If you love fragrances and want your perfumes to last longer, keep them out of the room where most of us display our bottles: the bathroom. Fragrances are susceptible to two things: light and temperat... more
Witch hazel is a natural astringent made from distilled flowers from an indigenous shrub native to North America. Many people use it to help treat acne-prone and inflamed skin, since it has wonderful ... more
Do you buy fresh eggs from your local farmers market? They are usually the freshest, often laid just a day or two before they're sold. (Conventional eggs at the supermarket are often up to eight weeks... more
Buying vintage and antique furniture is a great way to be sustainable and find stylish pieces for your home. But when considering very old furniture that's painted, be wary that it's possible the item... more
To prevent clogs and deodorize sink drains, reach for a box of regular salt. Pour 1/2 cup of salt (coarse salt works best) down the drain, then pour very hot water after it. The salt will act as a cor... more
Have you heard of "energy vampires"? These are devices and appliances that are plugged into an outlet and continue to draw electricity even if they are turned off or not being used. The latest statist... more
At the end of the year, many of us go around the house and replace the alkaline batteries in our smoke and fire detectors with fresh batteries. This is a smart idea for the health and safety of your f... more
A wood- or pellet-burning stove can be an economical and efficient way to heat a room or house, but which model and size of stove should you purchase? First, look for stoves that are EPA-certified for... more
Beverages in aluminum containers are an environmentally friendly choice because aluminum can be recycled infinitely into new metal products. But when buying canned beverages like sodas and sparkling w... more
Did you know one of the easiest and most effective ways to help prevent the death of birds is to simply keep your cat indoors? The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute conducted a study that fou... more
Is a real evergreen Christmas tree better for the environment than an artificial one you can reuse? According to the Nature Conservancy, you should go with a fresh-cut tree. Real Christmas trees are g... more
When a piece of chewing gum gets stuck in the fibers of carpet or on your favorite piece of clothing, resist the urge to pick at it or try to pull it out of the fabric. Instead, let the gum dry out, t... more
While your donation of a lightly used (and loved) dining room table and chairs to charity may seem like a generous gift, there's a reason why many won't take it: They simply don't have the storage or ... more
One of the best things you can do to extend the life of perishable produce is to keep ripening fruit away from other vegetables and fruit. Ripening fruits are those that get sweeter over time, like ap... more
Pastry chefs say the best surface to roll dough, make chocolates and do other types of baking prep work on is a marble countertop, since it stays cool to the touch. If you don't have a marble countert... more
There are lots of compost pails you can buy at the store that feature tight-fitting lids, integrated carbon filters (to absorb odors) and pretty designs so they look good on your kitchen countertop. B... more
If you're not a frequent baker and you have a bag of all-purpose flour in your pantry or freezer, what can you do with it? One of the all-time most liked recipes from the Naturally, Danny Seo magazine... more
It's rare, but sometimes a wild bird finds its way in and ends up flying around inside your home or office. What do you do to safely get feathered friends back outside? First, don't create a panic by ... more
When in doubt about what to give someone as a gift, think potted plants. Some easy-to-grow plants that are nearly impossible to kill include snake plants, jade plants, peace lilies, succulents and, of... more
Do you ever wonder how much power your TV or refrigerator actually uses? One way to get an accurate measure is to use a device called a Kill-A-Watt, which connects to your appliances and displays on a... more
If you must use disposable paper plates, go with the most boring, uncoated, unprinted kinds. Party plates that come in bright colors with shiny coatings are not compostable, nonrecyclable and can be e... more
If cooking isn't your best skill, the next time you're invited to a potluck party, volunteer to bring reusable dishes and utensils instead of paper plates and plastic forks and spoons. At the end of t... more
They're probably something you're not washing every day, but when you do launder oily rags, never put them in the dryer. If you've cleaned up a spill of cooking oil or have oily work rags from the gar... more
Even though an outdoor clothesline is the most energy-efficient way to dry laundry, a dryer is a necessity for many people. To maximize the efficiency of your dryer, try locating the machine in a warm... more
If you use an outdoor fire pit, you use wood as your source of fuel to get it roaring. But not all wood is the same, and you should avoid pressure-treated wood. This is lumber that's designed for cons... more
Air filters are critical for your HVAC system to keep things like allergens and dust/dirt particles from blowing around your home. The filters work, but they need to be replaced when they get too dirt... more
One trick interior decorators use to make a space feel more special is to install dimmer switches so you can control the amount of light a fixture produces. But does a dimmer also mean energy savings?... more
Did you know the fall and winter months are the best time to prune trees, hedges and shrubs? It’s not only because the plants can handle the cuts better and heal faster; it’s also because it’s kinder ... more
A gift registry is a simple way to make sure everything you’re receiving for a special occasion is something you actually need and can use. But what do you do if you really don’t want any more materia... 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 morni... more