ArcaMax

If you're having a party for a large group of people and you rent glassware, dishes and flatware from a rental company, it may seem rude to send them back dirty, but it isn't. The reality is, even if you do a thorough job in washing your rentals, the companies are required to use a commercial-grade dishwasher to fully clean and sanitize them ...Read more

When squirrels start overtaking your attic or get stuck in your house, one of the easiest ways to remedy the problem is to use a humane trap. The trap, which is typically baited with peanut butter, allows the squirrel inside, then a trigger shuts the door behind it. When it's time to release the squirrel outside, don't relocate it far away from ...Read more

If you buy only one organic fruit or vegetable, make sure it's apples. Year after year, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group has listed apples as the No. 1 most contaminated produce. Eighty percent of apples sampled by the USDA tested positive for a chemical called DPA (diphenylamine), which farmers use to prevent the skin from darkening. ...Read more

When you’re shopping for flowers to make an arrangement, it’s always best to buy locally grown. But if you live in an area where there aren’t abundant flower farms, do the next best thing: Choose California-grown. Eighty percent of the flowers grown in the U.S. are from California, so looking for their mark is a way to ensure your blooms ...Read more

Did you know nearly 2 billion plastic gift cards are purchased every year and given away as gifts? While they're a convenient and useful gift for many people to choose exactly what they need, you might wonder: Are these cards recyclable? While the PVC plastic technically is recyclable, it's hard to find a recycler to turn old cards into new ...Read more

Even though the chlorine chemical is very diluted in a pool, your dog shouldn’t treat it like the world’s largest water bowl. Drinking too much pool water can cause major discomfort and stomach issues for dogs. Instead, be sure there’s a fresh source of water for your dog if it's spending time in the backyard pool. Also, be sure to rinse ...Read more

With prices skyrocketing, try this one little trick to extend the freshness of the eggs in your kitchen: Rub them with a little vegetable oil. Eggs are porous, and over time they can lose moisture, making them less fresh and nutritious. A light coat of oil makes them less porous, so they stay fresh longer. It also prevents bacteria from entering...Read more

It's winter, which often means snow and cold. And these happen to be two elements that can help you get your wool rugs seriously clean. Here's a trick from Scandinavia for cleaning wool rugs: Start by taking your rug outdoors and draping it over a railing. It needs to cool down and acclimate to the freezing temperatures, which will neutralize ...Read more

Are you traveling somewhere far away for a long period of time, and you need a really big piece of luggage for your journey? If you don't like the idea of buying something new when you think you're going to use it only once, consider renting luggage. Rentluggage.com makes it easy. All you have to do is select a bag from their large assortment, ...Read more

If you enjoy spending time outdoors on a covered patio in the warmer months but dread mosquitoes, consider installing a ceiling fan to keep them at bay. The breezy air does three things that make the area unattractive to biting insects: It disperses carbon dioxide, which is what attracts mosquitoes to you in the first place; it makes the air ...Read more

It’s no surprise that artificial -- or faux -- plants and flowers aren’t environmentally friendly, because of their plastic composition. But did you know decorating your home with them can also lead to an unhealthy indoor air environment? Low-quality fake plants can have trace levels of heavy metals like lead or cadmium in their composition....Read more

A naturally warm home is also a humid one. Humid air retains heat better than dry air. Among the easiest ways to help capture naturally humid air are two things: Let the hot, humid air from your morning shower waft from the bathroom into the rest of the house, and also do as much cooking as possible in your home. Also, running a humidifier can ...Read more

When regulating the temperature in your home, you might think closing the doors of little-used rooms (like a guest room) would help save energy, but it turns out you should keep that door open. Your central air system is designed to keep the entire house at your chosen temperature, and it relies on airflow throughout the house to get an accurate...Read more

If you have a dog who loves to jump into ponds, rivers and other waterways when you go for a walk, make sure you let them swim without hurting the natural aquatic habitat. If you treat your dog with a topical flea treatment, those chemicals can harm waterborne insects like dragonflies and beetles. And avoid allowing your dog to trample ...Read more

Do you buy products like instant coffee, electrolytes and vitamins in single-use “sachets”? While it may be convenient to have pre-measured amounts for use, those packets are horrible for the environment. They are made from nonbiodegradable and very hard-to-recycle materials that end up breaking down into microplastics. Try to find bulk ...Read more

Outdoor potted plants like shrubs and evergreens that can't be brought indoors can be protected from the cold, harsh winter weather with some simple upcycling. Wrap the pots with a few layers of old Bubble Wrap and use shipping tape to secure it in place. The air pockets will help insulate the roots of the plant in the same way a greenhouse ...Read more

If you're thinking about investing in a snowblower, think electric and not gas. Besides being quieter, not requiring as much maintenance and starting with the push of a button, electric snow removal products work just as well as their gasoline-powered counterparts, but do not emit any greenhouse gases when being used. Many electric snowblowers ...Read more

Save money when you fly, and help save the environment, too. Opting for economy seating on an airplane is far more eco-friendly than flying in business or first class. More passengers can fit in economy, so the overall emissions per passenger are lower. Flying first class actually produces nine times more emissions than coach. So when you have a...Read more

Witch hazel is a natural astringent made from distilled flowers of an indigenous shrub native to North America. Many people use it to help treat acne-prone and inflamed skin, since it has wonderful anti-inflammatory benefits. But witch hazel is also naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal. By pouring witch hazel into a small spray ...Read more

Ever buy an LED light bulb that’s supposed to last 50,000 hours, but it stops working way too soon? There are two reasons why it probably stopped emitting any light. First, LED bulbs don’t do well when they are hot, so installing them in light fixtures with a tight-fitting shade is a surefire way to make them fail. Second, if you buy cheap ...Read more