money
Free staging webinar. Pulte Homes is hosting “Setting the Stage for a Successful Sell,” a free webinar designed to help homeowners increase the visual appeal of a sale home, Tuesday at 6 p.m. Home staging is a practice in which furniture, artwork, plants, rugs and accessories are used to dramatically improve the appearance of a house while it’s on the market. Experts say staged homes often sell faster, command a higher price and generate a higher level of interest, especially during a challenging market. The webinar will be led by Donna DeLuca, founder of Atlanta’s Design Environments. She will provide tips learned from 25 years as a decorating professional. To register, visit .
energy
Savvy showerhead. Looking for a simple home improvment that may result in major savings? ShowerTek, maker of the Green Choice showerhead, says this eco-friendly fixture can saves families hundreds a year on their water bill. According to ShowerTek and The U.S. Department of Energy, the average family of four spends over $400 a year on showers. With this showerhead, the user controls the water pressure so that less water is wasted. $29.99 at and .
space
This mother knows best. Humidifiers are a must in some households for their health benefits and their ability to help induce a restful night’s sleep. But with the passage of time, the inside of a humidifier can start to look like a petri dish. So are they really necessary? As cold and flu season continues, Jennifer Trachtenberg, a board-certified pediatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and a mom of three, shares these thoughts about what she deems essential household products:
Humidifiers soothe parched throats and nasal passages, which helps you breathe better and more comfortably. Throughout the night, try using a cool mist humidifier to soothe cold and cough symptoms, like the new Vicks GermFree Humidifier that kills up to 99.9 percent of mold and bacteria in the water.
Replace your child’s toothbrush frequently and keep it separate from other family members’ brushes. If you’re pinching pennies, soak the toothbrush in mouthwash after each use.
Try using a neti pot to loosen and eliminate mucus, thereby clearing nasal passages. Neti pots have been used in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga. For nasal congestion in babies, consider using two or three drops of nasal saline drops in each nostril to help loosen and clear mucus.
