5/29/12

If your garbage disposal smells funny, don't pour toxic chlorine bleach down the drain. Instead, use tomato soup. Tomatoes can neutralize odor, which is why you wash the family dog in canned tomatoes after he's been sprayed by a skunk -- so think of the wonders the soup can do with your garbage disposal. Let the soup sit in the drain for a while before washing it away with water.

5/28/12

The next time you have a party and there are lots of half-empty cans or bottles of dark-colored soda left, don't pour the leftover liquid down the drain -- use it to clean your kitchen. Pour excess soda on top of grouted tile countertops or floors and let it sit there for a couple of minutes. Use a damp cloth to wipe up the drink, and you'll have clean, gleaming grout that looks almost as good as new. The high acidity in soda is what makes it an excellent natural cleaner.

5/27/12

Gift giving can be a frustrating experience for a lot of people. Instead of buying a physical item from a store, which could end up in a landfill after the gift has been given, think experiential gifts: a dinner out, a massage gift certificate, tickets to a play. Not only are these gifts less wasteful, but they can be more appreciated than that cat sweater you've been eyeing.