Speed Queen Consumer Laundry Washers and Dryers

Speed Queen Home Laundry Launches YouTube Channel

Check out Chuck Melton, National Sales Manager of Speed Queen Home Laundry, and his 'My Two Bits' on our new YouTube Channel.

"Green-Up" Your Lifestyle

(NAPSI)-More than ever, Americans are looking to "green" their lifestyles; however, they are often confused by abundant and conflicting messages. To help clear up the confusion, HGTV has teamed up with the Natural Resources Defense Council on the Change the World. Start at Home campaign to provide simple steps on how to live a more eco-friendly life and reduce our collective impact on the environment.

Simple steps can truly make a big difference. For instance, if Americans recycled 32 percent of their garbage, it would save 49 million metric tons of carbon from being emitted into the air - the energy equivalent of saving 11 billion gallons of gasoline.

Renewable and Reusable Resources

It is an oldie but a goody: Recycle, reuse and renew!

Choosing water bottles made from renewable resources or reusable materials, such as aluminum, saves groundwater from being polluted, since manufacturing just one plastic bottle pollutes 25 liters of water.

Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States last year, so carry a reusable bag with you for groceries, shopping, and take-out food.

Green Home

Changing the world can start at home.

If every U.S. household replaced just one roll of 1,000-sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissues with 100 percent recycled rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water.

Americans use an average of 25 gallons of toxic chemical products each year in their homes, most of which are in household cleaning products and many of which can harm your health.

Clean your home with non-toxic and natural cleaning products. Just about anything can be cleaned with white vinegar and baking soda-and a few drops of lemon or your favorite essential oil makes things smell fresh and clean without the use of harsh, toxic chemicals.

Save Money and the Environment

A few easy changes can make a big difference in your energy bill and in the amount of pollutants emitted into the air.

Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp can save you $30 to $60 on electricity during its lifetime and keep one ton of global warming pollution out of the air.

Screen savers-or any moving images on your monitor-can cost an extra $50 or more of electricity a year. Start by turning off your screen saver and cut even more energy that your computer uses by putting it in sleep mode when it is not in use.

Visit HGTV Change the World. Start at Home Web site at www.hgtv.com/changetheworld for additional green living tips.

Cool Summer Drinks

(NAPSI)-Longer days and warmer weather welcome a never-ending list of summer fun. And what better way to enjoy the sunny days than with summer slushies, smoothies and sparkling beverages!

These tasty treats not only help families beat the heat, but they are an excellent source of hydration during the sweltering days of summer. As the days get longer and temperatures rise, let cool and fruity refreshers be your passport to summer fun.

Following are some ideas for staying cool and hydrated this summer:

• Chill out with "fruitsicles." Pour 100 percent fruit juice and frozen berries or fresh fruit into small paper cups, cover with foil, insert a wooden craft stick and freeze. The result? A delicious juicy pop kids will love.
• Accessorize with a fruity flair. Encourage kids to make healthier beverage choices by adding a creative splash to drinks. Use colorful cups (with silly straws, of course!) topped with a wedge of fresh fruit - a fun way for kids to fuel up fast.
• Refresh your freezer. Keep frosty beverages on hand that will quench kids' thirst, such as fruit slushies or tropical smoothies. Blend frozen or fresh fruits with all-natural fruit juice, pour in a freezer-friendly container and freeze for enjoyment anytime.
• Mix and mingle with drinks for all ages. Add kid-friendly twists to adultlike beverages with this refreshing recipe for Sparkling "Sangria." Featuring frozen orange slices with apple or white grape pure fruit juice and seltzer water, the best part of this flavorful drink is its surprisingly fruity twist. With fresh grapes frozen inside each ice cube, this simple recipe provides a delightful dose of nutritious fruits.

Sparkling "Sangria"

(Makes 8 servings)

• 1 orange, washed, halved and cut into thin slices (remove any seeds)
• 2/3 cup red and/or green grapes, rinsed and cut in half
• 1/3 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves or sprigs, rinsed
• Purified water
• 3 cups Apple or White Grape NESTLE® JUICY JUICE® All Natural 100% Juice, chilled
• 4 to 5 cups calorie-free seltzer water, chilled
• PLACE orange slices on baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
• DIVIDE grape halves and mint leaves or sprigs between two ice cube trays. Fill each tray with purified water and freeze until solid.
• POUR Juicy Juice into pitcher; add frozen orange slices, prepared ice cubes and seltzer water. Serve immediately.
• NOTE: Omit ice cubes for children under age 4 due to choking risk.

For more refreshing, interactive and family-fun recipe ideas, visit VeryBestKids.com.

Grill for the Health of It

(NAPSI)-According to the 2008 Weber GrillWatch Survey, 31 percent of American grill owners are grilling more than they were a year ago because they're "trying to eat healthier."

To help people make their next barbecue healthy yet delicious, Weber Grills enlisted Monique Ryan, MS, RD, LDN, registered dietitian, and Chef Jamie Purviance to create the new "Weber's Grilling What's Good for You" booklet, offering tips and recipes for the healthy griller.

"It's no secret that making deliberately healthy food choices day after day has a positive impact on your health," says Ryan. "Outdoor grilling allows you to bring a variety of wonderful flavors to healthy foods really quickly," adds Purviance.

Follow these tips from "Weber's Grilling What's Good for You" for your next barbecue:

The Skinny On Lean Meats

Ryan recommends limiting red meat consumption to 18 ounces weekly. Choose lean red meats and trim any remaining visible fat to a 1/4 inch before grilling. Also, opt for fresh meat over frozen whenever possible and limit processed meats such as hot dogs and sausage.

Go Fishing For Omega-3s

The American Heart Association recommends three fish meals weekly for adults because fish is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming these fats can reduce blood clotting, boost immune function, reduce inflammation and may also help prevent heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.

Think Globally, Eat Locally

The vegetables that you buy locally and in season are richer in nutrients and flavors than the ones shipped from far distances. Cut vegetables in ways that expose as much surface area as possible to the hot grate. The more direct contact the vegetable has with the grill, the better the flavors will be.

Pack In The Produce

The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily to lower the risk of heart disease.

For a decadent yet healthy end to your barbecue, try this recipe from Chef Purviance.

Grilled Peaches With Blackberry Sauce

Sauce:

• 6 ounces fresh blackberries, about 1 cup
• 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 4 medium peaches, firm but ripe, halved and pits removed
• 1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt (optional)
• 1. To make the sauce: In a food processor, puree the blackberries with 2 tablespoons water. Add the sugar to taste.
• 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Brush the peach halves all over with the butter mixture.
• 3. Grill the peach halves over direct medium heat until they are browned in spots and warm throughout, 8 to 10 minutes, turning them every 3 minutes or so. Serve the peaches warm with the blackberry sauce and frozen yogurt, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

Calories, 172; Total Fat, 6g; Saturated Fat, 4g; Cholesterol, 16mg; Sodium, 1mg; Carbohydrate, 31g; Dietary Fiber, 4g; Protein, 1g.

For a free copy of "Weber's Grilling What's Good for You," call the Weber Grill-Line at (800)GRILL-OUT® or download it at weber.com/goodforyou.

Looking for the Perfect Family Vacation?

(NAPSI)-Parents want to make family vacations fun bonding experiences that create life-long memories for themselves and their children, but trips can be a challenge to plan. In addition to deciding where to go, what to pack, and how much it will cost, parents need to consider the rising prices of fuel and air travel when choosing a destination. And, above all, parents are faced with choosing a destination that the whole family - from the littlest toddler to teenagers - will enjoy.

Parents can avoid feeling overwhelmed when planning their vacations by using a number of online travel resources. Some provide destination suggestions - whether it's a weekend camping trip or a summer getaway to a beach resort - as well as fun activities and attractions to see once you're there.

Sites like Disney Family.com, a new online resource for parents, are aimed to help parents in this area. With the site's recently released recommendations for top family vacation spots, parents can now find dozens of kid-friendly destinations that are sure to create special moments with family and friends. Whether traveling to a new location or checking out fun attractions near your hometown, there is plenty to keep families entertained throughout the summer and all year long.

The following vacation destinations are some of the top suggestions from Disney Family.com that your kids will love:

• Alcatraz Island-San Francisco, Calif.

Preteens and teens love the audio tour narrated by tough-guy ex-cons. Little ones enjoy the scenic ferry ride across the Bay.

• Ducks Boat Tour-Seattle, Wash.

This amphibious World War II vehicle carries you through downtown, Pike Place Market, historic Pioneer Square and funky Fremont before splashing into Lake Union for a beautiful view of the city skyline.

• Navy Pier-Chicago, Ill.

Stroll the pier, extending some 3,000 feet into Lake Michigan from downtown Chicago, where kids will want to ride the Ferris wheel and watch the performers.

• Dinosaur Ridge-Denver, Colo.

You'll first spot them in your car from the highway: genuine dino footprints left behind by the giants who once roamed here - stegosaurus, brontosaurus and others. Kids can't resist seeing how their feet match up at this outdoor museum every day.

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Walt Disney World Resort-Orlando, Fla.

Princesses of all ages flock to the popular salon for a little pampering and styling.

• Thunder Hole-Bar Harbor, Maine

Visit on a stormy day or during an incoming tide for the best show: Giant waves crash into the cliffs, drenching spectators with spray that shoots up to 40 feet in the air.

• Grand Canyon Railway-Grand Canyon, Ariz.

Hop aboard a restored Pullman, parlor car or the famous glass-roofed dome car for a journey kids love; younger ones will be entertained by the cowboy skits and a Wild West shootout. Everyone will find the gorgeous scenery along the way hard to resist.

• Old Savannah Ghost Tour-Savannah, Ga.

Older kids get a thrill from the guided ghost tours on nighttime trolley rides through the cobble-stoned streets of Old Savannah. Spanish moss hanging from the trees on a moonlit night only adds to the beauty and creepiness.

• Bahia Honda State Park-Bahia Honda Key, Fla.

Little ones can wade and splash in calm waters at Calusa Beach; older kids will love snorkeling and kayaking at nearby Sandspur Beach.

"Parents are looking to make planning their family vacation as easy as possible," said Emily Smith, Disney Family.com vice president. "We strive to help them with everything from choosing age-appropriate destinations for their family to providing travel tips and experiences from other families."

For additional travel tips and hints, destination suggestions and travel deals for families, visit Disney Family.com Travel at www.family.com/travel.

Make Bathroom Cleaning Easier

(NAPSI)-With a little forethought, bathroom cleaning doesn't have to be quite such a dreaded household chore.

The Problem

Soap scum, mold, hard-water stains-they're inevitable. The old bathroom nuisances multiply over time in ways that may make you wonder how the space you use to clean yourself can possibly be so dirty.

A Solution

It is a little-known fact that prevention is the key to bathroom-cleaning success. A few changes to your daily life can have a big effect on the time you spend scrubbing and scouring and on your budget.

Tips And Tricks

Here are a few simple tips that can make every day, especially the ones spent cleaning, much easier.

• Rinse and Repeat. Rinse the shower walls and tub area after each use. This only takes a few minutes and can help wash away some of the soap buildup that causes mildew and soap scum.
• All-Around Tool. Squeegees can be useful in your bathroom, too, not just for your car and windows. Use one on your shower and glass doors after showering to clean resilient soap scum and hard-water spots.
• Seal the Deal. Consider sealing your shower/tub with the new EVER BRIGHT™ sealant from Polyseamseal®. This product has a triple-action system to prevent, resist and inhibit the growth of mold on the seal (an area where mold spores typically multiply) for five years, making your job easier. For best mold resistance, rinse the sealant regularly to avoid soap-scum buildup.
• Open Up. When you're finished showering, keep the door or curtain open slightly to allow air to circulate. This will discourage mildew growth.
• Weekly Spray. Daily shower sprays can be costly. For the same cleaning power at half the cost, use a homemade solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Simply spray hard-water stains and wipe them clean with a paper towel.

Simple actions such as these can help you save time, money and energy.

Tub and shower cleaning are among the most physically intensive household chores.