12/3/10

Newspaper is a great fire starter for the fireplace, but it can burn up in a flash if you just crumple it up. Take a section of the newspaper and soak it in a sink full of water. Squish the whole paper with your hands and roll it into a "log" and squeeze out the excess water. Let it dry in a warm spot -- near a radiator for example -- until it's completely dry. Light it in the fireplace and it will burn very slowly to help get your fire roaring in no time.

12/2/10

If you see an organic food item or eco-friendly cleaning supply on sale, how many should you buy without buying too many? If it's something you use on a regular basis and you know you're saving money, then stock up on about 12 weeks' worth of product. This is the average length of time in between sales cycles for most items found in a supermarket. So if you eat one jar of organic pasta sauce a week, then on average, you should buy 12 jars.

12/1/10

To avoid cross-contamination when using reusable shopping bags, designate specific bags for specific items. Choose one bag for meat products, one for fruits and vegetables, one for household items, and so on. The bag containing meat products should be disinfected on a regular basis (tossing it in the washing machine with hot water will do the trick), while the others can be washed as needed.