Spring Cleaning Issues Grandma Probably Never Dreamt Of

Even with advancements in curbside recycling programs, there are plenty of products such as batteries, cell phones, computers, packing peanuts and other items that you can't leave for pick-up -- leaving many to (however illegal or un-green) store them for dumping curbside during a city designated spring clean-up time. While such days mean you avoid the hassles and fees for taking problematic items to the dump, the items still end up in a landfill or worse.

If you want to recycle, check out Earth911.com. Their hotline, 1-800 CLEANUP, has recently been upgraded to simplify the ease of accessing information on recycling locations in your area and offering bilingual help for Spanish speaking folks. They also offer a free iPhone app, iRecycle.

Green For St. Patrick's Day & Beyond

EBay's newest ad campaign (as seen in the April 2010 issue of Marie Claire magazine) promotes buying and using vintage as the ultimate "green" purchasing activity" "The greenest product is the one that already exists."

Most thrifty shoppers and vintage living folks know this, but it's great to see eBay promoting it.

Near the end of the magazine, promotion of the Recycle For Rewards program, a rewards and loyalty program that motivates people to recycle and to engage in environmentally virtuous activities with points redeemable for shopping, magazine subscriptions, etc.


The first 100,000 who pledge to recycle their magazines between April 1 and May 15, 2010, will get 15 RecycleBank Points using reward code "RECYCLEYOURMAGS."

And if you sign up for the eBay Green Team, you'll get another 50 points (currently, it's a box to toggle when you register at RecycleBank).

Tips For Tenderizing Tough Meat

From a vintage issue of Modern Woman (circa 1945; I didn't put the scan in a proper folder, so I don't remember which issue), a tip for dealing with tough and/or cheap cuts of meat.

Wall Washing Tips

This tip comes from a 1977 almanac -- the J. Gruber's Hagers-Town, Town and Country, Almanack. Frankly, this tip fascinates me... Logically, it seems starting at the top would make more sense, avoiding streaks on previously cleaned sections of the wall; but I'll be darned if trying it this way wasn't better. (I'd always wondered why I still has those streaks!)

Caring For Your Boston Fern

This tip about dealing with fern scale infestation comes from a vintage issue of The WorkBasket (likely the 1950's -- for some reason, the scan didn't make it into the right folder for issue number and date; sorry about that.)

How To Keep Cake From Sticking To Plate

Though some of us certainly don't mind picking up the pieces of cake stuck to a plate as a quick kitchen snack, this tip (from Good Ideas: An Interesting Collection Made By Eddy's) does help the serving and appearance of dessert.

Ironing Clothing With Snaps

From Popular Mechanics, June, 1957, how to press fabric with snaps.

Vintage Halloween Party Recipes (1932)

Inside the October 1932 issue of The Royal Neighbor, a Halloween menu because "even witches and goblins like to eat."

The entire menu is listed as Halloween Ham, Witches' Salad, Goblin Sandwiches, Doughnuts, Olives, Celery, and Cider; below are the recipes that are included.

Vintage Slip Cover Tips

From How To Be Your Own Decorator, by Helen Koues, Director of Good Housekeeping Studio (copyright 1926 by Good Housekeeping Magazine; second edition, printed April, 1927), "Slip Cover Points."

Wee Wisdom Cooking (For Kids)

Inside Wee Wisdom (July 1964 issue), Carol Lynn Worthen's "Cooking Is Fun" column with a recipe for Uncooked Fruit Squares:

Ice Cream Ideas

From a 1937 Frigidaire publication, "Ideas For Using Commercial Ice Creams."