Archives

When packing a lunch to take to the office or for your kid to take to school, try this hack to keep your food chilled: Throw in a frozen container of yogurt. It will function as an ice pack to keep yo... more

Wax paper can do more than just wrap food. Use it to give spotty bathroom fixtures a shine; the residual wax will buff the metal and create a barrier to prevent new spots from forming. You can also us... more

It's no surprise that flying on a plane isn't the most eco-friendly way to travel, but sometimes it's the only way to get where you need to go. One way to help reduce your carbon footprint when you fl... more

Did you know that birds have a taste for artificial sweeteners? The pink and blue packets are appealing to our feathered friends, once they get a taste for sweeteners; so much so that many birds will ... more

Pan liners are a cooking innovation designed to save time and effort by negating the necessity to scrub pots, pans and baking trays. You just line them in single-use plastic sheets that you simply thr... more

Coffee shops are a competitive business, and they're typically willing to meet your requests to ensure that you're happy with your order. When placing your order for whatever keeps you caffeinated, be... more

When it's time to replace an old kitchen sponge, don't toss it. Old sponges are a perfect growing medium to use as seed starters for flowers and vegetables. It's easy: Just place seeds inside the natu... more

Is your teakettle in need of a good cleaning to remove mineral deposits inside? It's important to not use harsh products like bleach or chemical cleaners, since you'll be sipping tea using water you'v... more

Did you know a full refrigerator runs more efficiently than one that's empty? It's because the items that are already cool inside the fridge help to keep the internal temperature down, thus it uses le... more

Hitting the road for vacation? Be sure to do a few easy things at home to save energy while you're away. Start by setting your thermostat to a lower or higher temperature depending on the weather (sma... more

Do you use a reusable coffee mug or thermos to fill up at your local coffee shop every morning? Be sure to give it a thorough cleaning on a regular basis to prevent harmful bacteria from growing insid... more

Concentrates are all the rage right now when it comes to cleaning products for your home. These tablets dissolve in a bottle of water and turn into your favorite cleaning products, and they are better... more

When shopping for eggs, there are many options to choose from based on how the hens were treated, ranging from organic to free-range to pasture-raised, or even what type of feed is given to the chicke... more

Thinking about giving the outside of your house a fresh paint job? The color of the paint you choose can have a big impact on how energy-efficient your home can be. Homeowners in warmer climates who c... more

Here's an old wives' tale to avoid: Don't leave dryer lint outdoors in the hopes birds will use it to feather their nests. Dryer lint contains chemical detergents from your clothes that can harm birds... more

Can you recycle a greasy pizza box with your cardboard recyclables? Yes and no. If a portion of the box is covered in grease, cheese and other food debris, it can contaminate a load of recyclable card... more

Any HVAC technician will back up this claim: Your thermostat is not a gas pedal. Pushing the setting way up over your target temp does not get your home warmer faster. It does not create larger volume... more

Coming out Jan. 2, 2024, my book "Do Just One Thing: 365 Ideas for a Better You, Life, and Planet" is a compilation of my favorite tips from my many years of penning this column. The tips, hacks and i... more

Did you know plastic bags, cling wrap, sandwich bags, produce bags and plastic that covers your clothing from the dry cleaner can all be recycled? They're just not EASILY recyclable for most of us. Th... more

It's believed something like 5 billion pounds of unwanted holiday gifts -- sweaters, gift baskets, candy, decor and more -- end up in landfills every year. That means a lot of "perfect" gifts ended up... more

If you want to support your local animal shelter, make sure you're donating items they actually need versus creating a burden for them. Items like open bags of dog food, old toys, crates, carrying cas... more

If you're a baker, there's nothing worse than going to your pantry and finding flour that's gone rancid. When you open bags of flour at home, it's a smart practice to transfer the contents out of the ... more

Glossy paper can be hard to recycle, but not all shiny paper is necessarily nonrecyclable. Magazines and catalogs are recyclable because the paper stock is coated with a white clay that makes the page... more

With over 1 million nonprofit partners, the American Express "Members Give" program can be a win-win scenario for everyone. You can choose your favorite charity to receive a cash donation when you use... more

Using an automatic dishwasher at home is more energy-and water-efficient than washing by hand, and it's even more efficient if you run the dishwasher during nonpeak hours, which are usually after midn... more

Want to brighten clothes and remove stains without using any harsh chemicals in your washing machine? Grab salt from your pantry and add it to your laundry routine. The natural chloride in salt works ... more

While placing heavy drapes over windows is a surefire way to keep your home cozy during the winter months, it also blocks sunlight from entering your home. An alternative idea that helps insulate and ... more

It's important to take efforts to make sure our feathered friends avoid colliding with windows at our home. There are many things you can do, but one key thing when placing a birdbath or a bird feeder... more