6 - Home & Garden
The Newtown Bee - September 13, 2019
NOW IS THE TIME TO SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Enjoy instant beauty and a floor that will withstand wear and tear. For a beautiful, luxurious, high-performing carpet, choose Anything Goes!
Fine Floors by Mathison A Flooring Boutique… The Little Building with the Big Selection
Hardwood • Carpet • Tile • Laminate • LVT • FLOOR REFINISHING
No Hassles • Free Estimates 85 South Main St., Newtown
203-270-0250
Tricia
www.finefloorsbymathison.com
Mon Wed Fri 10am-5pm • Thurs 10am-6pm • Sat 11am-4pm • Tues & Sun Closed
Residential Commercial Industrial
OSHA Certified
Reliable, Dependable Response LIC#E1-0200850
• Exterior/Interior Lighting • Paddle Fan & Fixtures • Low Voltage & TeleComm • Surge Suppression • Smart House Technology • Recontrolling Services Automation • General Service Calls • Troubleshooting • Panel Upgrades • Service Upgrades • Generators & Transfer Switches • Electrical Hot Water Heaters
Pedro J. Ferrer/PETE
FerrerElectric@gmail.com • FerrerElectricLLC.com SERVICING ALL FACETS & PHASES OF ELECTRICAL WORK
203-733-3310 845-913-5175
FULLY LICENSED • FULLY INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES “Experienced Electrical Services at Reasonable COST”
$25 OFF
$50 OFF
Any Service Call
Any Job $450 or More
Cannot be combined, must present coupon Expires 12/31/19
Cannot be combined, must present coupon Expires 12/31/19
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Five Household Cleaning Hacks Using Essential Oils (StatePoint) From cleaners and sprays to air fresheners and more, essential oils are making their way into the mainstream as commonplace, common sense household solutions. It’s no surprise then that the market for essential oils is anticipated to grow significantly (more than nine percent) over the next several years, according to Grand View Research. More households are catching onto the fact that these beneficial plantbased ingredients have a range of cleaning and home care uses. To get in on the trend, consider these cool home care uses for essential oils: • Wipe Surfaces: Creating your own cleaning supplies can make chores a little easier on the eyes, nose, and throat. The good news is that certain essential oils, like tea tree and lemon oil, can help fight dirt and grime as well as kill bacteria and viruses, making them an excellent addition to homemade cleaning solutions and wipes. • Banish Bugs: Most traditional home insecticide products use the same active ingredients initially developed almost 50 years ago. Interestingly, the right mix of essential oils can also be highly lethal to bugs. Familiar ingredients such as lemongrass oil and geraniol in Zevo Instant Action Sprays target nerve receptors active only in insects, not people or pets. “Zevo bug sprays are effective because
they target insects’ unique biology with a blend of effective essential oils, setting them apart from traditional insecticide sprays,” says John Scarchilli of Procter & Gamble Ventures, which sell Zevo online and at select Target and The Home Depot stores. • Bust Fridge Odors: Even if you regularly rid your fridge of old items and wipe down its surfaces, combatting fridge odor can be a losing battle, as the plastic components tend to absorb odors over time. Make that box of baking soda that you have in your refrigerator work a bit harder. To go beyond simply neutralizing odors, add a few drops of essential lemon oil to it for a crisp, fresh scent. • Revive Fabrics: Take a natural approach to fresh-smelling fabrics. Create your own spray by combining baking soda, distilled water, and a touch of your favorite essential oils. Use the formula on linens, upholsteries, window treatments, or any other fabrics around your home in need of a scent boost. • Create Calm: You don’t have to do a full hygge-inspired renovation project to promote a peaceful atmosphere in your home’s spaces. With just a diffuser and such essential oils as lavender and bergamot, you can fill a room with a calming scent. For clean, healthy, bug-free spaces, consider introducing essential oils into your home’s supply kit. A small but mighty dose can go a long way.
Ten NEAT Tips To Transition To Zero Waste By Alexandra Assaiz Newtown Environmental Action Team (NEAT) is a nonpartisan grassroots group of Newtown citizens who work together on smart solutions to environmental challenges. NEAT will be a semiregular contributor to The Newtown Bee, suggesting actions that can be taken to keep the environment healthy. Going “Zero Waste” (a lifestyle where all products are reused, and no trash is sent to landfills, incinerators, or ends up in the ocean) is simpler than you might think. Here are ten easy first steps: 1. REUSE: Reduce your consumption. See what you already have that can be reused for a different purpose. 2. RECYCLE: Check your local recycling facility (newtown-ct.gov or hrra.org) so you know what items are accepted. 3. BRING YOUR REUSABLE BAGS: Keep them in the front seat of your car or put a note on your dashboard or shopping list. 4. REDUCE THE USE OF DISPOSABLE PAPER PRODUCTS: Use cloth rags or microfiber towels instead of paper towels, and handkerchiefs instead of tissues. Use cotton cloths for drying dishes, cloth napkins, and reusable plates, cups, and utensils. Switch parchment paper for a reusable baking mat. 5. SAY NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC: Bring your own reusable cup to coffee shops and skip the plastic lid if you are staying. Do you really need a straw? Use real cutlery in your kids’ lunch boxes. Ditch the plastic wrap and use aluminum foil which can be recycled when clean. You can also reuse cleaned plastic storage bags.
6. THINK BEFORE YOU BUY: Do I really need it? Do I already have something at home that can do the same job? Could I borrow one? Is there more than one use for this item? Can it be recycled? Look for items that come in recyclable containers like glass, cans, or cardboard. Buy loose produce using reusable produce bags or try a local farmer’s market. Buy in bulk. 7. REDUCE FOOD WASTE: Buy what you need, eat what you buy, and eat those leftovers. Plan meals in advance; make a shopping list and stick to it. Be careful with sales offers. (See more on page 17) 8. COMPOST: Almost 80 percent of what we throw away is compostable. Newtown has a free municipal composting service. Call the Transfer Station (203-270-4307, Tuesday through Saturday, from 7 am to 3 pm) to get started or use a personal compost bin. 9. USE REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES, JUICE BOTTLES, AND COFFEE/TEA CUPS: Any liquid can go into a reusable bottle. 10. JUST BEGIN: Implement steps at your own pace. Think about other ways to go green by buying local and/or handmade, replacing harsh cleaning products for natural options or making your own and buying second hand. Goodwill and Savers have treasures for peanuts. When entertaining, send out e-vites and e-thankyous and borrow instead of buying anything extra you may need for one evening. Most importantly, get your kids involved in your planning to teach them how to live more sustainable lives. To learn more about NEAT or to get involved, visit byonewtown.org.