No compost for imposter cotton globs
Ever open a bottle of vitamins or medicine and wonder why there’s a giant glob of cotton stuffed in there? It’s there for a specific reason: to protect the pills from breaking so you can get pristine pills in their intended form. But that sterile cotton isn’t actually cotton at all; it’s finely spun rayon or polyester. That’s because natural cotton can attract pathogens, and synthetic fiber cannot. So even though it feels like cotton, it
should not be put in the compost bin. Instead, use the fill to wipe down your computer keyboard and then toss it into the trash.
TIRE SEALANT
If you find a car tire is slowly losing pressure and needs to be filled up with air on a regular basis, you may have a small puncture. This is usually when a nail ends up jammed into the tire and very slowly releases air over time. To save your tire, all you have to do is remove the nail and fill the small hole with a tire sealant. The inexpensive liquid fills the hole and lasts for two years. It’s a simple solution to prolong the life of a tire without having to replace it right away.
LED BULBS
It’s common knowledge that LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are the most energy-efficient and long-lasting bulbs out there. And they contain no dangerous chemicals, making them one of the safest, too. But eventually, even LED bulbs burn out and need to be replaced. The good news is that LED bulbs are recyclable, and there are many drop-off points at stores that will accept them. But if you can’t find any, don’t fret over tossing them in the trash. Unlike CFL bulbs, there’s nothing dangerous about LED bulbs going to a landfill.
BATTERIES PLUS
With close to 500 locations, Batteries Plus retail stores are worth seeking out, even if it’s just for this reason: They recycle nearly every type of light bulb. This includes typical CFL bulbs and harder-to-recycle tube, circular and U-bend-style fluorescent bulbs. You can also recycle old-fashioned incandescent bulbs and a whole host of specialty bulbs at the stores. And, yes, they accept a large variety of batteries for recycling, too, including those that come from cars, phones, laptops and cordless products. (Closest locations are at 1925 Gunbarrel Road in Chattanooga, 5550 Highway 153 in Hixson and 615 Paul Huff Parkway in Cleveland.)
FRUITY WATER
Ever toss some lemons, limes or sliced strawberries into a water bottle or pitcher to infuse your drink with a hint of fruit flavor? It is a favorite way to get more H2O into your diet, but it also can be a health risk. All fruit has a tiny bit of natural bacteria on it, and the sugar in fruit can speed up bacterial growth in water. This is especially true when the water is left at room temperature. You have about four hours to drink fruit-infused water before it needs to be replaced. And always wash all fruits before you slice them up and drop them into water.
STYLISH GIFT WRAP
An easy way to giftwrap something is to use old newspaper. But when you’re done wrapping a gift, the ink from the newsprint can easily transfer to hands and cause a mess. To prevent ink from transferring, all you have to do is give your perfectly presentable newspaper-wrapped gift a light coating of hair spray. The hair spray dries to a shellack-like finish, and when the recipient unwraps the gift, not only are their hands ink-free, but the paper is still recyclable.
NEEM OIL
If you want an all-natural (and very effective) way to prevent invasive insects from killing your flowers, trees, bushes and vegetable garden this spring, look no further than neem oil. This botanical-based oil has a strong, pungent smell and repels insects, but also controls fungi and mites. It’s safe for birds and does not kill beneficial insects. You can find a large bottle of neem oil at your local home improvement store; just unscrew the cap and attach a spray nozzle, then spray away to protect your lovely garden the organic way.