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Save the Bees, Save Yourself: The Anti-Allergy Virtues of Local Honey

Local Honey

Photo: localhoneyblog.com

Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? A natural remedy waits in your backyard: locally produced honey.

To date, science has not yet proved a link between eating local honey and allergy symptom relief. But there’s no shortage of anecdotal evidence from allergy sufferers. Their testimonials suggest it may be worth your while to experiment with a local honey regimen of two teaspoons per day.

Related: 20 Ways to Go Green Today

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Bob Vila Radio: Replacing Grout

Long before your tiles wear out, the grout between them can start to look tired, dirty, or stained. A good scrubbing can help freshen it up, but at some point the grout will need to be replaced. New grout can extend the life of those tiles for many years.

Replacing-Grout

Photo: dexknows.com

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5 Simple Ingredients for Successful Rainwater Harvesting

Harvesting Rainwater - Barrel

Photo: Flickr / Simply Bike

People have been harvesting rainwater for thousands of years. In the last decade, the practice has emerged as a popular way to cut costs and help the environment. A variety of kits exists on the market, but if you have the luxury of a free afternoon, it’s easy to devise your own setup. You only need five ingredients, the bulk of which you probably own already. Follow the recipe below:

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Green and Blue: Denim Is Eco-Friendly Insulation

Denim Insulation - Jeans

Photo: concensus.com

Next time you pull on a pair of jeans, consider this: You can use denim to keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Though it costs nearly twice as much as fiberglass, denim insulation (also known as cotton fiber) offers significant advantages over traditional insulation materials.

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5 Things to Do with… Chopsticks

Every single drawer in your apartment is overflowing with chopsticks. Sure, you could toss a few pair in the trash. But not many things in life are free; why waste one of those rarities? If only chopsticks could be used for a purpose other than lifting lo mein….

Good news! You can repurpose chopsticks in a number of ways. Here are five favorites:

 

1. BREATHE EASIER

Repurpose Chopsticks - Cleaning Tool

Photo: bakeat350.blogspot.com

Summertime, when the livin’ is—SNEEZE—just great. We all know that dust builds up within our oscillating fans and AC vents a little too quickly for comfort. No sweat: Use a rubber band to secure a paper towel around the tip of a chopstick, then soak the towel in cleaning solution. Now wipe away those dusty areas and restore your cooling apparatuses to factory-condition cleanliness.

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Bob Vila Radio: Window Boxes

Window boxes can really amp up a home’s curb appeal by adding color and a sense of welcome. Here are some tips for creating eye-catching cascades of color all season long.

Window-Box

Photo: houseplantsguru.com

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Back Flips: Is Now the Time for a Fast Turn?

Flipping Houses

Photo: shutterstock.com

All of a sudden there are not enough houses for sale to meet homebuyers’ rising level of demand. Could you pull off a fast-and-dirty flip—buying low, fixing quick, and selling in a rebounding market?

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Perk Up Your Pool: Resurfacing in Fiberglass or Plaster

Pool Resurfacing

Photo: backyardswimmingpools.net

Ah, pools. Whether humble aboveground 15-footers or elaborately designed in-ground beauties, swimming pools are refreshing oases in backyards everywhere. They can be exercise-inducers, playgrounds, or simply soothing surfaces on which you can float and soak up vitamin D.

Pools are even nice just to look at—except when they’re not. Perhaps more than any other landscaping feature, a neglected pool radiates an air of sadness. If yours has gotten rundown, you probably want to avoid it rather than dive right in.

Related: 10 “Dream Worthy” Swimming Pools

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Bob Vila Radio: Wrench Roundup

When you have to tighten a nut, bolt, or other standard fastener, you need a wrench. But what kind?

Wrench

Photo: artofmanliness.com

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Bob Vila Radio: Sale-Ready Homes

Spring is a great time to sell your home. Houses tend to look their best this time of year, with fresh green lawns and colorful spring flowers. If you’re putting your house on the market this spring, here are a few tips for making it look picture-perfect for a quick sale at a great price.

Sale-Ready-Home

Photo: miamiapartmentsandhomes.com

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