Newsletters

Jonathan B.

    Best Product: Squeegee, Not Shower Spray
    We just don’t feel comfortable spraying mysterious combinations of chemicals just to keep our shower clean. And, if you think about it, buying something that’s mostly water and which is intended to go directly down the drain just doesn’t make sense. Instead, we’ve adopted a slightly more labor-intensive technology that seems to work just as well: squeegee! Plus, it’s a lot more fun to say.
    Jonathan B.
    Mar 4, 2020
    Fruit Fly Death Trap
    All the fruit we had gave us not only delicious fruit conserves, but also a bumper crop of fruit flies. We were humane to the spiders, but we had something else in mind for these fast-reproducing pests…It’s easy to make your own: just roll a piece of paper into a cone, pour some apple cider vinegar or put a piece of ripe banana in the bottom of a glass or jar, insert the paper cone, and wait.(Oh yeah, and get rid of the ripe or rotten fruit that’s attracting the fruit flies.
    Jonathan B.
    Aug 22, 2019
    Good Question: Greener Swiffer?
    Just this morning, AT:Green Home reader Shanalee wrote in:I have 2 cats and a dog. I Swiffer probably 3 or 4 times a week… that’s a LOT of Swiffer refills! Any green alternatives?-shanaleeDear Shanalee,By our calculations, you are spending about $1 per week, or $52 per year, on Swiffer refills, which means that over the next 5 years, you’ll spend upwards of $250 on something you’ll throw away.
    Jonathan B.
    May 11, 2019
    Can You Put Seeds In A Compost Pile?
    Q: I want to start composting my kitchen waste and I’m wondering whether seeds from produce can go in. One would think that pepper seeds might start a plant of their own in the compost pile. What say you? I found the EPA’s web page on compost, which lists Do’s and Don’ts, but it doesn’t address seeds.Sent in by Click ChickEditor: It’s our understanding that just about anything organic can go in compost: bones, banana peels, unprinted paper.
    Jonathan B.
    May 11, 2019
    Replace Windows or Install Insulation?
    Q: What is a better energy-saver: insulation or new windows? Our brownstone is very drafty, and we can only afford to do one energy saving application. Should we open our floors and put insulation or get new windows?– Sent in by AliceEditor: As a former student of Gail Brager, UC Berkeley professor and one of the world’s leading researchers in building performance, we can answer this question with confidence.Do the windows.
    Jonathan B.
    Aug 11, 2009
    Review: Freshaire Choice Paint from The Home Depot
    As we mentioned yesterday, we’re in the middle of a painting project using Freshaire Choice paint. (That’s Home Depot’s new zero-VOC paint.) So, what do we think?The bottom line is that it’s good, but there are better zero-VOC options. The biggest problem is the consistency of the paint: in some ways, it’s similar to silly putty. In the can, it seems thick.
    Jonathan B.
    May 28, 2008
    Good Question: Green Alternative to Febreze?
    (Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: green(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)Sam writes:I love Febreze fabric refreshers, but I’d like something a little more earth friendly. Can anyone recommend an eco-friendly alternative, or a good home recipe for one. Something antibacterial would be great. Thanks!Sam, this is a good question.
    Jonathan B.
    Apr 28, 2008
    “Healthy Shelf” Towel Dispensers at Costco
    Danger, danger! We’ve already come clean about our paper towel addiction. From the name of this new gizmo, which seems designed to increase the consumption of paper towels using the specter of disease, we’re guessing that someone in the Costco marketing department might have read about inverted quarantine…As a culture, we’re ambivalent about throwing things away.
    Jonathan B.
    Mar 13, 2008
    Cork Countertops
    Cork, our favorite material for floors, is now made in thick slabs — perfect for countertops. We’re eyeing these for our own kitchen and think they’d be the perfect compliment to the honey-colored pecan cabinets.Cork is heat and moisture resistant, lightweight, and easy to handle and refinish.The countertops retail for around $25 a square foot plus installation. They’re available at Ecohome Improvement in the Bay Area.
    Jonathan B.
    Feb 19, 2008
    How To Get Rid of Ants?
    (Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: green(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com) I occasionally have ants in my kitchen. I can’t figure out where they get in and am careful to keep the floors clean and not leave food laying around. I can’t use the traps because my dog WILL find them and try to eat them.
    Jonathan B.
    Aug 20, 2007