Do just one thing
STORE SWEATERS IN PILLOWCASES
Here’s a simple way to reuse old pillowcases: Store your sweaters inside them! The cases will allow the sweaters to breathe while protecting them from the elements and dust. You also can protect clothing that you hang, like jackets and shirts, with old pillowcases. Simply cut a hole in the middle of the closed side and drape it over the hanger to cover and protect your garment. Your local thrift store is a great place to find pillowcases if you want to protect a whole closet’s worth of clothing.
USE OIL BURNERS
While it may seem all-natural, burning incense in your home can equal the polluting effects of smoking cigarettes. Incense sticks contain the chemical benzene, which is also found in cigarettes, and this carcinogen is released into the air when you burn it. Instead, try oil burners for fragrant scents. Burners warm up scented oil using a candle and gently waft the scent without releasing any smoke into the air.
TURN BACK THERMOSTAT
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family spends about $2,000 a year combined on household heating, cooling and electricity. One way to help reduce those costs is to think about how to save money when nobody is in the house. If you turn back your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day, it’s estimated you can reduce your costs by as much as 10%. You can save even more if your home is empty for longer periods of time. Over a year, you can reap a few hundred dollars in savings with this one simple switch.
TURN OFF WATER WHEN SHAMPOOING
What’s one way to save more than $100 and 4,600 gallons of water a year? Shut off the shower when you are shampooing and conditioning your hair. Typical showers account for around 17% of the average household use of water, making showering the second-biggest water hog in the home. Just turning off the shower for a minute while shampooing can cut down on both energy and water usage. Bonus points if you opt for shampoo bars over plastic bottles to cut back on plastic consumption.
12 WEEK ORGANIC SUPPLY
When one of your favorite organic food items is at an irresistible price at the supermarket, do you ever wonder how much you should stock up on? When something like organic pasta sauce, cereal or other shelf-stable pantry items are on sale, go for about 12 weeks’ worth as your maximum supply when you want to stock up. That’s about the length of the average sales cycle for most items at the store. If you use about one box of cereal per week, go with 12 boxes of cereal when it’s discounted at the lowest price.
ADD SALT TO LAUNDRY
Want to brighten clothes and remove stains without using any harsh chemicals in your washer? Grab salt from your pantry and add it to your laundry routine. The natural chloride in salt works as a brightener, protector and stain remover all in one. Just add 1/2 cup of salt to your laundry (in addition to your detergent) to give it a natural boost. You can also soak stubborn stains or dull fabrics in a saltwater solution overnight and then wash as usual. Another alternative is to use hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down in water and uses oxygen to naturally whiten. Just 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with regular laundry detergent will be enough.
BAG THE WEEDS
When you pull mounds of invasive weeds out of your backyard garden, what do you do with them? Instead of throwing them away or composting them and potentially spreading weed seeds, the greenest solution is to bag them in black plastic trash bags and then compost them. Placing the weeds in a black bag and allowing them to bake in the sun is a simple way to kill the seeds. It’s called solarizing. After a few days, simply empty the bag right into the compost, and you’re good to go. Of course, reuse the bag for its original intended purpose: trash.