Dead: Why Is My Lawn Dying? appeared first on InstantELLA.

Pest Control

As much as you will want to have some insects and wildlife in your backyard, on the flip side it’s true that pests can wreak absolute havoc on your lawn, damaging grass and plants if they’re left to their own devices. That’s why having an effective pest control strategy is crucial for maintaining a healthy lawn. 

One important thing to do is to identify the pests in your yard to see what’s causing the problem, and check your lawn for any signs of damage, like brown patches or chewed grass blades. You can also encourage natural predators like birds, frogs, and useful insects like ladybirds and praying mantises (depending on where you live, of course) to help control the pest populations. And if you want some eco-friendly solutions, look for specially designed sprays like neem oil spray, which can help your lawn but not damage the environment. 

Mow The Lawn

If you want your lawn to look great and perhaps even make people envious, you’ll need to make sure you mow it the right way – and that can be a surprising fact to learn because not everyone is aware that there is a ‘right way’ to mow your lawn. 

To start with, you’ll need to set your mower blade to the right height for what you want to do – cutting your grass too short is a bad idea, as you might damage it, and a good rule of thumb is to aim to remove no more than one-third of the grass blade’s height in a single mowing session. Yes, that means you might have to go over the lawn a few times to get it to the height you want, but that’s better than damaging the grass so it doesn’t grow at all. It’s also wise to mow your lawn regularly to prevent the grass from becoming overgrown and messy, and the more regularly you do it, the less of a chore it will be. Of course, if you don’t like mowing the lawn, another option could be to look at what you can buy in a robot mower store and use some new technology to help you. 

Finally, you must have sharp blades on your mower so you can achieve clean cuts and minimize the stress on the grass – if you’ve got dull blades they can tear the grass and that can lead to discoloration or even disease. 

Watering 

Something else you’ll need to do if you want to make sure your lawn is healthy and lush is to water it properly, and by properly, we mean deeply. Deep watering means you only have to water your lawn once in a while, but when you do, you have to absolutely drench it – this helps the roots grow better and stronger. Shallow watering, which means watering often but with less water can cause the roots to be weaker, which leads to a less vibrant-looking lawn with patches in it. 

You need to think about the time of day you’re planning to water your lawn as well – it’s best to do it early in the morning before the sun is too hot, as you’ll be able to minimize water loss that would happen through evaporation otherwise. Try not to water the lawn in the evening as the moisture left on the blades won’t dry and when it’s left on the blades, it can cause fungus to grow, which destroys the grass. 

Finally, take a look at the weather and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. When the weather is cooler or it’s rainy, you can water the lawn less compared to when it’s hot and sunny, for example. This means you won’t accidentally overwater the lawn, which not only helps to keep it looking its best, but also saves on your water usage, which is a definite bonus. 

The post How To Have A Stunning Lawn All Year Round appeared first on InstantELLA.

However, water is still not really hammered down on society when it comes to living more eco-friendly. Water isn’t infinite; like all other resources, it might very well get to the point where it is limited, too. So, with that said, it’s important to be more conscious and not waste water, not just in daily life but at home too. But where can you begin?

Get Those Leaks Fixed ASAP

Every plumber and every water utility company like American Water hammers this down: avoid leaks at all times! Most people think of a leak as a busted pipe. Sure, that’s also an issue, but a leaky faucet—one that just keeps dripping—is just as big an issue! If left unrepaired, these basically waste hundreds of gallons of water each day. Yes, you read that right! So that’s why you can’t just assume that those annoying drips are normal—they’re not!

 So go ahead and check for leaks regularly and fix them promptly to prevent water waste. Sometimes, this might even mean that you’ll need to replace worn-out washers, seals, or gaskets in faucets and showerheads and repair or replace faulty toilet flappers or fill valves. Needless to say, it’s a lot of work, and honestly, there’s some upfront cost that isn’t great either. But in the long run, you’re saving money and water, so you’re being environmentally friendly! 

Take a Look at Your Fixtures 

Sometimes, all you really need to do is change up your fixtures—it can sometimes be as simple as this! So, you’re not upgrading fixtures for aesthetics (which is actually what many people do for their homes). Instead, you’re upgrading to water-efficient fixtures and appliances to reduce water consumption. 

Nowadays, these can still be aesthetically pleasing, not too expensive, and they don’t sacrifice performance either. For example, you could look into installing low-flow aerators and showerheads in sinks and showers. This is usually the number one way to go when it comes to waste sustainability. 

You might even want to go an additional step (if you can afford it) and even consider replacing old toilets with high-efficiency models that use less water per flush. Plus, there are also those ENERGY STAR-rated appliances ( like washing machines and dishwashers) that also meet water efficiency standards.

Take Shorter Showers

If you need to stick to a budget (which is super understandable), there’s something you can do for free: use less water in the shower. Shortening your shower time by just a few minutes can significantly reduce water usage and energy consumption. Ideally, try to stick with five minutes and under. 

Collect and Reuse Water

Try to do this whenever possible to reduce waste and conserve resources. For example, when it comes to outside, you might want to use a rain barrel or gutter system to collect rainwater for watering outdoor plants, gardens, or landscaping. 

The post What You Can Do to Avoid Wasting Water in Your Home appeared first on InstantELLA.

How tidy people keep their homes clean

Luckily, there are tons of natural remedies for cleaning jobs around the home. If you’re not sure if you have the necessary supplies, or how to make natural cleaning remedies, then you’re in the right place.

Baking Soda and Water

20 natural cleaning hacks to replace harmful chemicals

Baking soda is an amazing ingredient to clean so many things. Mix it with water to create a paste to clean the bottom of your oven. Spread it over the mess in the oven, leave for a few hours, and wipe it down when you get back to it. You can also use this to get those tough to clean dishes and spots on the table or counter. If you notice bugs or other pests gathering around the sink, you may need something tougher. In that case, you might want to investigate maryland terminix locations and invest in pest control measures to ensure your home remains pest free.

Citrus and Vinegar

Cleaning Solutions: Restoring Different Types Of Floors From Rug Pad Marks

Vinegar and lemon and oranges are great natural cleaners. Fill a mason jar with some lemon or orange peels and pour white vinegar over it. Let it soak for a couple days and then pull the citrus peels out. You’re left with a natural cleaner that you can put into a spray bottle and use to clean windows, mop floors, or disinfect surfaces like counters and tabletops.

Natural Laundry Stain Remover

Ask the Strategist: Are There Any Good Dry-cleaning Alternatives?

Getting sick of the yellow stains in the armpits of your white/light colored t-shirts? Try using white distilled vinegar. It is gentle on fabrics than traditional chemical stain removers and keeps it bright, soft, and fresh smelling.

Natural Air Freshener

Simple home remedies to get rid of ants in the house and outside

Rather than picking up another aerosol can of Febreeze or whatever you use, try taking it natural. Simmer a small pot of water with natural ingredients in it to freshen the air. Let it simmer for 15-30 minutes.

Here are some great ingredient combinations to use for this:

• Lemon slices, rosemary, and vanilla
• Slice of lime and chopped ginger root
• Lime slices and thyme
• Orange slices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves

Natural Mold Remover

21 quick and safe DIY cleaning hacks

You’ll find that vinegar is a common theme among natural cleaning remedies. It also helps with mold removal. Spray vinegar onto the mold spots, leave for a few hours, and come back and scrub it away with a brush. You can even add a few drops of essential oil to tone down the smell of the vinegar.

If that doesn’t work for you, or if you want to make sure to get all the mold on and under the surface, you might want to try an EPA-approved mold removal service. Pure Maintenance is one such company that can provide this service.

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Indoor: Hanging or Potted

These are the 15 easiest indoor houseplants (that won’t die on you)

If you’re afraid of what the weather could release on your plants in wide open spaces, take it slow and start with a plant that is perfectly content to remain within the controlled environment of your home or within easy reach on your porch step.

Ornamental

3 Benefits of Bringing Plants into Your Home

• Orchid – these stunning blossoms are surprisingly low maintenance with several varieties and colors to choose from.

• Succulent – likely the hardiest plant you can get, these majestic little guys are especially great indoor companions that won’t shed on your side table.

• Aloe – if you’re looking for something useful but not necessarily edible, aloe plants are a must. You can easily use them to treat burns and rashes or add some moisture to your hair and skin.

• Asparagus Fern – growing these indoors will require some humidity, but keep them well watered and you’ll have a happy, berry-filled fern.

Edible

5 Veggies You Can Grow Indoors!

• Cherry Tomatoes – these are easy to grow if you’ve never done your own tomatoes before. They’re small enough for a hanging basket as well.

• Herbs – a few sprigs of rosemary, sage, mint, and/or oregano will look great on your windowsill and taste great in your cooking

• Peppers – whatever variety you choose, soak the seeds first and keep them moist as they grow. You’ll also want to keep your pepper tray in a warm location.

Outdoor

If half the reason you want a garden is to spend more time with your feet in the dirt and the sun warming your back, there are some beauties you can take on that will fill your garden near to bursting with minimal. An important part of your outdoor garden will be weed control, so be sure to prepare your soil well and give it some extra attention.

Invest in your favorite perennials (flowers that will rebloom each year), but you might want to take on an annual seed or two as well.

Ornamental

The 15 Best Annual Flowers You Need to Plant In Your Yard

• Phlox – these are small but gorgeous and will grow best as cuttings or transplants rather than from seeds. A similar but no less delightful flower is the pansy, which grows as a biennial or annual depending on its care.

• Sunflowers – you’ll want these in a place with plenty of sunlight that’s also sheltered from the wind.

• Cosmos – these delicate-looking annuals are planted by scattering the seeds, just be sure the frosts are over before you do.

• Poppies – these are perfect to start planning when it’s a bit cooler and wetter, which might explain their prominence in the United Kingdom.

Edible

21 Best Crops for Your Edible Garden

• Lettuce and Salad Greens – start with something basic that you can add to any meal, plus it’s easy to harvest.

• Radishes – if you like radishes, these do well when planted early and it’s too cold for other plants and can thrive in less-than-perfect soil.

• Cucumbers – give these plenty of sun, water, and space, and you’ll have so many cucumbers that you’ll be giving them away.

• Raspberries – these are perennial and one of the easiest berries to grow. You won’t have any berries the first year, but every year following you’ll have brambles ready to keep producing.

Before setting your heart on any of these darlings, check to see which types grow well in your area, how much space they’ll end up taking, and if you should make any special preparations for specific plants. Once that’s in place, you’ll take on the title of a gardener with ease.

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9 Vegetables you can grow indoors no matter what the weather

And not all of us just have a greenhouse lying around at our disposal. So, some friends at Sugar Producer Magazine, the pros in sugar producers, have compiled this awesome list of plants that you can grow right from your own kitchen.

Tomatoes

Small Space Indoor Vegetable Gardening

Tomatoes are a great food item to grow inside. All you need is a pot, good soil, and a source of light. Start the seeds for the tomatoes in a muffin tin or egg cartons, and then move them into a pot once the sproutlings are about 2 inches tall.

Carrots

The 16 Best Healthy, Edible Plants to Grow Indoors

Who doesn’t love carrots and a little ranch for a good healthy snack? Just make sure you have a deep enough pot for this crop. You’ll want about 8 inches of soil for short carrots, and about 12 inches for long carrots.

Leafy Greens

How to grow your own vegetables year-round without a garden

Leafy greens, like spinach and lettuce, are a great kitchen crop. You can start as many as 15 seeds in one wide pot (or a long pot that fits the length of a window sill). Once they are grown, you can pull leaves off as you need them and more will continue to grow back.

Yellow Squash

Growing Squash Indoors

A good source of light, a large pot, good soil, and plenty of water will make this plant a wonderful crop to grow in your home this winter. If it has everything it needs, you’ll be able to produce enough squash to last until the outdoor growing season.

Herbs

How to Grow Herbs Indoors

Herbs are a great window sill plant. They need good sunlight and an appropriate amount of water (this is dependent upon each variety of herb), and then you’ll have great flavor to add into your cooking. And let’s be honest, live herbs can get expensive at the grocery store, so growing them on your own is a great way to go.

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10 Ways to Be More Environmentally Friendly

To help us help you, our friends at BiologiQ, manufacturers of eco-friendly plastic resin pellets, have put together this list of tips for becoming more environmentally aware this fall.

Burning

Fall is the season for burning, whether it’s a bonfire, your wood stove, or burning your trash. Keep these two things in mind the next time you go to start that fire: only burn dry wood and never use burn barrels for trash or debris.

Never burn damp wood because it doesn’t burn completely and can release more pollutants in the air. These pollutants will settle around your home, or the site where you are burning, and have been known to cause asthma and other respiratory diseases. Burn wood that has been drying for at least 6 months to ensure that it is completely dry.

Don’t use burn barrels. They don’t burn efficiently and release a lot of smoke toxins, especially if you aren’t burning clean materials. Instead, try to recycle paper, plastic and glass materials; donate old clothing, and grind up old branches and leaves into a mulch or compost for your yard.

Always be aware of your state’s laws regarding burning and burn bans as well. These are set in place not only to prevent wildfires, but to help keep pollution down as well.

Donating Items

Does anyone use the fall as a time to clean out storage? Are you throwing out old toys, clothes, or other items you’ve replaced throughout the year?

Don’t just throw these items away. For one, they take up landfill space, and for two, valuable resources were used to produce those items, so by donating them to someone who needs them those resources are saved.

If you have clothing that your kids have grown out of, dishes you’ve replaced, old toys, find a place to donate them. Homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers are always looking for items to be donated. Search your community to see where that need lies and take in your donation.

If you have other items, like leftover building materials, paint, wood, pallets, nails, etc. there is a place to donate those things too. All it takes is a quick Google search to find where you can send the items that you want to get rid of. Not only will you help the environment, but you can feel good knowing you helped people in need too.

Conserving Energy

One of the leading causes of greenhouse gases that contributes to global climate change is energy production from coal, oil and natural gas. So, conserving and reducing energy usage will only help to lessen that pollution.

5 ways to become more environmentally-friendly for your New Year’s resolution

Some ways you can easily conserve energy in your home are through home heating, hot water, and lights and appliances.

When heating your home, reduce the temperature of the thermostat one degree at a time until you reach a temperature you and your family can be comfortable with – wearing sweaters or blankets to stay cozy. At times when you are away from your home, set the thermostat even lower – about 55 or lower.

Keeping hot water use limited. Take shorter showers, wash your clothes in cold water, and install low-flow showerheads and faucets. You can also turn the temperature on your water heater down or try a solar water heater system.

How To Be More Environmentally Conscious

Turn off the lights when you leave the room. This really does save energy. Use energy efficient light bulbs, turn off appliances and other electronics like computers and printers when they aren’t in use for a long time.

Keep these tips with you this fall as you go about preparing for holidays and family reunions. Help create a better world through these small and simple deeds.

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