Shipping containers-the giant corrugated steel boxes used to import massive amounts of products from overseas-are taking recycling and green building to a whole new level. As MSN reports, resourceful architects have discovered that the super-durable, 33,000 pound vessels actually make great building blocks for a home. Plus, they're cheap and totally modular, which cuts your construction time-and cost-down to a fraction of what it would take to erect a house made of conventional materials.

With a crane and a welder, you can get a container house ready to finish in just one day. You can outfit them with all the amenities you want: not just cushy fixtures but swimming pools and solar panels are totally fair game. If you were dreaming about a big, multi-story home, no problem: the boxes are totally stackable, and you have lots of flexibility as to how you want to arrange them (according to msnbc.com, in California, plans are already underway for a sprawling 4-story apartment complex

The city I live in is full of vintage apartments, the kind with huge radiators that noisily crank out way too much or way too little heat, giant wobbly glassed windows that are very drafty or painted shut, beautiful built-in hutches and floors so slanted that they make even the sturdiest couches wobble. There is also tile. Lots and lots of tile. Whether the kitchens and bathrooms were rehabbed long ago or longer ago, they almost always have walls covered in white, yellow, rose, or powder blue tile.

I've lived in many vintage apartments and there is a certain charm to them, even in these quirks. After a few years in each place, though, I started to go stir crazy. I wanted to paint, I wanted to refinish the hardwood floors. And I really wanted to take a giant hammer to those tiles.

If only there had been tile tattoos back in the days when I wondered if my landlord would notice if I did a quick demo to the kitchen backsplash just to prettify my place a bit.



Tile tattoos (generally $14

We all know that clear nail polish is a great finishing coat for a manicure, and I'd guess that most have even heard that it can be used to keep a run in a panty hose from spreading, but there are scores of other uses for the stuff in and around your home. Some of the most surprising tricks-for everything from waterproofing matches to threading needles-are as follows:

Making jewelry last. To extend the life of costume jewelry and to keep it looking bright and glossy, give beads a thin layer of polish. It helps prevent fading and tarnishing.

Sealing envelopes. In lieu of licking the envelope flaps to seal them (not only can this be ineffective, but does anyone find that taste as gross as I do?) dab on a little polish to keep them glued nice and tight.

Threading needles. Rather than get frustrated when attempting to thread a needle, run the cut side of the thread through the polish brush. Roll the thread between your fingers a couple times; the polish will dry pretty much immediately and

Germs have a way of cropping up in some pretty unexpected spots-which mean even the most neat and tidy among us might be inadvertently letting bacteria flourish in our homes. And while exposure to some bacteria is fine and good, there are certain hot spots where germs tend to congregate, which can make it easier to spread sickness across your family. Here's a re-cap of some of the most major household dirt traps.

The kitchen sink. While most people think to disinfect their toilets with regularity, kitchen sinks are often a neglected. All those little bits of food stuck that land in the sink as your rinse your dishes are breeding grounds for icky bacterias-the same kinds that cause things like E. coli and salmonella. To keep your sink sanitary, wash it daily with a mixture of bleach and water. Be careful not to let fruits and veggies touch the sink before you eat them. Don't forget to clean the drain too.

The remote control. The remote controls are one of the most oft-touched items in

My husband and I are divided when it comes to loading the dishwasher. My methodology is aimed at space efficiency: I line up all the plates on one side, all the cups on the other, and anything random/big in the middle. His technique, or lack of, is completely haphazard-he just throws things in the machine in the first empty spot he sees (which means only about about half as many dishes fit). And as it turns out, as was reported in The New York Times, there is actually a science to this, and my approach could use some finessing too. Here are some pointers from the Consumer Reports Home and Garden blog to help your dishwasher perform at its best, and to prevent your dishes from chipping:

1. Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher, so that they don't block water and detergent from reaching other dishes.

2. Place the dirtier side of dishes toward the center of the machine to provide more exposure to the spray. Don't let dishes or utensils nest, or rest side by side,

Chances are you're using way, way too much detergent in your laundry machine, according to an article in last week's New York Times, which quotes appliance expert Vernon Schmidt saying, "Most people use 10 to 15 times the amount of soap they need, and they're pouring money down the drain." Yikes.

Modern machines are designed to use less water, and don't need nearly as much soap as they used to. And with detergents getting increasingly concentrated, it's important to remember a little goes a long way. Overdosing on laundry detergent can lead to stiff clothes, or a buildup of mold and mildew inside your machine. Schmidt says that using half to one eighth the recommended amount of detergent is adequate, depending on how hard or soft your water is. And though it's a bit counterintuitive, if you see suds, don't think you're cleaning-you're just using too much detergent.

To figure out if you're oversoaping, take Schmidt's towel test, reprinted here from the New York Times

My friend Samantha pleaded for help in tracking down a laundry hamper, and after poking around a bit I see why the good ones aren't to be taken for granted. First off, I think it's important to get one that has some form of lid or top-no one wants to be staring into (or, um, smelling) a big pile of dirty clothes. Second, there are a lot of clunky, unattractive options in the market, and for something that takes up this much space, you don't want it to be an eyesore. Here's a re-cap of some of my (and Samantha's) favorite options.

We touched on this earlier when we suggested cleansing your garbage disposal by tossing in leftover lemon wedges, but as it turns out there are plenty more uses for this naturally antibacterial, supremely refreshing fruit around your home.

Countertops. Squeeze a few drops of juice directly onto stains and scrub with baking soda. Wipe away the mixture with a damp sponge. Don't do this if you have really delicate, porous marble countertops though-lemon juice is powerful stuff and could cause discoloration.

Copper Pots and Fixtures. When it's time to give your copper pots or hardware a little love, slice a lemon in half and dip it in some salt before rubbing it on spots.

Faucets. To fight lime scale, apply some lemon juice and let it sit overnight. Wipe away with a wet rag, or use an old toothbrush to slough off any stubborn bits.

Dishes. Adding a little bit of lemon juice (about a teaspoon) to your dishwashing detergent can help boost its grease-cutting power.

Cutting Boards. If you've