Do Just One Thing

It’s common knowledge that houseplants can help clean your indoor air. But did you know they can also “signal” for help? Aloe is an easy-care plant that can help purify the air inside your home, and it’s a powerhouse: It absorbs formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. However, when the toxicity of the air in your home is excessive, the aloe plant becomes spotted. It’s a natural way the plant reacts, signaling that something may be awry in your home.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Modern-day paper shredders do an excellent job of finely cutting, dicing and obliterating important documents so they are impossible to piece back together. While these shredders are great for protecting your privacy, they are terrible for the environment. When paper is cut into small pieces, the fiber sizes are reduced to the point of being non-recyclable, which is why recyclers do not take shredded paper. When it comes to paper, use the shredder only for important docs and leave unimportant recyclable paper unshredded so it can be made into new paper products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are you a tea drinker? Your used tea leaves can give your plants a boost, too. Rip open tea bags and mix the leaves into potted and outdoor plants. They have nutrition like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Plus, they help aerate the soil, improve the pH balance and can even deter pests like slugs and snails from eating away at your plants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION