ArcaMax

If you store recyclables outdoors before collection day, keep them in a recycling bin with a secure lid. Even a small amount of leftover peanut butter, yogurt or jam can attract curious wildlife. Animals such as raccoons and squirrels may stick their heads into jars or other narrow containers while searching for food and become trapped. Before ...Read more

Many public libraries offer much more than books. Yours may allow you to borrow board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Catan and Ticket to Ride, along with jigsaw puzzles, popular console video games and even STEM activity kits, card games and educational toys. Borrowing these items instead of buying them saves money, reduces waste and lets you ...Read more

A chimney cap does more than keep curious birds and squirrels from making your fireplace their home. The metal cover also helps keep rain and snow out of the chimney, protecting the flue liner, damper and masonry from moisture that can lead to costly repairs over time. Another bonus: a chimney cap can reduce wind-driven downdrafts, helping ...Read more

One of the greenest ways to ship packages and send mail is through the United States Postal Service. Because USPS already travels to nearly every address in America, adding a package to an existing route can reduce emissions compared with creating an additional delivery trip. The Postal Service also operates one of the nation's largest civilian ...Read more

Don't throw out used potting soil just because a plant has finished growing. To disinfect it naturally, place the slightly damp soil in a sealed, clear plastic bag and leave it in direct sunlight for at least six hours. The trapped heat solarizes the soil, helping kill harmful insects, weed seeds and many plant disease pathogens. Once the soil ...Read more

If your workout clothes still smell sweaty after washing, try adding 1/2 cup of clear antiseptic mouthwash directly to your washing machine drum along with your regular laundry detergent. Many antiseptic mouthwashes contain bacteria-fighting ingredients such as alcohol and eucalyptol that help eliminate the odor-causing germs trapped in ...Read more

Thinking about giving the outside of your house a fresh paint job? The color of paint you choose can have a big impact on how energy-efficient your home can be. Lighter-colored homes in warmer climates have a higher light reflective value (LRV). Pure black measures 0% LRV, and pure white measures 100% LRV. By choosing a lighter tint, you reflect...Read more

After you've fried up a delicious batch of homemade doughnuts, what should you do with the leftover cooking oil? There's an old wives' tale that you can pour used cooking oil onto the ground because it becomes food for earthworms. In reality, the oil can seep into soil, make its way into storm drains and waterways, and contaminate rivers, lakes ...Read more

You may separate your whites from colors when you wash your clothes, but when it comes to drying them, separate according to weight. By drying heavy clothes like jeans, sweaters and thick flannel shirts separately from light fabrics like T-shirts and undergarments, you will be using the least amount of energy. Start by drying a load of light ...Read more

A worn refrigerator door gasket can quietly waste energy by letting cold air escape. Check the seal every few months using the simple "dollar bill test": Close the door on a dollar bill and gently pull. If it slides out easily, the gasket is no longer sealing properly and should be replaced. Under normal household use, refrigerator gaskets ...Read more

Salt may seem like an easy, natural weed killer, but use it with caution. It works by dehydrating plants, but it's nonselective and can permanently damage soil, making it impossible for anything else to grow there. It is an eco-friendly option to remove weeds growing in cracks between driveways, sidewalks or patio pavers -- not in garden beds or...Read more

Hydrangeas are a popular plant for landscaping, but they aren't all the same. Native varieties like smooth hydrangea and oakleaf hydrangea evolved alongside North American wildlife and provide valuable support for local pollinators. Many popular non-native varieties, such as bigleaf and endless summer hydrangeas, are bred for oversized, colorful...Read more

Beautiful trees like weeping willows, poplars and birches can create unexpected problems in the landscape. Weeping willows and fast-growing poplars have aggressive root systems that seek out water and can damage septic drain fields, sewer lines and residential pipes. Birch trees also require consistently moist soil, especially in dry climates, ...Read more

Even in an age of digital reading, printed books are still in demand and can be donated if you're ready to make room on your bookshelf at home. The rule of thumb for donating books is this: If the book was published three years ago or less, donate it to your local library, which will resell the book at a fundraiser to raise money for its ...Read more

Beauty products can still be useful in new and different ways well after they've been used up or expired. A clean mascara brush, for example, can be used to scrub between stones in jewelry or watch links to clear away dirt and debris. Unwanted nail polish (perhaps a color not to your liking) can be used to paint the stems of wineglasses to give ...Read more

Just because a product or its packaging has a recycling symbol on it doesn't mean it is easily recyclable. The question you have to ask is this: Is the item recyclable within your community or in your curbside recycling program? If it isn't, it does not matter if it has the symbol. Items like Styrofoam cups are marked with a No. 6 recycling ...Read more

Create a beautiful table arrangement that's as practical as it is pretty. Fill a wide vase or container with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, mint and sage, then tuck in edible flowers such as chive blossoms, marigolds and pansies. Set a pair of small herb scissors alongside the arrangement so guests can snip fresh garnishes for their meals ...Read more

Upcycle a large plastic soda bottle into a simple mosquito trap. Cut the bottle in half, then fill the bottom half with 1 cup of warm water, 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of yeast. Invert the top half into the bottom to create a funnel. As the yeast ferments the sugar, it releases carbon dioxide (C02), which can attract mosquitoes into...Read more

Empty prescription bottles are typically made from recyclable No. 5 plastic (polypropylene), but they usually cannot go into your curbside recycling bin. Their small size often causes them to fall through sorting equipment, and many recycling facilities only accept rigid plastics larger than about 3 inches. Instead, ask your local pharmacy if ...Read more

You may have heard that you should not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator and that you should keep them at room temperature right on the kitchen countertop instead. But what do you do if you have a bumper crop of ripe tomatoes? To extend the shelf life of a ripe tomato, put it in the refrigerator. The chill will prevent it from ripening ...Read more