Is your dry cleaner still using metal hangers? If so, encourage them to switch to EcoHangers. These new hangers are made of biodegradable paper. Each year, more than 3.5 billion metal hangers end up in landfills — and they sit there for more than 100 years. In addition to being good for the environment, EcoHangers are also easier to fold up and throw away — metal hangers just poke out of your garbage bag. One last point, a lot of advertisers are putting their messages on the EcoHangers, thus making them cheaper for the dry cleaners than the metal ones.
It’s getting colder and people are starting to use their fireplaces. Remember: Never burn colored newspaper in your fireplace. When you burn this type of paper, it releases lead into the air.
Thanks to the time change, it’s getting darker earlier. If you take your dog for a walk when you get home, consider buying a lighted dog collar. There are all kinds available now — just check with your local pet store. My personal favorites are the ones from Visiglo. You can check them out at www.visiglo.com.
If you use the bathroom, you need to know this tip — which I hope includes all of you. When your toilet gets clogged, the first thing you should do is try to plunge it. If that doesn’t work, a lot of people will just go ahead and call the plumber. Mistake. Instead, go to your local hardware store and ask for a Closet Auger. They usually cost less than $10 and can easily undo most stubborn clogs. Just follow the instructions; by using the $10 closet auger, you’re probably saving yourself an $80 plumber visit!
If you’ve never heard of the product BodyGlide, let me introduce you to it. It’s an anti-blister and anti-chafing product. It comes in stick form and you apply it like you’re putting on deodorant. It’s not oily and doesn’t make a mess. Marathoners and triathletes use it all the time. You should be able to find it at most drugstores. If you can’t, you can always get it online. How can this product benefit the average person? Here’s a short list of suggestions:
Keeps fat thighs from rubbing together and chafing, (quit laughing, that’s a serious problem)
Keeps you from getting blisters with new shoes
Reduces the discomfort and pain women have with sports bras
And for you divers out there, it works great under a wet suit
If you’ve never heard of this product, decide to try it and discover that it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread; I expect a nice thank-you note!
Tim Thompson lives in Gainesville. E-mail Tim your ideas for tips, tools or tricks.