Boiling water won’t remove all contaminants
You might wonder if boiling water results in perfectly clean H2O. When communities post a boil-water notice, it’s simply to make sure any harmful bacteria in the water are eradicated. Boiling water gets those bacteria levels close to zero, but other contaminants, like trace pharmaceutical drugs, pesticide residue and heavy metals, are not removed through boiling and can still linger in your water. If you want truly clean water, you need serious water filtration systems ranging from reverse osmosis to commercial-grade filtration that can reliably remove all contaminants.
FALLEN TREES
If a tree falls in your yard, should you have it removed? If it isn’t a safety hazard and your community doesn’t require you to remove it, leaving a tree to rot can actually be a good thing for the environment. According to the National Wildlife Federation, dead trees are habitat for over 1,000 species of wildlife. These decaying masses are food sources (insects and mosses are food sources for birds, for example), and the decomposing matter also helps feed the soil.
ICE GOES BAD
Yes, ice can go bad. It is technically a food, and like most foods, over time ice can harbor everything from bacteria to viruses that can cause illness, according to the International Packaged Ice Association. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli can live in ice, because freezing does not kill these contaminants. Ice that’s left in the freezer for a long time can harbor odors, too. Keep fresh ice in your freezer, and turn off the ice maker when you don’t need it (you’ll save water and energy with the flip of a switch). And dispose of old ice outdoors, where it can melt and water plants.
BROWN LAWNS
If there are water restrictions where you live, don’t worry if your lush green lawn turns brown. A brown lawn is not a dead lawn; an underground crown of grass will survive and will re-emerge when the weather cools off, returning your lawn to its lush green splendor. And keep in mind that watering your lawn less in the summer months can be one of the best ways to save water; on average, more than 67,000 gallons of water are used to water lawns in the hot summer months.
CARRY-ON DONATIONS
On your next journey abroad, be sure to check out the website packfor apurpose.org, which encourages international travelers to save a little extra space in their luggage to bring along donation items for schools and hospitals. Shipping these goods halfway around the world can be expensive, so tossing things like packages of pencils or Band-Aids, deflated sports balls, etc. into your checked luggage can do a lot of good. When you arrive at your destination, just find the local hotel or lodging facility that participates in the program and drop off your goods. It’s that simple!
DONATE AIR MILES
If the year 2020 has grounded your work travel, you can still use your accumulated airline miles to do a little good. Airlines like Delta, United, American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska all have programs that allow you to pick a charity and donate your miles. The miles are designated for charities to use to “purchase” tickets to give to those who are in critical need of air transportation or for nonprofits to use to offset the costs of business travel. Check with your airline of choice to learn how easy it is to give.
HOUSEPLANT RECOVERY
A dying houseplant isn’t a dead one, and there are steps you can take to give it a second chance at life. Start with the roots: Unpot the plant and look at the stems and roots. If you see any green stems, and if the roots are pliable, the plant has a good chance to recover. Just shake off the excess soil, trim the dead roots and repot with fresh soil. Use a slightly larger pot to give it room to grow, and make sure there are drainage holes. Keep it out of direct sun for a week, and make sure the plant is away from vents that might blow hot or cold air directly onto it. And avoid fertilizer; it’ll add more stress to the plant and is more likely to kill it.