Tips About Anything

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Making your home green and energy-efficient can be easier than you thought.  Here are some tips:

• Do go on a power strip.  Power strips aren’t just for computer gear.  Use them for appliances, televisions, any thing that uses electricity when not in use.  Turn them off with on quick click of the switch.
• Do add insulation to your windows.  Up to 50% of a home’s heating and colling energy is lost through the windows.  High-insulating shades can more than double the energy efficiency of a window and reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Do maintain your mechanical systems.  Service and clean your gas or oil furnace at least once a year.  Keep your heating and air conditioner filters clean and replace your fiber-glass filters with reusable, washable ones.  Invest in a programmable thermostat that lets you set temperatures for different times of the day.  In summer set your thermostat as high as possible without sacrificing comfort.  The less difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
• Do watch air conditioning units.  Remove air-conditioning units in the fall because they invite drafts.  Or, use an insulated jacket on the exterior.  An air conditioning unit in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. 
• Don’t place lamps or TV sets near a thermostat.   The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Don’t try to speed up heating or cooling by raising the thermostat beyond the desired temperature.   In winter, the popular notion that the higher you set the thermostat, the faster your home will warm up.  In reality, it takes the same amount of time for the temperature to reach 70 degrees whether the thermostat is set at 70 or 90 degrees.  Setting the thermostat all the way up only increases your heating costs.  The same is true for summer, setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when yo turn on the air conditioner will not cool your home any faster.  According to the Department of Energy, it could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.

Steps to preserve pine cones:

1. Obtain some clean pine cones. You can purchase them but collecting them in nature is a lot more fun and saves packaging.
2. Clean the cones. Pick off any pine needles or visible debris stuck between the cone layers.
3. You can remove sap/pitch with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip.
4. Soak the cones. This will help to eliminate any little critters that may have taken residence in the cone. Use a non-sudsing product (for example, a 1/2 cup of vinegar or ammonia) in a sink full of warm water.
5. Soak the cones for about 20 minutes. Swish them around every few minutes. Rinse them thoroughly. You can run them through the dishwasher, too, but don’t use any soap. The cones will close up when wet.
6. Place the cones on a towel or newspaper to dry. The drying time can take several hours or even a few days. Let them air dry. (See warnings.) As the cones dry, their layers will re-open.
7. Finish the cones with a preserver. There are a couple of methods you can use to put the “preserving” finish on your cones. Whichever you choose, it’s best to do it outdoors.
8. Prepare the work area. Cover the work area with a layer of aluminum foil. Use an old window screen or a baker’s cooling rack over the foil to place the cones on while the finish dries. This will help keep the cones from sticking to the work area, and allow air to circulate.
9. Begin applying the finish to the bottom of the cone first. After applying the first coat of finish to the bottom, lay the cone on its side, atop the cooling rack and let it dry. Then do the tops and sides of the cone, standing each cone upright to dry.

• Method One: Spray finish. Using a non-yellowing spray varnish (see Tips), follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Lay the cones on their sides and spray the bottoms of the cones with a light, even coat of finish. When the bottom is dry, invert the cone to a “stand up” position. Covering the top and sides of the cones, hold the can at an angle slightly above the cone to ensure you get inside the cone petals. Repeat these steps as many times as you desire, but allow each light coat to thoroughly dry before applying an additional coat.#
• Method Two: This is messy and labor intensive but produces a great finish. Use a marine varnish, available at most larger, reputable hardware stores. Following the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings, apply a light coat of varnish with an inexpensive brush that you can dispose of when your project is complete. Wear disposable gloves; you’re going to get sticky. Hold the cone at the “pointy” end and apply a light, even coat of varnish to the bottom of the cone with the brush. Lay the cone atop the rack and allow the varnish to dry to the touch. (See Tips.) Once the cone bottom has dried enough so you can hold it, (just slightly tacky) apply the varnish to the top and sides of the cone. Angle the brush between the cone petals, too. Set the cone upright on the drying rack to dry.

TIPS

• Avoid the “cinnamon” scented pine cones. They’ve been treated with chemicals that may react to your finish.
• If you use Method One: Be certain to use spray varnish, and not spray acrylic.
• If you use Method Two: While waiting for marine varnish to dry between coats, clean your brush in mineral spirits, and wash it lightly with warm water and dish soap. Squeeze out any excess water/moisture between paper towels. This will prevent the brush from stiffening during the time your cones dry. When your project is complete, dispose of the brush.
• Depending on the humidity levels of your community, marine varnish can take several days to dry to a hard finish. Once dry, they can withstand rain and snow.

WARNINGS

• Some people will dry their cones in the oven at a very low temperature (no higher than about 175 degrees F.). This is a personal choice. Remember: (1) there is a fire risk to consider and (2) warm sap runs. It’s best to allow the cones to dry naturally and not “force” the cone open. Do not attempt to dry the cones in a microwave oven.
• Use your “preserved” cones in wreaths, centerpieces and floral arrangements, garlands, or display them in a basket or bowl. Avoid placing your varnished cones in or around arrangements that contain lighted candles and NEVER put them into an oven or near a lighted fireplace to enhance the drying time.
• Store any unused varnish product and mineral in a cool dry space, away from pilot lights, or washing machines and dryers, or the water heater. Dispose of empty cans properly.

Choose your pine cone based on it being dry and firm, not wet and soggy. Also if you feel a particular pine cone is very sticky, skip it and move on to collect a different one. You might get lucky and find all your pine cones are free if sap, and if so terrific! But if not, don’t worry, when you get home you will cure that. Be sure to choose pine cones of all sizes because a large one may work well in one craft and tiny ones may work well in another. So keep an open mind in regard to shape and size.

When you get home and you are ready to clean your pine cones, you have a choice between 2 methods. You can soak and wash them or you bake them. The washing method will remove the sap, and the baking method will glaze the sap. In either case, it will rid of any stickiness so they can easily be used in crafts. 

If you choose the wash method, the best way to clean them is in a double sink. A large laundry tub type sink works great. You will place the drain stop in your sink and lay the pine cones down inside the sink. Then you will squirt some antibacterial dish liquid soap over the pine cones and begin filling the sink with very warm water. Be generous with the soap. Let the pine cones soak for at least 20 minutes, then return to the sink and let the water out. Now you can begin rinsing them. When the pine cones are drained and you can see they don’t feel sticky, then give them a good rinse. If they are still sticky, then repeat the procedure, this time using some all purpose non toxic or disinfectant household cleaner. When you are done washing the pine cones, lay them on some plastic garbage bags or grocery bags on the floor to dry. Be sure it is in an area where children or pets won’t tamper with them.

If you choose to use the oven bake method, then simply line large baking pans with foil. The foil protects your pans from the sap. Heat your oven to 200 degrees and bake the pine cones for about 20 minutes. This should take care of removing the sticky sap problem and your pine cones will become glazed. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not leave the kitchen when you bake the pine cones because you want to check their progress. They may need a little more time or a little less depending on pine cone size and how your oven generates heat. You may even decide to raise the oven heat for a few minutes, but not by much and only when completely supervised.

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