South side water source can benefit wildlife
Reliable water sources for wildlife can suddenly become unavailable if you live in a climate with harsh, freezing temperatures. While an electrified birdbath is one way to help, it can be difficult and expensive to maintain and also poses the risk of shorting out (which can hurt birds and small animals). The simplest idea: Just place a water source on the south side of your property, where the sun’s rays will be strongest during the day. It should help thaw just enough to be a source of much-needed water.
RICE COOKERS ARE MULTIFUNCTIONAL
One-pot cooking is easy, money-saving and an eco-friendly way to prepare a homecooked meal. If you have a rice cooker at home, you can do more than just cook rice in it. Many rice cookers have different settings for slow and even cooking, which makes them perfect for stews, oatmeal, soup and lots of other grains in addition to rice. Using a countertop kitchen appliance like a rice cooker, slow cooker or pressure cooker can save about 70% in energy usage compared to conventional ways of cooking!
MAKE CLEANING WIPES AT HOME
To keep things clean and disinfected at home, there’s no need to buy wipes when you can make your own. Just cut old cotton T-shirts into squares and toss them into an old plastic container with a lid. Then add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup of distilled water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and just a few drops of liquid dish soap. Seal the lid and shake. When you need to clean up a spill or disinfect a spot, just ring out a towel and wipe it away. The wipes are machine washable, so you can use them over and over again.
REDUCE SHOWER TIME TO SAVE WATER
Take the time to see how long you normally shower and try to cut off about two minutes of shower time. Obviously, a shorter shower means less water is used, but just cutting out two minutes can save 10 gallons of water. Multiply that by 365 days, and that’s more than 3,650 gallons of water saved per year. Multiply that by the number of people in your household, and it really adds up to significant savings!
TISSUE PAPER IS COMPOSTABLE
Many of us receive gifts that are wrapped in tissue paper. And while tissue paper is technically recyclable, it can be hard to find a recycler who actually accepts it. When it comes to unbleached and white tissue paper, you can just compost it. The fibers are short, and it’s usually made from recycled materials, so it degrades quickly. This makes it perfect for the compost bin, where it can be transformed into something good for your garden.
SNACK BAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR DOGS
Believe it or not, one of the most dangerous things your pet can eat isn’t a food at all: It’s the bag your favorite chips or snack food comes packaged in. Even if you finish a bag of snack chips, the smell lingers in the bag. And if you leave the bag where your dog can find it, they’ll naturally stick their head in. A Facebook page called “Prevent a Pet Suffocation” says many animals suffocate when they trap themselves in a bag and are unable to breathe. To prevent this, simply cut the bag open on both ends and toss it into the trash.
INSPECT HOUSE FOR RODENT ENTRIES
Some of the most common points for mice invading your home are where utility pipes or wires enter, especially if there’s any rot or deterioration of your home’s siding or if there are cracks along the foundation. Take the time to do an inspection outside your home to see if you have any of these vulnerable points and seal them up. One thing you can do if you think a mouse is entering your home through an entry point is to sprinkle baby powder on the ground; if you see tracks, it’s an entry point that needs to be sealed up.