Pocono Jack

Here are some DIY cleaning supplies that are as easy on the environment as they are to make!

All-purpose citrus cleaner

• Citrus peels
• 1–2 cups white vinegar
• 15–20 drops of essential oil

Directions:

Fill a jar of your choice with citrus peels, and then top off with white vinegar. Seal tightly with a lid, and allow to sit for a week. Then, strain the solution into a spray bottle and add your favorite essential
oil. Use wherever you’d use a traditional multipurpose spray.

Unless you’re living in a custom designed home, you probably wish your bathroom—or your guest bath—was bigger.

Short of pushing out the walls or totally remodeling, home editors at TheSpruce.com offer eight good tips for making the most of your bathroom space:

Pick the right colors. Save the bright hues for accessories if you like, but paint the walls and choose the flooring to create an illusion of space and serenity. Pale, soft pastel shades are best.

A good-looking houseplant adds pizzazz to your home. It can also be the next best thing to a live-in housekeeper, says John VanZile, author of Houseplants for A Healthy Home, out in May.

That’s because a number of houseplants contain properties that help rid the air around you of various chemicals and parasites. In fact, VanZile told House Beautiful, installing a few potted plants in your home can help you breathe and even sleep better without ever lifting a vacuum.

So you’re looking to redecorate but you’re not sure where to start. Follow these four simple steps to breathe new life into your space, and your home will look as good as new!

Step 1: Bring in some color

Painting is one of the easiest things you can do to change up a room. Just be sure to paint before you bring in any large pieces of furniture, if possible.

Step 2: Focus with furniture

Whether you consider yourself a master at home DIYs or prefer to leave repairs to the professionals, it’s always a good idea to know what projects are safe to tackle yourself and which will require an expert.

If it requires tampering with electricity: PRO
Even basic wiring can pose a potential threat if you aren’t an experienced electrician. If the task is as basic as installing a new light switch cover, go ahead and do it yourself. Otherwise, call in the professional.

One of the biggest responsibilities a child—or a family—can take on is adopting a dog as a pet.

Feeding, walking, grooming and cleaning up after a dog are daily responsibilities that everyone can do, and will also help teach children how to take care of something they love. For parents, however, there’s the extra task of paying for all the costs associated with the dog.

Here are some of the primary expenses of owning a dog that a family should consider before bringing one home:

Homeowners insurance is an important financial safeguard to protect you, your home and other assets from potential disasters or accidents. It’s also an added expense homeowners need to budget for. Depending on the size and location of your home, as well as which insurance provider you choose, policy prices can vary widely. To help you save money while maintaining quality coverage, the Insurance Information Institute offers the following tips: