Summer 2010
Did You Know?
Why do my dishes have water spots?  Water spotting has several causes.  If too much detergent is being used it may be left behind in the rinse water and may be depositing on the dishes.  The water temperature may also be too low.  Before starting your dishwasher, run the hot water at the sink to purge the water line of cold water.  (Your dishwasher takes hot water from the kitchen sink water line)  Hotter water dissolves the soap better for more complete rinsing.  Rinse-aid should always be used to improve drying performance.  Rinse-aid is dispensed in the final rinse to improve the water sheeting action.  This allows the water to slide off the dishes more easily which results in less spotting.  If the water temperature is too high, flash-drying can occur, which is when the water evaporates off faster than it can sheet.  Adjust the water temperature at your water heater so that the incoming water is between 120-140 degrees F.  It also helps to scrape your dishes before loading them into your dishwasher instead of washing them in the sink first.  This will leave some sauces and oils on the dishes.  Since detergent is made to interact with food particles for better washing and break down it will help clean your dishes better and you should end up with spot free dishes.
Going Green
Are your home appliances green?  No, not that nauseating avocado tint that was popular back in the 1970’s.  The question is, are your appliances easy on the environment?  All the talk about eco-friendly products in recent years makes sorting out the facts from the “greenwash” splashed around by some manufacturers a difficult task.  The term green appliance generally is used to describe any energy-efficient home appliance, especially one that has received an “Energy Star” rating.  The more efficient the appliance, the less energy (and, in some cases, water) it will use.  Lower energy consumption means less pollution from the generation of electricity.  This is important because about 90 percent of U.S. electricity comes from nonrenewable sources, mainly fossil fuels and nuclear power.  Many home appliances made after 1993 are significantly more efficient than their predecessors, and some dramatic improvements have taken place in the past few years.  This is especially true with major appliances such as refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers.  For example, an average 1993 refrigerator was 99 percent more energy efficient than a similar unit produced in 1980, according to Jill Notini, director of communications for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.  And in 2001, in response to federal regulations, that figure jumped to 146 percent.  The downside of energy-efficient appliances is they’re usually more expensive.  For example, a mid-priced, top loaded clothes washer generally costs about $500 while a more-energy-efficient front loader starts at about $800 and the top-of-the-line models can cost up to $1600.  In many cases, however, the ultimate energy savings offset the extra initial cost, especially if a rebate is available. “As a consumer, you obviously have to be aware of price, but you also need to consider the operating costs over the life of the appliance,” Notini says.
Cleaning Tip
Cleaning your oven.  There are many strong cleaning products designed for standard clean ovens.  However, many oven cleaners are dangerous when they come in contact with your skin or eyes.  Wear rubber gloves, and protect your eyes while cleaning.  Don’t breathe the spray mist or the fumes.  Avoid dripping the cleaner on any surfaces other than those it is intended to clean.  Protect the heating elements, oven wiring, and thermostat from commercial oven cleaners with strips of aluminum foil.  Many stoves are equipped with self-cleaning features as well.  A self-cleaning oven uses a pyrolytic, or high heat system to incinerate oven grime, creating a powdery ash.  Oven racks that have stubborn baked-on blackened areas can be cleaned by “steaming” off the soot with ammonia vapors.  Just lay the racks on old towels in your bathtub.  Fill the tub with warm water and ½ cup ammonia, and let it sit for a half hour.  Be sure the bathroom is well ventilated.  Then rinse the racks and they should be clean.  If a pie or similar sugary items boil over in your oven, sprinkle the sticky spill with salt.  Let it sit until the spilled area becomes crisp, then lift off with a spatula when the oven cools.  When cleaning up your oven, finish by wiping the entire surface with a sponge using a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water.  This will help prevent grease buildup.
Featured Product
Featured product “the new Hybrid hot water heater”.  With advanced heat pump technology combined with traditional electric elements, this new GeoSpring hybrid electric heat pump water heater has been designed with maximum energy efficiency in mind.  The tank portion of this Energy Star qualified electric water heater includes two electric heating elements, a pressure relief valve, an internal porcelain-lined tank and an anode rod.  But what truly sets this product apart is just above the tank.  A compressor and evaporator are integrated into the electric water heater unit and the evaporator draws in ambient heat from surrounding air using two variable speed fans.  Condenser coils wrap the tank all the way to the bottom to transfer this heat into the tank and heat the water.  This innovative process creates the same amount of hot water as a traditional electric water heater but can reduce water heating expenses up to 62% to save about $320 per year.  And that could have a dramatic impact on monthly utility bills for years to come.  Your local electric company is currently offering a $325 rebate for purchasing one of these hybrid hot water heaters.
Recipe of the Season
	Recipe of the Season – Roquefort pear salad.  Ingredients: 1 head leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces 3 pears – peels, cored, and chopped 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled 1 avocado – peeled, pitted, and diced ½ cup thinly sliced green onions ¼ cup white sugar ½ cup pecans 1/3 cup olive oil 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 ½ teaspoons white sugar 1 ½ teaspoons prepared mustard 1 clove garlic, chopped ½ teaspoon salt fresh ground black pepper to taste   In a skillet over medium heat, stir ¼ cup of sugar together with the pecans.  Continue stirring gently until sugar has melted an caramelized the pecans.  Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper.  Allow to cool, and break into pieces. For the dressing, blend oil, vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoon sugar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper.  In a large serving bowl, layer lettuce, pears, blue cheese, avocado, and green onions.  Pour dressing over salad, sprinkle with pecans, and serve.