Do just one thing
DISPOSING BROKEN MIRRORS
Not all glass can be recycled in the curbside recycling bin. A broken mirror, for instance, is not recyclable, because mirrors aren’t 100% glass. They’re actually two materials: a pane of glass and a chemically treated coating that provides the mirror effect. To make a mirror recyclable and avoid contaminating a load of recyclables, the reflective coating would have to be completely removed from the glass. That’s a difficult process for an intact mirror; it’s nearly impossible for a broken one. Instead, broken mirrors should be disposed of properly in the trash; used mirrors that are in good shape can be donated to charity.
GRINDING RICE
Some chefs and home cooks believe you should have two coffee grinders in your kitchen: one for grinding coffee beans and a second one for seeds and whole spices. But if you think less is more and having two is excessive, try this trick to get double-duty from just one machine: Use rice. Throw dry rice (any kind) into the coffee grinder, then turn it on. The rice will be pulverized into a powder that will absorb all of the oils left behind by the coffee beans. With no lingering scent of java, you can use the coffee grinder for spices, seeds and herbs, and compost the rice dust when finished.
LESS WATER FOR MOSQUITOES
One of the easiest ways to combat pesky mosquitoes this summer is to be vigilant about standing water around your home. Mosquitoes only need a small spoonful of still water to leave their eggs behind. While it’s obvious things like buckets, kiddie pools and inactive birdbaths are prime locations, consider less obvious spaces like uneven gutters or the small trays under planters. If you find an area that is difficult to keep dry, you can add a little vegetable oil to the standing water, which will coat the surface and effectively kill the larva that may be inside.
LEAVE EXHAUST FAN ON
Exhaust fans in the bathroom are there to help dehumidify the air while and after you’ve taken a steamy shower. But when you exit the bathroom and turn off the light, don’t turn off the exhaust fan quite yet. For a bathroom to properly be dehumidified, you need to leave the exhaust fan on for at least 20 minutes. This is the recommended amount of time to remove the excess moisture and help prevent mold and mildew buildup in the bathroom. By having it on only while you shower, you are doing very little to prevent mold growth.
‘LIFT’ GREASE
When drips of grease get onto your clothes, getting the stains out can be a real challenge. Since water and grease don’t mix, it’s best to try to “lift” the oils out of the fibers of the clothing. Reach into your kitchen drawer for some regular white chalk. The natural minerals in chalk absorb the excess grease. Rub it liberally into the stained area and wait at least 15 minutes for the natural magic to work. Then launder as usual, and the grease stain should be completely lifted from your garment.
RECYCLING NON-STICK PANS
Are you one of the millions of home cooks who have replaced their Teflon-coated nonstick pans with chemical-free green alternatives? While it may seem like a good idea to donate your old pans to charity, the rule is if you won’t eat food cooked in it, don’t give it to someone else. The good news is that nonstick pans are recyclable. Some curbside recycling programs will take any type of cookware with any coating for recycling, as long as the body is stainless steel or aluminum; some communities’ programs don’t take coated pans. When in doubt, seek out a scrap metal yard, where the pans likely will be accepted. They’ll toss the pan into the appropriate scrap metal pile and recycle it into new metal products.
REFRIGERATE NON-PARABENS
A lot of us are avoiding personal care products that contain parabens, a family of chemical preservatives that have been linked to a whole host of health concerns. The good news is that paraben-free products are easier to find today; the bad news is that the shelf life for these items is not as long. One way to help extend and preserve the life of your all-natural moisturizers, shampoos, makeup and other personal products is to simply refrigerate them. There’s no need to store day-to-day items in the fridge, since they will quickly get used up. But for infrequently used items (or if you stocked up during a sale), keeping them in the fridge will inhibit the growth of bacteria and lengthen the shelf life of the products.