ArcaMax

Are you part of the movement to live a more plastic-free life? It's easy to think about skipping plastic straws, single-use bags and disposable cups, but what about some of the less obvious plastic hiding in your everyday life? Take wine bottles. Not all wine stoppers are created equal: Some are made from natural cork, a renewable and ...Read more

It may not be realistic to give the inside of your refrigerator a deep cleaning every week, so if you do just one thing, focus on the drawers that hold meat and vegetables. These areas can become breeding grounds for mold and harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli, especially when juices and other substances drip onto the textured ...Read more

Here's another reason to swap bottled body wash for bar soap: You're getting a more concentrated product. Bottled body washes are often made primarily of water, while bar soaps contain little to no water, meaning their other ingredients are far more concentrated. And that's not all: Bar soap requires no plastic bottle, is lighter to transport (...Read more

Never, ever flush conventional dental floss down the toilet. Nylon floss is non-biodegradable, can wreak havoc if it reaches our waterways, and can even damage plumbing. Once flushed, floss can twist and tangle around hair, toilet paper and other organic matter moving through the pipes. Those clumps can form blockages that build up over time, ...Read more

Opt for vintage or antique gemstones and jewelry whenever possible. Reusing stones already in circulation eliminates the need for new mining, which can displace enormous amounts of earth, disturb habitats and pollute waterways. Unlike newly mined gems -- and even lab-grown stones, which require substantial energy to produce -- vintage gems give ...Read more

Don't toss old cookware in the trash. If a pan is made entirely of uncoated metal -- such as cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel or aluminum -- take it to a local scrap-metal yard or specialty recycling center, since most curbside programs don't accept pots and pans. Nonstick or ceramic-coated pans generally aren't recyclable, because their...Read more

Here's another item worth buying organic: raisins. Independent studies have found residues from numerous pesticides on conventional grapes, which are commonly dried to make raisins. Because grapes have thin skins, pesticide residues can remain on the fruit, and it's difficult to know how thoroughly grapes are washed before they're dried. ...Read more

Freezing perishables and leftovers is a great way to extend the life of food, but only if your freezer is cold enough. To check, try the ice cream test: If your ice cream is soft or scoopable straight from the freezer, the temperature is likely too warm. Lower the temperature until the ice cream is firm, and you'll know your freezer is operating...Read more

If you're lucky enough to fly somewhere and have a meal included with your ticket, there are simple ways to reduce food waste. If you've been upgraded to a premium class and plan to sleep through the flight, check your airline's website to see if you can select a "no meal" option. Since prepared meals generally can't be reused once the flight ...Read more

Did you know more than 12 million tons of furniture is thrown away every year, with much of it ending up in landfills? Sofas are among the biggest items in that waste stream, but there are simple ways to help yours last for years, or even a lifetime. Keep your sofa out of direct sunlight, which can fade and "sun-bleach" fabrics. Rotate cushions ...Read more

Keeping your jeans in rotation for just one extra year instead of replacing them can have a significant environmental impact. That simple choice can save enough energy and carbon emissions to equal the electricity used to charge a smartphone every day for 10 years. Producing new denim requires substantial resources, from growing cotton to ...Read more

If you drive an electric car, avoid making a habit of charging the battery to 100% or letting it drop close to empty. For everyday driving, keep the battery around 20% to 80% to help reduce long-term wear; save a 100% charge for longer trips when you need the extra range. Likewise, try to recharge before the battery regularly falls below 20%, ...Read more

Don't leave freshly washed dishes sitting overnight in a tightly closed dishwasher. The trapped heat and moisture can create a damp environment that encourages bacteria, mold and mildew, while also leaving dishes with musty odors and water spots. Instead, crack the dishwasher door open an inch or two before bed to let steam escape and allow ...Read more

Most dentists agree you should brush your teeth for about two full minutes to get your pearly whites perfectly clean. But if you're a multitasker who brushes your teeth in the shower, you should reconsider that morning ritual. The reason? You're standing in the shower for two full minutes, wasting water while brushing your teeth. That's a waste ...Read more

If you're looking for a highly effective and nontoxic way to control an ant infestation in your home, look no further than all-natural diatomaceous earth. It's a powder that acts like silica, but it is made entirely from fossilized marine phytoplankton. It's perfectly harmless to humans and animals, but it's deadly to insects with an exoskeleton...Read more

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 ...Read more

If you create a fire in your fireplace during the winter months, you know it's important not to burn things like pressure-treated wood, cardboard and plywood, since they can release a significant amount of toxins into the air when burned. But did you know that it's also imperative to not burn driftwood? Even though it came from a tree and simply...Read more

It's common knowledge that planting non-native bamboo in your yard can create ecological problems, from blocking natural light and crowding out native plants to damaging foundations and spreading into areas where it doesn't belong. But if you do plant bamboo, look for varieties labeled "clumping" rather than "running." Running bamboo spreads ...Read more

Give your smartphone a fresh start by powering it down completely for several hours -- especially overnight or during a flight when you won't be using it. A full shutdown stops background processes, clears temporary memory and can help resolve minor glitches with apps, Wi-Fi or cellular connections. It also can reduce unnecessary battery drain ...Read more

Before you start your day, give your showerhead a quick inspection for leaks. Even a slow drip of 10 drops per minute can waste roughly 500 gallons of water over the course of a year -- enough to run about 60 dishwasher loads. Fortunately, this is one household repair you can tackle in minutes. A wrench and some Teflon thread-seal tape typically...Read more