This subject pops up periodically - Cleaners. Keep in mind, there are options that don't come with extra packaging, advertising and expense.

Baking Soda has a ton of uses. White vinegar is often overlooked for its cleaning properties as well. Here are a couple good recipes for cleaning - no guarantees and always test before using on precious items or large areas:

Silver

Aluminum Foil, Boiling Water, Baking Soda and Salt: Keep your sterling shined with this seemingly magic method. Line your sink or a bucket with aluminum foil, and drop in tarnished silver. Pour in boiling water, a cup of baking soda and a dash of salt. Let sit for a few minutes. The tarnish will transfer from the silver to the foil.

Windows

White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper: Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.

If you're out of vinegar or don't like its smell, you can substitute undiluted lemon juice or club soda.

Carpet

Spot Cleaner: Make your own by mixing: 1/4 cup liquid soap or detergent with 1/3 cup water. Mix thouroughly. Spray on, then rinse with vinegar.

To Deodorize: Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the carpet or rug, using about 1 cup per medium-sized room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Click image for a larger view.


Although this is not a normal article, by now you know I occasionally insert something that is more of a tie-in than on target. Well, this is one of those.

This incredible image is a perfect reminder of how small and special our planet is. This image is unique because of how it was taken and why.

The shot is taken in Chile and represents the sky as it is seen from a human eye. The real magic is the 30 days it took the artist to get enough images to create the 360 view with such clarity and detail.

Click the related link to find out about the image and view the 800 megapixel version.

A higher resolution version of the image than I have included, not as large as the original 800MP, is available through NASA.

This is very interesting. A design firm, VetroVentilato(r), is working on a system to use the air space inside multi-pane windows as an opportunity to heat or cool a room.

Basically, the space between the panes heats air from sunlight and is directed into a room in winter. In summer, air is circulated through the panes and ultimately out of the building in order to exhaust the hot air and cool the windows themselves reducing their radiant heat.

Follow the related link for more information.

From the article:

Right now, Tesla Roadster owners can charge their batteries for free along California's Highway 101. Five charging stations between San Francisco and Los Angeles have been installed by SolarCity. Though they are currently only compatible with Roadsters, universal plugs are on their way in the next few months, making Highway 101 an electric highway.

The charging stations are located at Rabobank parking lots in Salinas, Atascadero, Santa Maria and Goleta, and one station is located in a parking garage in San Luis Obispo. The Santa Maria station is powered by a 30 kW solar array, while the rest are grid-powered.

See the related link for more information.

click the image to enlarge.


This is a great concept of a portable parabolic solar powered cooking system. There is a stove and an oven as well as a prep area. The design might seem a little bulky at first, but the idea of it storing in about the same space as a large cooler is pretty darn good.

Follow the related link for more images, drawings and information.