Save Money With Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Homemade cleaning supplies blog header

The cupboard under my kitchen sink used to be crammed with cleaning supplies–dozens of different products I had purchased in hopes of finding that “miracle product” that would lighten my cleaning load.

But like many people, I’ve come to realize that the glitzy advertisements and fancy packaging of those cleaning supplies were mostly just cleaning out my pocketbook!  All the glam of the products didn’t necessarily make them work any better (or make my job easier) than simple ingredients I had around the house –that cost me next to nothing. Read more

Removing Chlorine and Chloramine from Tap Water

Understanding chlorine

Chlorine vs. Chloramines: What is the difference?

Ideally, you want your water to be clean, pure and tasteless. Yet, often times it can have disinfectants, like chloramines and chlorine that cause foul odors and leave undesirable tastes behind.

Since the majority of us receive our water from a public water supply, we understand that chlorine and chloramine is in our drinking water is there for a reason. For more than 100 years, chlorination has saved lives and played a critical role in defending America’s drinking water supply from pathogens that can cause waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

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Total Dissolved Solids: what’s the big deal?

The Impact of total dissolved solids on water quality blog header

So what’s the big deal with TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in my water?

Generally, TDS cannot be recognized with the naked eye, but you may notice some of its effects in your home. High TDS can cause corrosion of plumbing fixtures and shorten the life of appliances. A high level of TDS can also make your water taste metallic or bitter.

What is TDS and What Does it Affect?

Total dissolved solids are organic and inorganic substances that are dissolved in your water. The lower the level of TDS, the more pure your water is.

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How do I Improve the Taste of my Tap Water?

How do I improve the taste of my tap water blog header

In the last 40-plus years, I’ve lived in six different states. With each move, it’s taken some time to get used to taste of my tap water in the new location. Sometimes the water coming from my tap has had a very strong chlorine odor and taste. Other times the water has had a bitter taste or ‘rotten egg’ odor.

Like most people, my water has always come from a municipal water source. In fact, most of us (about 86 percent) receive our water from a public water supplier where water is treated and monitored at a municipal water treatment plant and then piped to individual users for consumption.

Why the Bad Taste In My Water?

There are a number of different reasons why your water might have an unpleasant taste.

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The Cost of A Water Softener Will Quickly Pay for Itself

The cost of a water softener will quickly pay for itself blog header

Like many people, I look at the return on investment (ROI) on most everything.

I’ve analyzed (and purchased) the energy-efficient light bulbs that pay for themselves in energy savings. I’ve convinced my husband to install the “high-efficiency” showerheads that reduce water flow rates, to lower water usage and water heating bills. Then there’s the rechargeable batteries and the programmable thermostat—all have quickly paid for themselves.

When it came to investing in a water softener or conditioner, it made sense to analyze the ROI, as well.

Here are a few ways I discovered the cost of a water softener or conditioner can pay for itself—quickly!!

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Is Soft Water Safe for Swimming Pools?

Is soft water safe for swimming pools and hot tubs blog header

Those of us in “hard water” areas of the U.S. know what’s it’s like to have gritty scale from water hardness at the bottom of a swimming pool. So the idea of filling swimming pools and hot tubs with soft water sounds fantastic.

Although there are pool owners who have successfully filled and maintained their pools with softened water, pool owners should understand that filling a pool with soft water is not simple.  It involves a very delicate balance. In fact, maintaining the right levels of hardness AND softness is essential for a healthy pool.

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