CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Expanding Office Bin

CasaSugar — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Thanks to my trusty, pretty MacBook, I rarely need to use paper these days. Essentially, my office wastebasket never reaches maximum capacity. If I didn't work in a sprawling office, I'd find my trash bin a bit of a waste of space on most days. In that case, I'd be delighted to own the Bin ($65) by Front, which expands and contracts based on how much junk you put in it. It's hands down the smartest, prettiest wastebasket I've ever seen. That is, aside from the Trash icon on my MacBook's dock; now that's just magical.

This Just In: Vipp and Helena Christensen Team Up For Charity

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:37 -0700

Danish design company VIPP and supermodel Helena Christensen have teamed up to hold a charity auction of Vipp pedal bins that have been given a fashionable makeover by fashion, design, art, and entertainment leaders. The bins have been made over by the likes of Bono, Michael Stipe, Mario Batali, Michael Bastian, Simon Doonan, Frederic Fekkai, Karim Rashid, Jason Miller, Todd Oldham, Alice Temperley, Mena Suvari, and more, and will be sold in a silent auction benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Chernobyl Children’s Project International. An installation of the bins will be on display for public viewing and pre-bidding at The Conran Shop in New York through Thursday, Sept. 18, when an evening auction event will be held at the Winston Wächter Fine Art Gallery. Bidding for the bins begins at either $500 or $750, and you can learn more details by calling a bidding specialist at The Conran Shop at (866) 755-9079. To see more of the designs, read more.

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Cool Idea: Sorting Garbage Can

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:00:00 -0700

If you read my post on the Ovetto recycling bin, you'll know that while I dug the concept of a sorting recycling bin, I hoped for one that blended in better with our kitchens - less of a design statement. Well, I think the Constance Guisset Tri3 may be just the thing. Like Ovetto, this garbage can sorts with one compartment for waste, one for plastics, and another for glass, in addition to a trash bag dispenser. Each compartment opens outward from a central axis via one of three charming blue pedals at its base. Functionally, this design seems to fit the bill - although I might use the discard compartment for cans instead - and it's quite easy on the eyes as well. Resembling a stack of three drum shades, it is modern, but being completely white, it would sit quietly in most kitchens. To see more photos, read more.

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Do You Have a Stainless Steel Trash Can?

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:49 -0700

My plastic trash can is smelling not-so-fresh these days. Although I originally scoffed at the price of this VIPP Kitchen Bin ($319), the odor-reducing quality of steel is seeming more and more valuable to me - especially considering how many pricey Diptyque candles I've bought to mask the smell of my garbage can. Then again, a good hose-down would do the trick, too. Do you have a stainless steel trash can?

Cool Idea: An Interactive Trash Bin

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:33 -0700

British fashion designer Paul Smith and Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic today unveiled a five-foot "rabbit bin." Whenever a passerby drops rubbish in the bin, the bunny's ears light up. The bunny is part of the Design Museum Super Contemporary Exhibition in Covent Garden. I love the concept of making civic responsibility (such as keeping your city clean) whimsical and fun. Perhaps the streets of my fair city would be a little cleaner if there were rabbit bins here.

Would you want a rabbit bin in your town?

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Casa Verde(?): Fabriano

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:00:35 -0700

Italian designers Riccardo Nannini, Domenico Orefice, and Emanuele Pizzolorusso created Fabriano, a waste basket made entirely out of recycled paper. The muffin-cup-shaped basket consists of 50 pleated-paper disposable bags nesting inside one another. Each can be extracted and used as trash bags themselves when the bin is full, leaving the layer below ready to collect more paper/trash. My first thought was that this is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic trash bags. But on second thought, I realized that it's a waste paper basket meant for paper, which would eventually be tossed in a recycling bin. So, it seems that the basket wastes more paper than necessary. But in the long run, a recycled paper bag, which can be recycled again, is more eco-friendly than, say, a standard waste basket, which would likely end up in a landfill when it's no longer needed. What do you think? Is this product eco-friendly?
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How-To: Clean Out Your Refrigerator

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:18 -0800

Another year, another resolution. It's hard to eat healthy when your refrigerator is stocked with temptation. And it's hard to get off on the right foot with any resolution when your home base is a mess. So, it's time that we all get a fresh start this year with a clean fridge. You may think that the task only requires a dose of motivation, but there's a method to this cleanliness, and I'm going to enlighten you with it. To learn the steps to a cleaner new year, read more.

To begin, clean your kitchen counter and sink and remove everything from your countertops.
Take out your trash, and put a fresh bag in your garbage can.
Put any dirty dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on, or wash them by hand. Unload your dishes and put them where they belong: out of sight!
Turn off your refrigerator and unplug it.
Now, on to the real work. Begin with your freezer. If you have an ice maker, toss all your ice and wash the ice bin by hand. If you have ice trays, toss the ice and put your trays in the dishwasher. If you have neither, get yourself some ice trays!
Toss everything in your freezer except unopened boxes of frozen food. If you haven't eaten your frozen leftovers by now, you never will. If you have curbside composting with your garbage service, you can compost your food and even paper towels, instead of throwing it all in the trash. If you have a backyard compost pile, only place fruits and veggie-based foods in it.
Put the keepers on your kitchen counter.
On to the fridge. Work your way down starting from the top shelf and toss all of your leftovers. Rinse all your Tupperware and other storage containers and put them in the dishwasher.
Turn your dishwasher on.
One shelf at a time, pull every food product out of your fridge, tossing or composting it if it's expired or the sell by date isn't within the last two weeks. Put the keepers on your kitchen counter.
Apply the last two steps to the refrigerator door and any bins you have in your fridge.
Fill your sink with water and a good dose of dishwashing liquid.
Soak each refrigerator shelf in your sink for a delicate few one at a time. Scrub it well with a sponge. Shake dry. Spray it with glass cleaner, wipe, and let dry. Continue with each shelf. And remember, you can also clean with vinegar.
Spray the interior walls of your refrigerator and freezer and their doors with Clorox Greenworks and scrub your heart out.
Now, clean your vegetable bins by soaking and sponging them, and then spraying them with your Greenworks as well. Let dry.
Now, replace the shelves and bins.
Replace your food to your fridge and freezer, keeping them organized with some system.
Remove your ice trays from your dishwasher, fill them, and place them in the freezer.
Unload the rest of your dishwasher.
Make a list of what to buy now that I've made you toss everything.
Remove the Christmas cards from your fridge and store them. Toss or store any other paperwork on your fridge. Start fresh with a paper-free fridge, just magnets!
Wipe down the exterior of your fridge.
Now, have a glass of wine and relax.

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How-To: Prepare Your House For Vacation

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:44 -0800

After you've done your shopping and packing, if you're leaving town for the holidays, there are a few things you should check off your list to keep your digs in tip-top shape. If you'll be gone for a couple weeks or more, I suggest following all of my steps. If it's a short trip, you may choose to omit some.

To start, you'll want to purge your refrigerator and pantry of any perishables. You'll likely have household staples (sugar, flour, etc.) that you won't want to toss; store those in tightly sealed containers, like Le Parfait Storage Jars.
If you're going to be gone for a few weeks, once you've emptied your refrigerator/freezer, unplug it and open the doors to defrost. Leave a box of Fridge-N-Freezer to absorb any odors that may be lingering.
Round up all of your trash bags and take them out to your garbage bin. Make sure you bring your garbage bin to the curb so the garbage crew can access your trash.
Scan your yard, patio, or deck for any outdoor items and furnishings you might have left there and bring them indoors.

To read the rest of my vacation preparation list, read more.

Water your plants, or hire someone to come by and water them while you're gone. And don't forget to feed your pets and hire a caretaker for them if they're not coming with!
Ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to check on your house while you're gone.
Suspend your mail service, or ask a trustworthy friend or neighbor to pick up your mail daily.
Turn the thermostat down to about 55 degrees.
Turn off the water.
Put a few lights in the front of the house on timers so that they go on at night, and turn the rest off.
Close your windows, blinds, and curtains to prevent sun damage and to keep your house private.
Dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and wipe down your counters.
Wash and dry your bed sheets. Fold them, and put them in your linen closet. Make your bed when you return from vacation to prevent your linens from getting dusty while you're gone.
Make sure to do any other laundry.
Shovel snow and ice off of any walkways at your home, if there is any.
If you're leaving a car at home, remove valuables and bring them indoors. Lock your car doors, and leave it in the garage, if you have one.
Obviously, lock all of your doors (including the garage). But, leave your interior doors open to keep closets and small rooms from getting stuffy.
Do a run down to make sure you haven't forgotten anything (passport!) and take a walk through your house.
Set your alarm system. Bon voyage!

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Casa Verde: What Not to Recycle

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:00:45 -0700

In the past, I've given you the lowdown on which plastics can be recycled and told you 21 surprisingly recyclable things. But aside from the question of pizza boxes, I haven't gotten around to telling you what not to recycle. We all know that recycling is important, and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom even thinks those who fail to should be punished. It's also pretty darn easy, especially if you've got a proper recycling bin system. However, tossing trash into your recycling bins can really complicate things for your local recycling crew. You'll have to check your local recycling guidelines to see what restrictions apply in your neck of the woods, but to get a general idea of what is not allowed in recycling, read more.

This list, from San Francisco's recycling program, offers good guidelines on what not to put in your recycling bin:

Batteries
Electronics
Ceramic dishes or cups
Coat hangers
Compostable plastics
Food soiled paper (i.e. paper cups, plates, napkins, towels, takeout boxes. and greasy pizza boxes)
Light bulbs
Liquids
Mirrors
Plastic bags or plastic films
Soy milk or juice boxes
Styrofoam
Waxed cardboard
Window glass

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Gift Guide: The Slightly Disheveled Home Enthusiast

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:15:27 -0800

One of my friends is so well-organized and super-tidy that she has a side business as a personal organizer. Alas, that's not the case for most of us - myself included! It seems as if half of my home time is spent simply organizing the clutter and tackling the dust bunnies. Since the majority of us will always need an extra hand in keeping things sparkling and clutter-free, I've pulled together some eco-oriented and design-forward products that will help your friends keep their homes green and clean.

For a few words of advice on assembling this gift idea, as well as my picks for the slightly disheveled home enthusiast, read more.

So, my first word of advice on giving this gift is not to give it to anyone you're romantically involved with! As someone who once received a cast iron pan from a boyfriend for her birthday, I can tell you that this will not go over well. Instead, save this gift for a friend or family member who's recently moved, or who you know will appreciate a practical gift. Giving these gifts to someone who's making the switch to green cleaners is also a smart idea. If you arrange all of the cleaners, microfiber cloths, and other products in one of the organizing containers or design-forward trash bins, and tie it together with a big bow, the whole package will look great when you give it, too!

Mrs. Meyer's Dish Soap - $4.99	Magnetic Fly Swatter - $5.99
Translations Wastebasket - $24.99	Mrs. Meyer's Hand Soap - $4.99
Red Stripe Crunch Can by Umbra - $19.99	BabyGanics Healthy Home Products - $8.99
Hardwood Floor Refresher - $20.00	Cucumber Mint Cleaning Collection - $9.00
Animal Swing-Lid Cans - $11.99	Ceramic Compost Pot - $29.99
Williams-Sonoma Pure & Green Collection, All-Purpose Cleaner - $12.50	Mildew Stain Away - $14.00
Mrs. Meyer's All-Purpose Cleaner - $7.99	Pablo - Duo Paper Bin - $106.00
GreenShopper 21" x 17" Shopping Bag - $4.99	Granite Gold® 24-Ounce Sealer - $29.99
Garbini Mini Can by Karim Rashid for Umbra - $4.99	Super Pine Cleaner (2 bottles) - $14.00
Handmade Broom Set - $65.00	Lavender Linen Spray - $12.00
Ceramic Compost Pail - $32.00	NatureMill PRO Composter - $399.95
Shopping Bags - $40.00	Eco-Cloth Kitchen Pack - $18.00
OXO Soap Dispensing Palm Brush - $9.95	Misprint Waste Can - $35.00
Mrs. Meyer's® Clean Day Home Cleaners for Pet Owners - $4.99	Ceramic Compost Filters, Set of 2 - $8.50
Umbra U+ Collection Crinkle Waste Can - $80.00	Granite Gold® Stone Cleaners - $9.99
Hardwood Floor Cleaner - $9.00	Rowenta® Soleplate Cleaning Kit - $9.95
Wood & Bamboo Oil - $7.95	Bamboo Floor Duster - $30.00
Eco Sponges - $1.95	Casabella Contour Spray Bottle & Microfiber Cloths - $12.99
Stainless 8-gallon - $149.99	Square Feathergrain Wastebasket - $19.99
simplehuman® Grocery Bag Can with Bag Holder - $29.99	Tree Life Furniture Oil - $15.00
Smudge-Resistant Trash Can - $135.00	Wood Handled Ostrich Feather Duster - $9.99
simplehuman® Steel Bar Rectangular Fingerprint Proof 38-Liter Step Can - $199.99