About Home: Spring Allergies, Ants & CFL Light Bulbs

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Now you're proabably wondering what allergies, ants and CFL bulbs have in common. Well, all three are things that our family is dealing with in our new home. But more importantly, they could be things we all need to reduce, get rid of or decide if they even are hazardous to our health. Fortunately, we have the guides to help us do just that. How to Reduce Indoor Allergies We've moved to a new home where my allergies have bloomed. I've been suffereing with red and itchy eyes and a stuffed up nose for weeks now and I've had enough. So I turned to this great article on how to reduce my indoor allergies without the need for antihistamines. Search Related Topics:  green laundry  fabric care  laundry products How to Get Rid of Ants This is another problem we're dealing with: ants. And a lot of them, too. I'm told they're always bad here, but I'm just not used to seeing them trail across our kitchen floor. So I read this guide and followed the instructions and now we're living ant-free. It was that easy. Search Related Topics:  rodents in the house  baits  fire ants Are CFL Light Bulbs Bad for Your Health? I've heard this rumor for a while now never knowing if there was any truth to it. And because we've replaced all our old bulbs with the new CFLs, I thought I should dig a little further to find out if there's any truth to what I heard. And now I know thanks to this indepth analysis of whether the bulbs are dangerous or not. Find out for yourself. Natural Mosquito Control While we're thinking of pests and possible health hazards, I think we should add mosquitoes to the list. After all, they not only cause an itchy welt to appear on our skin but they can also carry West Nile Virus - a nasty illness that's diffucult to treat. Find out how to control these pests so you can enjoy the great outdoors without worry. Search Related Topics:  pest repellents  west nile virus  catnip plants Related Searches House Ants Red Fire Ants How to Kill Ants Get Rid of Ants Pest Control Ants Featured Articles 5 Critical Steps if Your Cat or Dog Food is Recalled When to Apply Spring Fertilizer How to Meal Plan Birthday Scrapbooking Ideas How to Pursue a Fair Housing Claim All About Adjustable Keyboard Trays   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Add Value to Your Home With a Floor Makeover

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor We had a flood this week in our new place. A pipe broke and my office was the worst hit. The carpet is ruined, of course, so now we're scrambling to decide what to replace it with. When I turned to the About Home Guides for help, I had no idea there was so much information to be had - from details on types of green flooring, to measuring a space for new carpet and even how your home can increase in value with changing up the floors. Cost Effective Green Flooring Options I've thought about replacing the carpet with bamboo flooring so when I came across this article that compares types of green flooring and considers cost-effectiveness, I was astounded by the number of options out there. If you're thinking of replacing your floors, I highly recommend starting here. Best Kitchen Flooring Now that wer'e deep into researching our options, I'm thinking that the kitchen floor is starting to look a little worn. This article not only reveals the top kitchen floors in five different categories, ranging from best for wear and tear all the way to best floors for do-it-yourselfers, but it also has some great photos so you can actually see what it looks like. It's the perfect guide to take to your local home improvment store. How to Measure for Carpet My husband would prefer that we don't change things up, sticking to what was in my office before: carpet. And he may be right. After all, I loved walking into the room first thing in the morning and feeling the soft fibres beneath me. But since we've never really shopped for carpet, I clipped this article that shows a first-timer like me how to measure a room - a great way to know what your costs will be when comparing brands and types across different stores. Home Repairs to Boost Your Home's Sale Price While this article goes beyond flooring, I thought it was the perfect wrap-up piece for this week's newsletter. It describes all the things you can do to your home to add extra value regardless of whether you're selling your home. And first up on the list of home repairs to tackle? New floors. Search Related Topics:  resale repairs  preparing home for sale  home staging Related Searches Carpet Tile Floor Bathroom Floor Ideas Wood Floor Prices Floor Vinyl Flooring Garage Floor Featured Articles Easy Beeswax Candle Project Guide to Annual Herbs Top 12 Reasons to Buy Furniture 12 Ways to Save Puppy Lives How To Recycle Your Old TV & Other Electronics How to Start Up A Sprinkler System   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Earth Day Celebrations for the Whole Family

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Earth Day is a great excuse to spend the day with your kids at the local aquarium or by planting a tree or starting that organic vegetable garden. You could even throw a party to celebrate the earth while at the same time reducing your household waste. After all, if each of us takes even one small step towards living green we can - together - make a true and defining difference. How to Celebrate Earth Day in Your Community Whether you attend a local earth day rally, plant something green or commute to your favorite green space, doing even just one thing with your kids to promote and support our planet is a great way to pass on true stewardship. Search Related Topics:  climate change  green politics  environmental groups Plant a Tree A lot of communities will be hosting tree planting sessions and it's a great way to introduce kids to the idea that what we do today effects what happens tomorrow. Nothing says that more than seeing a sapling grow into a strong, healthy tree that your kids and their kids and their kids will experience and enjoy. Search Related Topics:  planting trees  propagation  Make a Raised Bed Garden My sister's stepchildren used to hate vegetables that is until she introduced them to gardening and how much fun it can be to grow your own food. She started by making them each a raised bed that they could call their own. So this Earth Day introduce your little ones to the wonder of gardening, harvesting and enjoying what they can grow. Search Related Topics:  garden  raised bed garden  garden beds Plan an Earth Day Party Earth Day isn't just about thinking green, it's about celebrating our terrestrial home. So why not host a party in its honor? Invite the neighbors, your family and friends and join the billion or more people from around the world who'll be paying tribute to all things green. Search Related Topics:  school parties  planning classroom parties  earth day Related Searches Earth Day Fun Kids Activities Games for Kids Celebrations Craft Activities Featured Articles Summer Travel with Pets All About Knitting Lace Make a Small Apartment Look Bigger How to Set Up a Nap Room How Much Does it Cost to Sell a House? Reclaimed Wood Flooring   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Get Ready for Spring Yard Sales

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor We just moved house and while we thought we'd gotten rid of all the extra stuff we didn't want, it turns out we didn't. In fact, my husband is determined to host another yard sale which he thinks will be a great way to not only get rid of stuff, but also provide the opportunity to get to know our new neighbors. To help my husband out and for those of you wanting to host or attend a sale, we have all the information you need to be successful. How to Host a Successful Garage Sale The reason I'm not very supportive of my husband is because we've tried hosting yard sales in the past with very little luck. We always seem to have more stuff at the end than the beginning. But this time he swears he'll follow this comprehensive guide to successful garage sales that will ensure he gets rid of all the unwanted things (like the old golf clubs he doesn't use anymore). Search Related Topics:  shopping used  decor deals  clutter control Printable Yard Sale Signs These yard sale signs are so colorful and well-designed that I've printed out more than we really need. They'll come in handy whenever we think of buying more stuff - a reminder that more stuff equals more garage sales. Search Related Topics:  yard sales  earning extra money  frugal printables Garage Sale Shopping Tips While I'm not a fan of hosting garage sales, I am a fan of attending one. In fact, I used to be able to drive by a sale and spot a find with a quick glance. I'm out of practice, though, not having been for a few years. That's why I turned to these tips for successful garage sale shopping just to make sure that when I do go, I'm bringing home stuff that won't end up in our own yard sale bin. Search Related Topics:  yard sale tools  yard sale routes  find yard sales How to Find Treasures in the Trash This is the best article I've ever read about how to spot treasures in the trash, written by a treasure-hunting guru. If you're thinking of attending either a garage, yard or estate sale, or even if you're thinking of rummaging through second-hand shops, then you need this guide and nothing else. Search Related Topics:  decorating projects  makeover photos  flea market decorating Related Searches Yard Sale Signs House in Home Garage Sale House Cleaning Spring Cleaning Tip Featured Articles Grow Pineapple Guava Indoors Aquarium Setup in 10 Easy Steps How to Measure for Carpet Free Clothing Patterns Remove Rust Stains From Toilets, Tubs and Sinks What is a Water Hammer Arrester?   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement