Do just one thing

AQUARIUM WATER FOR PLANTS

The next time you change out the water in an aquarium, don’t toss the “dirty” water down the drain. That cloudy, murky water is full of nutrients that your plants will love, including good bacteria, nitrogen, minerals, phosphorous and potassium. It’s perfect for houseplants and ornamental plants, and a little goes a long way. Just dilute the dirty fish tank water with fresh water and you’ll be able to feed plenty of plants each time you change out the aquarium.

LEADED CRYSTAL CONTAINERS

Yes, leaded crystal containers can release lead into your body when you drink from them. But there are ways to minimize the risks if you have a collection of glasses and decanters at home. First, never store anything in leaded crystal; studies have shown that alcohol and wine left in leaded crystal decanters have significantly higher amounts of lead. If you buy new crystal, soak it in white vinegar for 24 hours and rinse it clean; this helps lead to leach out, resulting in less surface lead. Finally, always wash by hand; small scratches caused by dishwashers and detergents can cause more lead to be released.

NO HEAVY STUFF FOR EBAY

The e-commerce site ebay was started with the simple idea that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. It’s also a great way to make money and avoid sending things you don’t want to the landfill. But when it comes to heavy items like furniture, ebay is not a great option, since heavy items are expensive and difficult to ship. Instead, look at local used-item sites like Craigslist, Freecycle (where every transaction is totally free) and even growing companies like Kaiyo, which picks up your furniture and sells it for you.

GAS AUDIT

One way to know if your car is in need of service is to simply do a gas audit. Next time you fill up on gas, take a note of your mileage. Then the next time you fill up, note the new mileage. The third time you fill up, compare the mileage from the first and second fill-ups. If there is a decent-sized disparity between the two, there is a chance your car needs service. You can also check your car’s owner manual to see your vehicle’s expected average miles per gallon. Anything that is substantially off is an indicator that your car might need a tune-up to run as efficiently as possible.

OPT OUT OF MAILINGS

Are you tired of receiving supermarket and drugstore circulars in the mailbox on a seemingly daily basis? One of the largest distributors of these advertising circulars, Valassis, has made it easy to opt out of the mailings. All you have to do is submit a request on their website; in a few weeks, you will stop receiving the mailings. In order to properly opt out, be sure to look at the address that is printed on the mail pieces and enter it exactly as it appears. For example, if the label says “Dr.” instead of “Drive,” you’ll need to enter it as “Dr.” for the opt-out request to actually work.

THIRDHAND SMOKE

You’ve heard of secondhand smoke, but did you know there is also thirdhand smoke? The children’s health advocacy group Healthy Child Healthy World says thirdhand smoke occurs when toxic residues are left behind from a smoker on things like clothes, fabric, furnishings, walls, bedding and other porous surfaces in a room. While the simplest step to protect children is to avoid smokers altogether, that can’t always be done. If you go into a room that has traces of smoke, open a window and use fans to circulate the air. Ask people who smoke to change clothes and wash their hands before interacting with infants and children. The charity advises that you think of smoking as insecticide: Second- and thirdhand smoke has more than 2,500 hazardous chemicals in it -- no child should be exposed to that.

ANTS IN CRACKS

One of the easiest chemical-free ways to prevent ants from coming into your home is to seal the cracks where they enter, but figuring out where the cracks are can be tricky. Try this simple tip: Cut a piece of cardboard a few inches square and cover it with maple syrup. Leave it in the general vicinity where the ants have been spotted. The next day, you’ll be able to follow a sticky trail to the ants’ entry point. Once you find it, use caulk to seal up the crack, and add a few drops of peppermint oil (a natural deterrent) to keep them away for good..