You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested Precis Syndicate, Inc. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2418 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Make A Clean Break From Toxic Products (NAPSA)—Here’s news that may help you breathe easier: You don’t have to use a household cleanser that leaves unhealthy compounds in the air. That’s because you can join the recent green movement in helping eliminate these volatile villains by reverting to all-natural solutions, saving the environment Before you turn to chemical cleansers to get rid of outdoors as well as odors and germs, remember that natural products indoors. Here are are just as effective. some tips: Storing an open box in the fridge All-Over Odors Opening the windows is a and replacing every three months good first step to freshen a home, keeps foods fresh and minimizes but on cold days that may not be the scent of spoilage. Running the possibl e , an d i t’s o ft e n n o t dishwasher on the rinse cycle with enough. A better idea would be to 1 cup of baking soda eliminates use an all-natural device that the stains and odors that hide traps and eliminates stale air inside. Bathroom and unpleasant smells through Clean your shower as well as it vortex cleaning action technology. _ The device, called HoMedics cleans you, without resorting to bre the air revitalizer, uses the harsh chemicals. Cut a lemon in power of water and natural half, sprinkle it with baking soda botanicals. Products such as and use it like a sponge to clean these are as close as you can get and shine showerheads, faucets to “washing” your air without and other brass or copper bathexp osi n g p e ts o r c h i l d r e n t o room fixtures. For toilet bowls, use pure vinegar to scrub away harmful chemicals. stains and germs. Kitchen Bedroom Though many are not aware, The bedroom should be a safe kitchens surpass every room in the house in terms of germs. But haven from toxins and pollutants. before you turn to chemical A mix of equal parts water and cleansers, remember, natural lemon juice cleans mirrors with a products are just as effective. A streak-free shine. For greensolution of equal parts vinegar friendly furniture polish, combine and water cleans germs and 2 cups of olive oil with 1 cup of grease that collect on counters, pulp-free lemon juice. It’s easy to maintain a fresh stoves and other appliances and is environment with an au naturel safe to use inside refrigerators. Baking soda eliminates pesky arsenal, so don’t be afraid to odors in spaces we often forget. revamp your cleaning repository. Shop Safely (NAPSA)—When heading out to the stores for holiday shopping, it’s important to add something to your list: keeping an eye on the kids. Oftentimes, with children in tow, parents can become distracted amid the chaos of holiday crowds. Malls are filled to capacity, stores are packed and kids can get separated from parents in a matter of moments. Here are three tips to keep kids safe at the mall: When shopping with your children, it’s important to know what to do if you get separated. • Keep your children in sight. If children wander even a few feet from you, they can easily disappear into a crowd. • Establish a plan. Before heading out, talk to your children about what steps they should take if they become separated from you. The OnGuard Kids Personal Safety Alert System (www. onguardkids.com) is a wristwatch with a built-in, 110-decibel alarm that children can activate if they become lost or the victim of an attempted abduction. It’s available at Toys “R” Us and select Target stores. • Supply identification. Prior to leaving the house, tuck your address, home and cell phone numbers inside your children’s pocket. Cool Ways To Stay Warm Without Breaking The Bank (NAPSA)—Here are tips to help keep your home comfortable without sending your heating bills through the roof. • Take advantage of federal tax credits. Homeowners can receive a tax credit of up to $500 per home for qualifying improvements made in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Tax credits are available for many home improvements including high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, such as propane water heaters and furnances. For more information, visit www.energytax incentives.org. • Keep out the cold. Experts say the average American home loses between 10 and 50 percent of its energy through inadequate insulation and inefficient lights and appliances. Insulate, especially in attics and basements, replace old, drafty windows and weather-strip doors. • A time-set thermostat can cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent per year by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day. • Upgrade to an ENERGY STARrated furnace or boiler to reduce heating bills by almost 30 percent. • Always be prepared. Discuss fuel payment plan options with your propane retailer. Many retailers have budget payment plans that let you spread your projected annual cost of propane over many months, lowering the costs of seasonally higher bills. Arrange a regular propane delivery schedule with your propane supplier so you’re never without fuel. • Inspect and tune up your heating system regularly to keep it efficient. • Switch to a propane water heater. Over time, propane water heaters can save up to a third Here’s a hot idea for homeowners: Heat your house efficiently to save money and energy. compared to electricity and they heat more than twice as much water in an hour as a comparable electric model, reports the Propane Education & Research Council. • Turn down your water heater from the standard 120 degrees to 115 degrees. You could save more than 10 percent on your water heating bill. • Change your furnace filter monthly. Clean filters will increase efficiency. If you’re on a monthly payment plan, use receipt of your monthly propane bill as a reminder. • Wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket. • Increase your water heater’s efficiency by draining it every six months to remove mineral deposits and sediment. • Install flow-restricting showerheads. You can cut hot water usage by up to 50 percent without affecting shower pressure. • Run washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers only with a full load. For additional tips and information or to learn more about propane, visit www.usepropane.com or call (202) 452-8975.
