Chaya Kurtz
Chaya is the former editor of Networx.com. Her work has also been published in the Sourcebooks anthology Jewish Daughter Diaries and on a bevy of websites. Chaya's goal is to help people to make greener, more efficient home & garden choices. She is based in NYC and enjoys urban gardening, DIY home design and healthy cooking.
Passionate about recycling and helping people go green, Chaya has written countless articles on Networx.com about simple tips and tricks for recycling things we would normally toss in the trash without a thought. She also gives valuable advice for cleaning your home without using harmful chemicals.
In her article “Eight Ways to Reuse and Upcycle Milk Jugs” (https://www.networx.com/article/reuse-and-upcycle-milk-jugs) she gives many ideas about alternative uses for milk jugs, such making colorful lanterns, creating a slow-drip irrigation system for your plants for while you’re away from your home, and even making jewelry boxes and halloween decorations! She also provides equally creative ideas for ways to recycle plastic bread tags in her article, “Six Clever Re-Uses for Plastic Bread Tags” (https://www.networx.com/article/clever-re-uses-for-plastic-bread-tags). She suggests reusing bread tags for labeling cords, scraping hard-to-reach cracks (like the corners of a baking pan), labeling plants, marking the end of a tape roll, and using it as a makeshift guitar pick.
Chaya details several non-toxic cleaning solutions in her article “Bathroom Cleaning Ideas Without Air Contaminants” (https://www.networx.com/article/bathroom-cleaning-ideas-without-air-cont). In her article, she explains that you can restore your toilet to it’s pure, unscented glory simply by pouring one cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl, squirting castile soap under the rim, followed by scrubbing and flushing the toilet. Similarly, she writes that tubs can also be cleaned with vinegar and baking soda. She also reveals in this article that a mirror can be cleaned just using water and a black and white newspaper, of all things.
Check out more of her articles below for more green tips for your home!
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Nov 09, 2009
Many homeowners I know look forward to Thanksgiving with simultaneous excitement and apprehension. It's Murphy's Law: Just when you have a house full of guests who want nothing more...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Nov 05, 2009
I've talked about Shop Class as Soul Craft more than anything else I've read recently, because Matthew Crawford's words resonated with my personal experience. This book made me want...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Oct 26, 2009
Is your tankless water heater making your shower water too hot or too cold? Try these simple fixes.
If your shower is too hot
Be sure that the tankless water heater's thermostat...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 13, 2009
Repurposing -- reusing old things in imaginative new ways -- is great for the environment. It also gives you a bargain-price opportunity to custom-build a piece that will be uniquely...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 08, 2009
Therapeutic Garden
The sounds, sights, smells, and fresh air of therapeutic gardens are the crown jewels of health resorts, hospitals, and rehabilitation homes. Create your own healing...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 07, 2009
Yes, you can grow vegetables in the fall -- even in cold climates like New England's -- whether you enlist the help of a professional gardener or make it a DIY project. Read on for...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 07, 2009
Natural Air Fresheners
Chemical air fresheners are not just a problem for people with chemical sensitivities; they are troublesome for everyone. Inhaling petro-chemicals, dyes, and...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 01, 2009
We at Networx understand that most people are looking for the most value for the smallest price. However, sometimes it's fun to dream, or at least take inspiration from the high end...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 01, 2009
What is “Slow Architecture”? Slow Architecture is a movement toward building homes that are space- and energy-efficient, look attractive, harmonize with the surrounding...
Posted by Chaya Kurtz
| Sep 01, 2009
Exterior lighting fixtures are a relatively quick and easy way to raise your home value. Both practical and beautiful, outdoor lights make your house safer. If placed properly by a...