This recipe for an all natural toilet bowl cleaner came courtesy of www.ecoperth.on.ca.

Pour one cup of borax into the toliet at night. The next morning, brush and flush. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar into the bowl and brush clean and deodorize.

To spray in and around the toilet area to kill germs, make a disinfectant spray cleaner out of 1/4 cup borax, 1/8 cup vinegar and 2 cups of hot water.

The kitchen sink it probably the most used area in your home. you should take the time to clean it properly to get rid of germs. What I do is use bleach and warm water.

I fill the kitchen sink up to the rim with warm water and then add one tablespoon of bleach. I’ll let it sit for an hour and then I’ll pull the plug with a pair of tongs. After this I’ll clean it again with a household cleaner, or I use Baking Soda. I rinse the entire sink, making sure I get rid of all the cleanser. I’m telling you, your sink will shine. You could use windex at the end it give it a great shine. Either way, it’s easy and it works.

Have some other ideas on cleaning your sinks? Go ahead and share your ideas with us.

Hanging baskets are a great way to decorate any patio and deck. They add a colourful touch and conversation piece to any place.

You can buy hanging baskets all put together at your local nursery, but if you enjoy planting you will definitely save money if you put together your own hanging basket.

I came across an article written by John Begeman from the College of Agriculture and Science, The University of Arizona titled, “Hanging Baskets Add Summer Colour”.

It’s a great article to read because it speaks of all different type of baskets out there, plastic pots, wire baskets with spaghnum moss etc. Begeman says,”small baskets should be planted with only one or two types of flowers. Sometimes using only one variety of flower of one color has the most impact. Larger baskets lend themselves to a combination of flower types and colors. I like to mix and match flowers in the garden center before purchasing them.”

He discusses what is needed for a hanging basket to well over the summer. Begeman says, “a quality soil mix is very important to the success of hanging baskets. The mix should be heavy enough to hold moisture, but light enough to drain well. Although not the only determining factor, quality potting soils are more expensive than low quality ones. You can make your own select soil by mixing equal parts of peat, perlite, and vermiculite together. These ingredients can be purchased separately, in small bags, at local garden centers and home supply stores. Peat moss can be difficult to wet initially. Moisten it separately before adding it to the mixture. ”

If you would like to read this very informative article, visit http://www.azrangelands.org/gardening/news/azdailystar/hanging_baskets.html today!

The Cottage Show will have everything to do with Cottage Living. Cottage, Country and Custom home owners get excited about this show due to the high concentration of specialty exhibiting companies showcasing products and services from Alternative Energy, Kitchens and Bathrooms to Custom Home Builders. This 3 day Cottage Show is held in the 2nd week of April and NOW RUNNING CONCURRENTLY is THE BIG BACKYARD SHOW. Both shows are spread over 3 big buildings at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

Meet with over 200 companies including Builders, Designers, Boats & Marina’s, Outdoor Living & Environmental Specialists, Plus Exciting Daily Seminars, Live BBQ Demos Great Prizes & much much more!

Friday April 11, noon-9pm, Saturday April 12, 10 am-6pm, Sunday April 13, 10 am - 5pm $10.00 General Admission entry for both shows ( unlimited weekend re-entry, 17 years & under enter FREE).