ArcaMax

Do you completely flatten aluminum soda or beer cans before tossing them into the recycling bin? You shouldn't, and here's why. Many recycling facilities use automatic sorting machines that separate two-dimensional and three-dimensional items from commingled recycling bins. When you flatten a soda can, it can often be mistaken by the sorting ...Read more

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 ...Read more

Those little silica packets you find in bottles of vitamins, in some packaged foods and in electronics boxes are there to help protect the product you’re buying by absorbing moisture. You can save the packets and use them for a myriad of purposes around the house; but do you wonder what to do with them when they have absorbed their maximum ...Read more

You don’t want unused medications falling into the wrong hands, so flushing them down the toilet might seem like the right solution, but it’s not. Certain medications can contaminate waterways and disrupt fragile ecosystems. Instead, return them to your pharmacy for proper disposal. Many locations even provide secure drop-off boxes for easy,...Read more

When it's cold outside, there are easy ways to fully maximize the efficiency of your home's heating system. One of the best things you can do is to raise the temperature on your thermostat slowly, allowing it to reach the desired temperature one or two degrees at a time. If you raise the heat quickly, your pump uses something called a heat strip...Read more

Want to chop $85 off your electricity bill in one easy step? Consider designating just one room in the house for watching television and not having multiple TVs set up all over the house. On average, a flat-screen TV uses about $7 a month in electricity -- not counting the cable box or other devices like gaming consoles and DVD players. But it's...Read more

Salad spinners are handy kitchen tools that help wash greens and use centrifugal force to spin them dry. But they are also great for a whole host of other cooking ingredients. Want to remove the seeds from canned tomatoes? Just empty the can and break up the tomatoes a little bit, then spin away. Need dried canned beans for a recipe? Just rinse ...Read more

Tree roots that infiltrate your pipes can cause a massive problem for your entire home's plumbing system. One thing you can do to prevent tree roots from growing in your pipes: Flush rock salt down your toilet. Once a month, pour a cup of rock salt into your toilet and let the mixture dissolve overnight. In the morning, flush the toilet. The ...Read more

Ever wonder why yogurt is packaged in hard-to-recycle No. 5 polypropylene plastic instead of the easier-to-recycle No. 1 or No. 2 types? This is because No. 5 plastic can withstand cold temperatures, is more durable, and is the safest option for storing, shipping and delivering yogurt. If your community doesn’t accept No. 5 containers, you ...Read more

Here's a simple way to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer: Check your ductwork. Many newer homes have ductwork with dampers that are adjustable, and when they are installed, they are often marked with two words: summer and winter. Shifting the switch to the correct season will ensure that the airflow in your home is ...Read more

If you use a dehumidifier at home, you might wonder what you can do with the tank of water it collects. First, don't use it to water plants: When humid air runs through the metal elements in a dehumidifier, it can leave trace metals. You and your pets also should never consume the water. Instead, fill a toilet tank with the water, and use it to ...Read more

Are you using ChatGPT to crank out silly photos, ask random questions or just kill time? You might be wasting more than hours -- you’re wasting water. Massive data centers that power AI need huge amounts of water for cooling, and researchers estimate that every 20 to 50 questions require the equivalent of a 500 mL bottle. That may not sound ...Read more

Bees are critical pollinators, so anything you can do at home to support our bee population is helpful. One of the easiest things is to plant prolific plants that produce a nice amount of pollen and nectar. Flowers are obviously a good choice, since they produce pollen more frequently, but so are trees and shrubs, because they produce high ...Read more

If your home uses a tank water heater, it’s important to flush it out at least once a year. Small particles, dirt and other sediment collect at the bottom of your water heater throughout the year, and these things can have a dramatic effect on your unit’s overall efficiency. And this task is easy enough to perform that you can do it yourself...Read more

Have some rusty tools that could use a good cleaning? When your workshop or gardening tools have oxidized and turned rusty, you can easily wipe away the rust by using a kitchen staple: a potato. Potatoes are high in ferric oxalate, which turns the rust into a sludgelike substance that is easily wiped away. Cut a potato in half (perhaps use spuds...Read more

Does your home have a septic tank? If so, it’s important to check it periodically to make sure that it's working efficiently. Have the tank pumped and inspected every two to three years. Checking regularly to make sure it’s in good working order will ensure that it isn’t leaking pollutants into the ground and waterways. And every septic ...Read more

Whether you’re frying an egg or sauteing vegetables, it matters what size pan you use on your cooktop. If you’re using a small pan on a large burner, you’re wasting heat and throwing money away. Here’s an example: Cooking with a small pan on a large electric burner cooktop can cause up to a 40% decrease in energy efficiency. By choosing ...Read more

Natural mulch is a great way to help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth. However, it's best to avoid black-colored mulch, for several reasons. First, black mulch absorbs more heat, causing it to dry out faster and requiring more frequent watering. Second, it’s often dyed and may contain chipped, chemically treated wood that ...Read more

Did you know the color of your jeans can have an environmental impact? Turns out faded or distressed jeans are created through a process that involves multiple washes in harsh chemicals. It’s estimated that somewhere between 900 and 1,600 gallons of water are used per pair of jeans, and chemicals like bleach end up in waterways. Dark finishes ...Read more

With so many viewing options, ranging from conventional cable boxes to streaming services like Netflix, there are some eco-friendly choices you can make to minimize energy usage when watching movies and TV shows. If you only use streaming platforms, go with an "internet-ready" TV that needs only a small plug-in device for streaming platforms to ...Read more