12/17/13

Do this one thing: Choose unbleached paper products to use in cooking and baking. Many white paper kitchen materials are bleached using chlorine, which has chemicals that can leach into your food from the bleaching process. Products like parchment paper, coffee filters and paper towels all have unbleached -- usually brown -- alternatives you can find easily at almost any supermarket. The cost is comparable, and the effectiveness of the unbleached products is just as good as the bleached ones.

12/16/13

If you choose a live, balled Christmas tree this holiday season, consider leaving it outdoors instead of bringing it inside. A live evergreen can be replanted in your yard after the holiday season, but it has limitations. On average, a live tree can last one week indoors before it gets too acclimated to the warm temperature. Any longer than a week and it will die when reintroduced to the cold air. By leaving a balled tree outdoors -- perhaps by the front door -- you can decorate it early and leave it out all winter long, or until it's warm enough to plant.

12/15/13

It’s true that cars built more than 10 years ago are not as efficient as cars built today. But many people have their motor oil changed at the same frequency, no matter if their car was built in 2003 or 2013. You may be surprised to learn that you may not need to change your motor oil as frequently as you think. The simplest way to find out is to visit checkyournumber.org and enter the year (available for cars built after 2000), make and model of your car. It will tell you the exact manufacturer-recommended oil change for your car, not the average for all cars. And here’s a bonus tip: If you change your motor oil at home and have a spill, grab dryer lint to clean it up. The lint will soak up the spill and you can properly dispose of it with ease.