It's Never Too Late to Start Lifting Weights

According to Consumer Reports magazine, the primary reason older people wind up in nursing homes is the lack of muscle strength in their hip flexors, which enables one to rise from a seated position. After age 50, muscle mass declines precipitously. However, there's hope. Anyone can stave off this decrease in muscle by lifting weights two to three times per week. Even people in their nineties can derive real benefit. Weight lifting also encourages bone density. Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, but don't put it off: Stronger bones and muscles translates into better health, better quality of life and fewer medications and doctor visits!

Take Good Care of Your Eyeglasses

Most (if not all) eyeglass lenses manufactured today are made of some type of plastic, which makes them lightweight and less costly. Unfortunately, plastic scratches easily. Scratched lenses are virtually useless, so if you want to extend the time between having to purchase new lenses of the same prescription. Try these tips:

-Never place your glasses lens-down on any surface. Whenever possible, place them inside a case when they are not in use.

-Don't dry-wipe your lenses, even with those special cloths opticians provide. Always use soap and water to clean them, and blot, don't wipe, the lenses dry.

-Never, even for one second, place your glasses where they might be knocked to the floor or sat upon. Hang onto them, even if it makes taking your sweater off a bit more awkward. You'd be surprised how many glasses get crushed when the wearer forgets he or she put them down "just for a second"!

Treat Your Hair to a Conditioner-Shampoo

If your hair is dry or tends to frizz, try washing your hair with only conditioner every other time you normally shampoo. The conditioner will clean your hair well enough, and won't strip it of oils. This will help protect it from the elements as well as assist in "frizz" control.

Keep Colored Clothing Vibrant Longer

You don't need expensive (and polluting!) laundry additives to keep your colored clothes bright and reduce fading. Simply add a bit of table salt to the wash - I add about 1/4 teaspoon to each load. I keep a container of non-iodized salt right on the laundry shelf for this purpose. You can't get much cheaper than that!

Dishwashers Really do Save Energy

For years we never considered buying a dishwasher because we thought they used too much water and energy. Then I read in Consumer Reports magazine that, no matter how frugal you are, washing a sinkful of dishes used at least 4 gallons of water (plus the energy to heat it). We got an old dishwasher for free, that used only 7 gallons for a day's worth of dishes. Now, we have an Energy Star model that uses about 5 gallons. We use the shortest cycle we can to save energy - you can always spot-clean if a dish or two comes out with a bit of soil left on it.

Compost Your Cat Litter

Our town newsletter recently mentioned that one of the largest waste streams is used cat litter. We have been composting ours for a couple of years, and it really takes the strain off the (required) trash bags. There are many natural types of cat litter on the market today, so mix and match them together until you get a combination you like. Dump everything on to the separate compost pile, and add household and yard wastes occasionally, as well. Don't use the product on edible garden produce, though!

Disposing of Clothing Not Good Enough to Donate

Many charities have tightened up their requirements regarding the condition of clothing being donated. If you have items too badly worn to be acceptable, you can make use of them another way. I tear or cut old textiles into strips and use them in addition to kindling to start wood stove fires. This way, they're being useful right until the end, and are not taking up landfill (or garbage can) space.

Freshen Your Laundry

A couple of ounces of concentrated lemon juice added to your white wash really freshens and whitens the entire load. I use 2 ounces for my front loader, so top loaders may need more. It certainly is cheap enough, and, of course, all natural!

Deodorize With Coffee Grounds

If you have a plastic storage container that absorbs a smell that persists even after washing, try filling it with used, dry coffee grounds. Leave in for a few days, dump them out and wash again. Don't forget to compost the grounds!

Paint Brushes Make Great Cleaning Tools

Paint brushes make great dusters for small objects, get into nooks and crannies and are great for cleaning out those corners. Use them dry or moisten them a bit. I also use them to wash items that the stiff bristles of a scrub brush can't touch. You can get very nice ones at dollar stores; don't forget to cut off the wooden handles and use for kindling when they are finally ready for the trash.