DIY Life

Make your own dish soap at home! Photo: sea turtle, Flickr

Making your own dish soap is a great for so many reasons. Homemade soaps tend to not dry out your skin and they work well for people who are allergic to commercial cleaners. But, my favorite perk is that you save money by eliminating dish soap from your shopping list. Dish soap can be made using liquid castile soap, soap flakes, or soap scraps -- so pick your preferred ingredient and those plates will be clean in no time!

Recipe #1: Liquid Castile Soap
This method is by far the easiest because the base is pre-made within the castile soap.

1. Grab some liquid castile soap from your local health food store. Castile soap refers to any soap that is made entirely from vegetable oil.
2. Mix 2 cups of castile soap with 1/2 cup of warm water in a recycled dish soap squeeze bottle.
3. For scented dish soap, add a few drops of essential oils.
4. Shake well before using

Summer means light-colored clothing and plenty of time spent outdoors. It also means a resurgence of one of the most difficult stains to remove -- grass stains. Whether you're diving to catch a Frisbee or simply kneeling down to retrieve a dropped object, grass stains are inevitable. But, they don't have to be a death sentence for your favorite outfit.

Grass stains are caused by the chlorophyll in the plant combined with proteins and other organic matter. Follow the steps below and your clothes will be clean in no time.

1. Be sure to treat the stain as soon as possible. If you allow the stain to dry into the clothing, it will be much more difficult to remove.

2. Determine the type of fabric that you'll be cleaning. If the material is dry-clean only, your best bet is to take the garment to the cleaners as soon as possible and identify the stains.

3. If the fabric is washable, apply a pretreatment product. Spray 'n Wash or OxiClean work well. For a DIY pre-wash, try mixing one part white vinegar with two parts water. Let the the mixture sit and soak into the fabric, then scrub it lightly with an old toothbrush. If you need to remove the stain from a dry-clean only garment yourself, you can use the white vinegar and water mixture but be sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area.

It's summertime, the rain has finally stopped pounding the Northeast, and the sun is shining! Everyone's favorite summer activities involve being outdoors. Yet whether you prefer partaking in high-intensity water sports or a more leisurely walk around the block, you will expose yourself to the sun's harmful rays. And while you may be willing to endure a small sunburn because you know that it will turn into that prized tan, be aware of the more negative effects the sun can have on your skin.

Sunburn occurs when skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. People are primarily exposed to UV radiation from the sun but it can also be found in man-made sources such as tanning beds. It's important to avoid sunburns all together. You may be regretting that perfect tan if your skin starts to prematurely wrinkle!

More importantly, prolonged exposure to UV rays can increase your chance for developing skin cancer. According to the The American Cancer Society, over one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. They've put together a Sun Safety 101 information site as well as tips for protecting yourself from UV rays. While it's impossible and unrealistic to completely limit your sun exposure, there are a few basic tips you can follow to curtail the damaging effects.

Kettle corn is a great summer snack and it's quick and easy to make at home! I love kettle corn for its sweet-and-salty taste. But, better yet, it tends to have less fat and sodium than other flavored popcorns. So, grab some vegetable oil, white sugar, and unpopped popcorn kernels and you're well on your way to enjoying this delicious treat.

1. Cover the bottom of a high-sided pot or kettle with vegetable oil and place on medium heat. Put 3 kernels in the pot. When they pop, the vegetable oil is hot enough for the rest of the batch.

2. Remove the 3 pieces of popcorn and add the sugar (about 1/4 cup for evey 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels) to the pot. Stir the pot and when the sugar melts, add the rest of the popcorn. Don't forget to put on the lid!

3. Shake the pot constantly to prevent the sugar from burning. When the popping slows to almost nothing, remove the pot from the heat and pour into a large bowl.

4. If you like, add salt, making sure that it mixes with all of the popcorn.

5. Let cool and enjoy!

For more popcorn recipes, check out this amazing list.

You don't have to suffer in a home without air conditioning any longer! Even if you have central air, turning it off is great for the environment -- and your energy bill. It is possible to be comfortable in summer's soaring temperatures. Below are a few quick and easy tips on how to be cool.

1) Most importantly, think water. Water in any medium, for example a drink or shower, will bring immediate relief from the heat. (Read on for more water tips.)

2) Remember to stay hydrated. Drinking water is best because it replenishes fluids lost to perspiration. Try drinking beverages high in electrolytes too. They'll help to make sure that you don't lose vital minerals through sweating.

Short on space but dying for a place to get some work done? Tired of clearing the kitchen table of paperwork when you want to eat? Converting an unused closet into a home office can be both practical and comfortable. And you thought you swore off small spaces when you left your college dorm!

The key is to find pieces that fit the space and accommodate your needs. Measure the space before you purchase products. Many closets don't have outlets, so also be sure to consider electrical requirements -- computer chargers, lighting, etc. Most importantly, be creative! Christmas tree lights can brighten up the space and be plugged into outlets outside the closet.

ShelterPop has some more great ideas. Check out Make My Closet an Office and you'll be well on your way to having your own personal work space!

Having trouble finding the perfect rug for your room? Why not try painting a custom one on the floor! Faux area rugs are a great way to showcase your creativity and bring a room together. And, they're not only for the artistically-inclined. Using painter's tape as a guide, it's easy to create beautiful and simple geometric shapes.

Plan ahead before you start painting. Make sure that you are aware of the type of floor you have as your 'canvas' and that you have a detailed sketch of the design that you want to create. For more great tips on how to paint an area rug and easy step-by-step instructions, check out ShelterPop's How to Paint a Rug on Your Floor and get creative!

It's summertime and many of us have gotten slaphappy ... literally. Lovely July evenings are all too often interrupted by the ominous buzz of the mosquito, forcing us to spend the night swatting and scratching.

Mosquitoes don't actually bite; they draw out a small amount of blood. 'Bites' itch because our immune system releases histamine, which irritates our nerve endings, in order to combat the foreign substances that subsequently enter our body. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to prevent mosquito bites and even more remedies for soothing the resulting irritations.

Wouldn't it be great if we didn't get bug bites at all? Surprisingly, there are many quick and easy ways to prevent being bitten. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an extensive list on how to best ward off pesky insects and on how to treat bites.

Follow the below guidelines and you'll be well on your way to enjoying a bug-free barbecue!