eHow.com Video: Eco-Friendly Ways to Wash Your Clothes Without a Machine

Anjie Cho May 14, 2014

Washing clothing without a machine is an easy, inexpensive and wonderful way to save energy and extend the life of clothing.

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Video Transcript:

Hi. I'm Anjie Cho and this is the eco-friendly way to wash your clothes without a machine. Most of us use a washing machine and dryer to clean our clothing. Did you know that clothes will last longer and you can save energy by washing your clothes without a machine. It takes energy to heat up the water to wash and even more energy to dry the clothes in the dryer.

You'll need a large container or bucket or your sink. I have this laundry pod. It's convenient but by no means a requirement. If you're using a container or sink a washboard is also useful. They come in all sizes. You'll also need an eco-friendly biodegradable laundry detergent and a hanging rack or clothesline.

As you would with regular machine laundry separate your clothing into colors, darks and whites. Fill the container or sink with cool water. Remember warm or hot water uses up a lot of energy. At this point add some eco-friendly biodegradable laundry detergent. Let the detergent dissolve and agitate the water required. Then place the clothes in the container with soap and water and soak it for a few hours, overnight is best. This is a really important step for getting your clothes clean.

You can agitate the clothing periodically. My laundry pod has a crank to spin the clothes. You can also use a washing board at this time. After you soak the clothing drain the water and you can use this water to water your plants. Then you soak the clothing one more time in clean cool water. Again let it soak a few hours overnight, drain, use the water for plants. My laundry pod has a spinner so I can spin the water out. If you don't have this you can gently squeeze out any excess water. Hang dry the clothing on your laundry rack or outside on a clothesline.

Washing your clothes without a machine is a wonderful way to save energy, save the earth and even extend the life of your clothing.

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com video: How To Decorate Using The Color Wheel

Anjie Cho March 26, 2014

Color affects us in a physical and psychological way. In feng shui it is one of the most effective ways to shift the energy in a space. Watch and learn how to decorate using the color wheel.

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and this is how to decorate using the color wheel.

The color wheel is a great way to determine how to use colors to decorate a space. So, Isaac Newton created the first color wheel in 1966 with a prism. The color wheel shows how colors relate to each other. Here are some ways you can use a color wheel to come up with decorative color schemes.

An analogous color scheme creates a more harmonious and relaxing feeling. You locate your main color and use the colors on either side of it to compliment it. For instance, orange's analogous colors are red-orange and red, yellow-orange and yellow. You can go up to two adjacent colors away on each side.

A triad color scheme provides a bit more contrast than the analogous. As the name triad suggests, you select three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel. For example, orange, violet and green. They form a triad. It creates a bold yet balanced look.

Finally, a complimentary color scheme is the most vibrant while still offering a simple feeling. Complimentary colors are found opposite each other on the color wheel. So, the complimentary color for orange is blue because it's opposite. The colors are opposite and they reflect light differently for a striking and lively look.

The color wheel is a scientific tool that can be used to see how colors relate to each other and to the human eye, therefore helping you create the type of feeling you want when you decorate your space.

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com Video: How To Upgrade To Cheap & Efficient Lighting In The Home

Anjie Cho March 12, 2014

It's easy to switch to energy efficient lighting in the home. Save money and our precious natural resources. CFL and LED bulb are great options.

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and this is how to upgrade to cheap and efficient lighting in the home.

There are various inexpensive, energy-efficient lighting options for your home, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to go green. The easiest and least expensive way to upgrade to efficient lighting is to replace your incandescent bulbs, like this one, with compact fluorescents or CFL's.

CFL's are becoming more and more common place and affordable. You can find them at your local store for a few dollars. Although, CFL's are a little bit more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they actually last much longer. A good CFL will last approximately 10,000 hours, while an incandescent will only last a thousand hours. And this 13 watt CFL gives off six watts, 60 watts of light. So, in fact you save a lot of energy.

CFL's have a bad rep because they used to give off very blue lights. The technology has improved so much now, that you can get a warmer colored temperature that's flattering and comforting to have in your home. Make sure you get warm or soft white bulbs. They also have bulbs that don't look squiggly like this one. You can get one with a dome like this one. Just screw the bulbs into your regular fixture and you're all done.

Energy efficient lighting doesn't have to be expensive and better yet, the upgrades will pay for themselves quickly. As you see savings on your utility bills when switching to eco-friendly in your home.

by Anjie Cho