Clear the air around your desk
If your home-away-fromhome is an office, you can take steps to make sure your time spent there is as healthy as possible. One of the easiest things to do is to add a houseplant to your desk environment. The golden pothos plant is beautiful, easy to maintain and is a superstar when it comes to air purification. This plant can provide air purification for about 100 square feet of space, so you’re helping to clean your air and perhaps some of the air for your colleagues who are closest to you.
MICROWAVES, PLASTIC WRAP DONT MIX
There’s a lot of information online about the safety of plastic cling wrap when used in the microwave. Old plastic wrap was made with PVC, which contained plasticizers called phthalates that were
considered to be hormone disrupters. But nearly 10 years ago, PVC was phased out in favor of polyethylene plastic, which is phthalate-free. Unfortunately, even polyethylene plastic has been found to contain chemicals that are linked to endocrine disruption and some cancers. Whatever the answer is, there’s no need to use plastic wrap in the microwave at all. Simply cover what you’re heating with a dampened paper towel or cover the bowl with a plate. It’ll prevent splatters and get your leftovers hot in no time.
INCENSE VS. DIFFUSER
Incense sticks seem like a healthy choice to burn in your home; after all, these fragrant sticks are often used in places like yoga studios and spas. But the reality is, anything that burns is releasing toxins into the air, and as sweet-smelling as incense sticks are, they contribute to an unhealthy indoor air environment. If you want to bring scents into your home, it’s best to consider using a diffuser, which warms up natural essential oils. Choose a diffuser that does not use a candle (since the candle can emit pollutants) and can be plugged in to warm up the oils.
SHOWER CAP USES
Do you take the free samples of toiletries from hotel rooms when you travel? You might have plastic shower caps stashed away in a drawer. If you have no intention of actually wearing one in the shower, there are other ways you can upcycle it and use it around the house. One idea is to cover a cut watermelon; wrapping foil or plastic wrap around a large, round watermelon can be a hassle. But a shower cap is the right size, plus it has elastic inside to create a snug fit around the melon. You can also cover a starter tray of seeds with a shower cap; its transparency creates a greenhouse effect, so light can still get through to help your seedlings grow.
WHAT’S HOT IN VINYL
There has been a huge resurgence of enthusiasm for vinyl records among music lovers and collectors, so your old box of records may actually be worth something. But before you take a giant box of vinyl to your local record shop, do a little research first. Check out the website popsike.com, which has over 15 million auction results for record sales. You’ll find that blockbuster albums from the 1980s, classical, opera and others are basically worthless. The ones that sell: pop, rock, 1960s, jazz, blues and even a little country. The site will give you a sense of what’s valuable for resale and what can be left back at home.
CAR SEATS, BIKE HELMETS
Buying used is an eco-friendly choice, but it’s not always the best one. When it comes to products designed to protect you, you should think twice about buying used. For babies and small children, never buy a used car seat. There is no way of knowing the history of the seat or if it’s been recalled for safety issues. If you can’t afford a new car seat, there are nonprofit programs that can help you get one, often for free. And second, never buy a used bike helmet. Once the helmet has been involved in a crash, it’s compromised and won’t protect your head as effectively as if it were new.
LEAF BLOWERS
As the hot summer days turn cooler, trees shed their leaves in preparation for cooler temps. While a leaf blower is an easy way to manage fallen leaves, it isn’t very kind to the planet; it’s believed that gas-powered leaf blowers can emit as much pollution as cars. Clearly, a manual rake is the greenest option. But for many people, raking isn’t always the most doable solution, so try the nextbest thing: an electric leaf blower. They don’t generate any emissions, are generally quieter and are now cordless, which makes them a breeze to use.