HOW TO TIP #1 – ReFurbish – The American Heritage of Dictionary of English defines refurbish as ” To make clean bright, fresh again; renovate.” So with a little time, money and effort what could you do to your home? It’s best to plan manageable projects based on time, money and resources that can be accomplished quickly, easily and economically. You can Do-it-Yourself and/or get some pro help. Here are project to consider:

New-Old Furniture: Refurbish and Refinish scratched, warm, faded, broken furniture that you already own, or purchase from yard sales, Craigs list, or acquire from friends or family. There are many great how to books, videos, and websites, to help you accomplish you goals.

This is a great place to “Think Green”. There are great eco friendly furniture refinishing products to choose from when working on your projects. Look for LOW or NO VOC (volatile organic compounds) when choosing furniture strippers, stains, and varnishes and cleaning products.

Ask a representative at your local store about products they offer and you can also search online for more information on the specific types of eco friendly products you will need for your project at the best prices. Here are a few links to explore…

Rockler: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17402; http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?    page=21622&tagem=rv;

Environmental Home Center: http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/home.shtml; Eco Business Links: http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/sustainable_building_supplies.htm