Why you should be using bar soap
Turns out bar soap isn’t just kinder for the planet than bottled body wash (because of less packaging); it’s also better at getting you really clean. When taking on dirt, grime, odorcausing bacteria and oil, bars soaps do a better job because they are formulated with oils that help break it all down. The bar-soap lather rids your body of the bad bacteria and dirt, but it also leaves the good bacteria on your skin, which helps protect your natural microbiome and fend off bad bacteria. When shopping for bar soaps, look for ones made with shea butter and natural exfoliants that remove dead skin cells.
CORKS FOR HOUSEPLANTS
If you have a hard time remembering to water your houseplants, here’s a little trash-to-treasure idea that can help them live a little longer. When you repot your houseplant, add a few broken-up natural wine corks to the soil. The corks are both biodegradable and highly absorbent, meaning they’ll retain water in the soil like a sponge. But unlike most sponges, which are not natural, these will break down over time. And when they do hold onto excess moisture, they’ll gently release it into the soil, helping to extend the time between waterings.
SHORTER SHOWERS
Here’s another reason to take shorter, less hot showers (other than to save water and energy): They are better for your skin. When you take a long, scalding-hot shower, it actually can lead to the natural oils on your skin being stripped off. This can cause your skin to become dry and itchy instead of feeling clean and fresh. The ideal temperature is a lukewarm setting and a showering time of about five minutes. A lower-temperature shower will take less time for the water to get to the ideal temperature, too, which saves even more time and water.
‘ORPHANED’ FAWNS
According to the Humane Society of the United States, one of the biggest mistakes goodhearted people make is assuming a baby deer observed alone must be an orphan. But the truth is, if the fawn is calm and lying down quietly, the odds are the mother is not too far away. The mother usually visits her baby a few times a day and will avoid revealing her presence while you are around. Unless the fawn is crying or wandering alone, there’s no need to contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
E-BILLING
With more of us now working from home, there are a few good incentives to switch your billing to e-billing and away from paper bills being sent in the mail. First, it’s easy to switch, and you can manage all of your bills and banking from your computer or smartphone. But it’s also more environmentally friendly. In the United States, “hard copy” paper bills generate close to 2 million tons of CO2 and also make up one of the biggest contributors to municipal solid waste.
BULK POPCORN
Not only is microwave popcorn expensive (about 37 cents per serving), it also is wasteful and potentially dangerous: The nonstick coating inside the bag contains PFOA, a likely carcinogen, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Instead, buy popcorn kernels from the bulk bin at the supermarket. It’s significantly cheaper, and you can pop it on the stovetop in about the same amount of time it takes to microwave popcorn. Plus, you can make as little or as much as you want!
HONEYBEE HELPER
You may have heard that honeybees — which are important in the pollination of flowers that help keep our food supply stable — are dying. As more and more bees are disappearing and a clear answer is still unknown, there are small things you can do at home to help our bees. The easiest: Let your lawn grow with dandelions and clover flowers intact. While many of us think a deep green, weed-free lawn looks great, the reality is that bees need wildflowers to survive. Leaving them intact and your lawn herbicide-free will go a long way to help our busy bees.