ArcaMax

Since most of us don't travel with a water testing kit, there are signs you can look for that will tell you if the H20 from the tap is more like H2-NO. The obvious one is odor. A rotten egg or sulfuric smell can mean there's bacteria in the water. Metallic-tasting water can mean there are metals present, such as mercury, copper, lead and even ...Read more

Those little stickers you find on the outside of bananas, apples, avocadoes and other produce are both a nuisance and a marvel. They help keep the massive supply chain of perishable foods in check, but they can be a pain. Unfortunately, the stickers are not compostable or biodegradable. They are considered the worst offender in contaminating ...Read more

Many of us have a junk drawer full of old USB flash drives that we're not sure what to do with. They are reusable, so you can wipe them clean and use them at home or to share files with others. But if you have a lot, you can recycle them and do something good, too. The website RecycleUSB.com accepts working USB flash drives and erases them, then...Read more

One way to help extend the life of food is to freeze perishables and leftovers so they can be defrosted later to be enjoyed. But how do you know if your freezer is actually cold enough to preserve food? Do the ice cream test: If a container of ice cream is soft when you take it out of the freezer, your freezer is too warm. Turn down the ...Read more

Traditional kitchen sponges are notorious for not lasting very long; they're also made from nonrenewable resources like plastic and other synthetic materials. They aren't recyclable, and over time, as they are used to wash dishes, they break down and shed microplastics into the water. When choosing kitchen cleaning aids, opt for greener ...Read more

Another item to always buy organic: raisins. Up to 26 pesticides have been found in independent studies on conventional grapes. Fresh grapes are often plucked and dried to make raisins, but it's up for debate how well-washed the grapes are before drying. And since grapes are thin-skinned, whatever is sprayed on them is often absorbed into the ...Read more

Another reason to avoid artificial fragrances: They can confuse bees. Bees are vital to the natural world for the important work they do to pollinate flowers. They are naturally attracted to the sweet scent from flowers, but they are also attracted to artificial scents found in body washes, perfumes, shampoo, air fresheners and scented candles. ...Read more

Do you enjoy oysters when you dine out? Take the shells home with you to give your garden a nutritional boost. Oyster shells are made from calcium carbonate, which is the same material found in chalk. It's incredibly high in calcium, and plants love it. You can mix the shells into the soil whole or crush them up and rake into your garden. The ...Read more

If you apply sunscreen from a spray can, you might wonder if the bottle itself is recyclable when it's empty. Good news: It is, and it's easy. Spray sunscreen bottles are made from aluminum, which is a desired recyclable that is accepted by nearly every recycling program in the country. Just make sure the bottle is empty and remove the nozzle ...Read more

Reusable shopping bags are better for the environment, but how many times do you need to use them before there are any environmental benefits from not using single-use plastic bags? According to the United Nations Environmental Programme 2020 study, bags must be used at least five to 20 times before there are eco savings. It all depends on the ...Read more

If you use disposable coffee filters to make your morning cup of Joe, two things in the supermarket aisle can help you make the greenest choice. First, choose undyed brown filters over white ones, which are bleached using chlorine or other chemical methods. Second, look for filters made with bamboo fiber. They have the feel and function of paper...Read more

What's the greenest trash bag? One made from biodegradable materials like potato or corn starch, or one made from recycled plastic, which does not biodegrade? Go for the recycled one. While biodegradable trash bags may sound like the greenest choice, the reality is, they don't degrade in landfills. Modern landfills are designed to be airtight, ...Read more

Resealing a macadam driveway is a smart way to protect a pricey investment. But be sure to ask your resealer to use only coal tar-free sealants when working on your driveway. Coal tar is a common ingredient found in many asphalt seal coating products; it's also a suspected carcinogen linked to cancer. DIYers will be glad to know that stores like...Read more

Did you know some of the hardest items to recycle -- including plastic straws, single-use coffee creamer plastic cups, K-Cup coffee pods, Styrofoam cups, potato chip bags and candy wrappers -- can be recycled for free at participating Subaru dealerships? It's part of a program called "Subaru Loves the Earth," in partnership with TerraCycle. More...Read more

We all know that fuel-efficient cars are better for the environment and your wallet, but did you know they also can save you time? A recent study by the Ford Motor Co. showed that investing in a fuel-efficient hybrid significantly reduces the number of trips you need to make to the gas station to refuel. Over the course of just one year, the ...Read more

Composting is a great way to take food scraps and yard waste and transform them into beneficial mulch for your garden. It's also an environmentally friendly way to keep organic matter from going into landfills. To achieve a successful compost, experts agree that there are two musts: Keep it big, and shred everything. A large compost pile will ...Read more

Smart planning can lead to significant water and time savings when caring for your flowers. National Geographic recommends "companion planting" -- grouping certain plants together to help them mutually grow. When taller, sun-loving plants are planted in the back, with shorter, shade-loving plants in front, they help each other thrive. The taller...Read more

Reusing is one of the simplest, most impactful green things you can do. But when it comes to plastic disposable utensils like forks, knives and spoons, it's best to use them once. When you wash plastic utensils, microscopic spaces are created that can harbor food particles, eventually resulting in bacterial growth. So if you must use plastic ...Read more

Nearly 16 million printed newspapers are sold every week in the United States, which means many homes have stacks of newsprint. Yes, it's recyclable, but it's also a great material to use around the house. Stuff shoes with newsprint to deodorize them; the paper absorbs odors and excess moisture. Cover an area of the yard that has weeds with ...Read more

If you're not sure what's safe to eat after your house has lost power for a lengthy period of time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a website that lists the foods you can keep and the ones you should toss. They warn that appearance and odor are not good indicators of which foods are safe to eat. Dairy products like milk should be tossed, ...Read more