Do just one thing
DON’T EAT ATLANTIC LOBSTER
If you want to help save the North Atlantic right whale, you should give up eating Atlantic lobster. This is according to the advocacy group Seafood Watch, which warns that the ropes used for lobster fishing can “entangle critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.” With just a few hundred whales left, they face extinction unless changes happen quickly. While efforts are underway to create a “whale-safe lobster” standard to identify crustaceans harvested with ropes, the best bet to help now is to avoid or severely limit your lobster intake.
‘COMMERCIALLY COMPOSTABLE’
Have you ever seen paper cups, bowls and utensils labeled as “commercially compostable”? You might think this is a greener option, since it’s designed to break down into beneficial mulch. But the reality is this: These items do not break down in at-home compost, and unless you deposit them into a commercial composting bin, they aren’t necessarily better for the planet. The solution if you don’t have an option for proper disposal of commercially compostable items? Opt for reusables.
CARROT JUICE PULP FOR BIRDS
Do you make freshly squeezed carrot juice with your home juicer? Wonder what to do with the pulp? Instead of throwing the nutrient- and fiber-rich waste into the trash, sprinkle some on a plate and place it in the yard. Many wild birds love the dry fiber vegetable waste from produce like carrots, kale and celery. Just leave it outside and soon you’ll see a flock of birds feasting away. And when there’s more pulp than there are birds to feed, sprinkle the pulp in your garden and rake it into the soil; it will quickly break down into beneficial mulch your backyard garden will love.
STEAM CLEAN DRAPES
Heavy curtains do a great job of blocking out light and insulating windows during both the chilly winter and hot summer months. But over time, drapes needs to be cleaned and sterilized to help maintain a healthy indoor air environment. One easy way to keep mold, mildew, dirt, germs and dust mites at bay is to use a handheld steamer to clean your drapes. Using only tap water, a steamer can deodorize and sanitize your drapes, all without the hassle of removing them from curtain rods. Just plug in the steamer and clean away.
ECO-FRIENDLY LAWN
Fall is the best time to help transform your lawn into an eco-friendly one. It all starts with spreading a thin layer of organic compost in areas that need the most TLC; just a 1/4-inch layer is enough to give a nutritional boost so it thrives in the spring. Then add grass seed and rake it into the compost mix. Also, use a lawnmower to break up fallen leaves and grass clippings for instant mulch. This mixture can be used to add an additional nutritional boost to your lawn and protect it if your area is prone to cold, harsh fall and winter seasons.
RECYCLED PAPER TOWELS
While paper towels may not be the greenest option to clean up spills and messes, sometimes they are a convenience when rags and cotton towels aren’t available. When buying paper towels, look for 100% post-consumer recycled ones, which are usually a brownish color and unbleached. The reason? These paper towels are all-natural and are a fabulous addition to any compost bin to help aerate it. Layers of used paper towels create small air pockets, which help beneficial microorganisms grow and make the compost rich and moist.
KEEP PHONE OUT OF HEAT
Did you know excessive heat is one of the fastest ways to ruin a smartphone? When your phone is exposed to the hot rays of the sun for too long, it can overheat and not only degrade the performance of the battery, but can melt the internal components, potentially ruining the phone for good. The easiest way to avoid this is to keep the phone out of the sun, and especially to never leave your phone inside a hot car (including inside the glove box, which still gets very hot). And when charging a phone on a hot day, remove the protective case — it can hold heat in and cause the phone to overheat.