Do just one thing
Do you use a mesh sponge when you lather up with body wash in the shower? Have you ever thought that something that helps you get clean might need to be cleaned? Bath poufs can be a breeding ground for bacteria if unwashed over time. Disinfect your bath poufs every eight weeks or so by tossing them into your washing machine and laundering them anytime you use warm to hot water. The laundry detergent and hot water will thoroughly disinfect them. Be sure to remove from the washing machine when done and hang to air dry.
SHOP LOCAL
For your next big holiday feast, embrace the true spirit of the holiday and think local. Shop farmers markets for locally grown seasonal produce and source locally made baked goods, juices, and even floral bouquets and arrangements for the table. If you eat meat, try to source a fresh free-range local turkey, preferably from a farm where you know the animals were humanely raised and slaughtered. Even your local thrift shop can be a great place to find hosting necessities like tablecloths, chargers and extra tableware.
MAINTAIN SEPTIC TANK
If your home has a septic tank, it’s important to have it regularly maintained. Tanks that are not inspected and pumped every two to three years (depending on usage) can be susceptible to breakage or failure. A failing septic tank not only will cost you thousands of dollars to replace and restore, but it can also leak pollutants into our waterways, causing groundwater contamination. According to the EPA, things to avoid sending down the drain include dental floss, diapers, cigarette butts, paper towels, latex paint and any harmful household chemicals.
ENERGY EFFICIENT SECONDHAND CLOTHES
Buying secondhand clothes at thrift stores or consignment shops isn’t just good for your wallet; it is also 95% more energy-efficient than buying new. When you consider the amount of energy needed to make new clothes versus the reuse of vintage/lightly used clothes, there’s no comparison; it’s significantly less the second time around. Remember, even high-end designer clothes can be purchased at secondhand stores for a fraction of the price, which makes shopping in these stores a bit of an adventure. Make it greener by bringing your own bags to take your thrift haul home.
ORGANIC ALCOHOL
There are no added health benefits in buying organic spirits like tequila or vodka. In the distillation process, any trace pesticides are removed, and drinking spirits has never been considered good for your health by doctors anyway. When it comes to wine, however, organic wines do have some benefits, because in order to keep them organic, they must be free of added preservatives. There will be naturally occurring sulfites (which are preservatives) in the winemaking process, but people with sulfite allergies may find organic wines are less likely to trigger allergic reactions versus conventional vino.
DON’T TOP OFF AT THE PUMP
Avoid the temptation to “top off” when at the gas pump. When filling up, allow the pump to automatically shut off when it’s full; you’ll know that point has been reached when you hear a clicking sound and the gas nozzle stops pumping gas. Adding those extra few pumps of gas can actually waste your money, because gasoline is often fed from your tank back into the station’s tanks via the vapor-recovery system, which prevents gas from escaping during the fueling process. To get the most gas for your buck, stop filling up when the pump says your tank is full.
PEPPER THE SEEDS
Tired of squirrels or raccoons raiding the bird feeder or digging through the recycling bin for food scraps? Try this simple trick: Sprinkle in red pepper flakes. Rodents hate the taste of spicy red pepper flakes and will quickly learn to avoid stealing the seed from the bird feeder, but birds can’t detect it and will eat it right up. Sprinkle red pepper flakes throughout your trash and recycling bins to deter raiding nocturnal animals from rummaging through them. While the pepper is a deterrent, it does not hurt the animals that ingest it.