ArcaMax

If you're having a party for a large group of people and you rent glassware, dishes and flatware from a rental company, it may seem rude to send them back dirty, but it isn't. The reality is, even if you do a thorough job in washing your rentals, the companies are required to use a commercial-grade dishwasher to fully clean and sanitize them ...Read more

Restaurants and commercial kitchens throw away tons of food every year -- it's considered excess inventory, even though it could be given to food banks or hunger charities. One of the problems with getting the excess food to the charities is that often there isn't enough manpower to transport it. Contact your local food bank or hunger charity ...Read more

If you have a cat who spends time outdoors, consider bringing him inside. Free-ranging domestic cats are estimated to kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion mammals in the United States each year, including small mammals such as mice, voles and rabbits. To make the transition easier, create an enriching indoor environment ...Read more

As you rake leaves and prepare your garden for winter, consider leaving dead flowers and plants intact. Dead stalks and seedheads may look untidy, but they provide an important source of sustenance and shelter for birds and other wildlife when snow covers the ground and food becomes scarce. Even ferns can provide cover and habitat for small ...Read more

Do you have functioning old DVD and VHS players gathering dust at home? Turns out, there's real demand for them in the resale market. A growing number of younger consumers are experiencing "streaming fatigue" as subscription costs rise and content seemingly disappears overnight, driving renewed interest in physical media like VHS tapes and DVDs....Read more

Stocking your pantry with climate-friendly foods is easier than you think. Plant-based, shelf-stable staples like lentils, dried beans and oats have a small environmental footprint because they require less processing, refrigeration and water. Pasta is another climate-friendly pantry staple, with low greenhouse gas emissions and a long shelf ...Read more

Before clicking "Buy Now," make sure it's something you truly want to keep. Every returned purchase has an environmental cost: It must be transported back through the supply chain, increasing fuel use and carbon emissions. In the United States, returns generate more than 15 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year, along with billions ...Read more

If you plan to replace your car within a few years, consider a hybrid. Many hybrid models retain their value better than comparable gasoline vehicles, thanks to strong demand and excellent fuel economy. Fully electric vehicles can also save money, but their resale values tend to fluctuate more as battery technology improves and manufacturers ...Read more

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