Before you toss out an empty Froot Loops box, butter tub, or soda bottle into the recycling bin, take a second to determine if it has any potential for reuse first. Pantry staples and take-out orders yield lots of disposables, but some are surprisingly versatile and well worth putting aside for other duties. To spark inspiration for repurposing food packaging, we’re […]
Many of the personal care products for children found in stores contain harmful and even toxic ingredients. Soon-to-be parents often start getting concerned about the personal care products they use on their children, but it can also be hard to decipher which are actually safe and natural alternatives. Often, product labels are quite misleading, leaving parents confused. Making your own […]
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released its 2022 update on the state of the planet, and the news is not good. While conversations and carbon dioxide reduction commitments continue, the Earth continues to warm, averaging 1.09 degrees Celsius (1.96 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the era between 1850 and 1900. Even if policymakers and companies aren’t […]
Making your own personal care products is an easy way to reduce waste, use natural ingredients, and save money. Many recipes for homemade personal care products are geared toward women, like makeup removers or items with certain floral essential oils such as rose oil. There are many excellent recipes for men’s personal care products, including shaving cream, facial wash, and […]
If you’ve ever renovated a bathroom, you’ve probably faced the challenge of recycling porcelain fixtures. Whether it’s a toilet, sink, or even porcelain tile, recycling these items can prove problematic. Because most individuals don’t generate a steady stream of porcelain for recycling, regular recycling programs haven’t evolved. Most recycling takes place at the manufacturing level, or recyclers get their materials […]
Cloth napkins have more wiping power than their paper counterparts, reduce waste, feel nice against your skin, and look pretty. They’re both decorative and functional. Reusable cloth napkins keep trees from being cut down as most brands use virgin tree pulp to produce paper napkins. Cloth napkins also help keep our finite landfill space a little emptier by reducing waste […]
The personal care products aisle at the store is super confusing for most green-minded shoppers. Making your own personal care products is a great way to sidestep this issue. It is surprisingly simple and delightfully fun. Many of the products on the shelves labeled “organic” or “natural” are filled with synthetic ingredients, some of which are harmful. Reading the ingredient […]
What are five areas for quick changes in your carbon and environmental footprints? In this Earth911 Quiz, test your knowledge about the recyclability and impact of five common American products and habits. Making smart sustainable choices requires practice. Earth911’s weekly sustainability quiz helps you hone your ability to recognize earth-friendly products and services. Through your daily choices — from transportation […]
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, my house invariably gets that been-closed-up-too-long smell in the air. Sure, there is the scent of clean laundry and, heaven help me, the overwhelming aroma of my daughter’s collection of body sprays; but I can just tell when the windows haven’t been opened in a while. I don’t know where you’re […]
Over 30 years as an appliance repair technician, one of the problems I see most frequently is a washer that won’t spin. Fortunately, the cause of this is commonly something simple that you can fix. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps to get your washer draining like new again, saving you time and money. Why Your Washer […]