8/16/13

When you hear a creaky door, it usually means grabbing a petroleum-based lubricant to spray on the hinges to stop the noise. But you don't have to use a nonrenewable chemical product to have hinges move with ease. Try food-grade mineral oil (from the pharmacy) or a few drops of tea tree oil instead. These oils are made from renewable resources and will have a lasting effect to keep joints, hinges and anything else in your home moving effortlessly. Just avoid vegetable and olive oils: While they do the trick, the oil will go rancid and create an unpleasant smell.

8/15/13

You may think taking a pre-swim rinse is a waste of water, but it's actually an eco-friendly choice every pool-goer should make. Our bodies have natural oils, plus skin care products, like body lotion and deodorants, that can contaminate pool water. A quick rinse removes those oils and products from your body and helps keep the pool water cleaner. Cleaner water means less chlorine needs to be used, and less chlorine means fewer chemicals on your skin.

8/14/13

Another reason to ditch disposable plastic water bottles: They can make you look older. New reports show the pursing of the lips around a bottle of water repeatedly can actually form deep wrinkles around our mouths. The look is similar to a lifelong smoker who also purses his lips around a cigarette. To avoid having an older-looking mouth, keep drinking water -- just do it from a glass. It's another reason to invest in an inexpensive water filtration system and to skip the ecological nightmare of plastic bottled water.