8/26/13

One way to conserve water when taking care of your lawn is to turn on the hose early in the morning or at night, when the sun's rays are not at their hottest and won't evaporate the water droplets. But one other consideration to keep in mind before turning on the sprinklers is whether it's windy outside. A windy day can disperse water away from the intended target and onto areas that don't need watering, like driveways, sidewalks and the sides of your house. Wind can also speed up evaporation, causing inefficient watering.

8/25/13

If wearing perfume triggers headaches or makes you feel ill, there are two options for you. One is to look for Department of Agriculture-certified organic scents, which use food-grade natural oils free of any synthetic chemicals. Just like how produce with the USDA certified organic mark must be proven to be grown without chemical pesticides or herbicides, the same rules apply to organic fragrances. If you can't find an organic scent you like, another option would be to wear single-note scents or absolutes. Traditional perfumes use about 200 chemicals to create their complicated scents; a single note -- like sandalwood or rose -- uses significantly less and may be a calmer alternative to help you smell delicious and fresh.

8/24/13

When it comes to toilet paper, there used to be only two options: paper made from virgin tree pulp that comes from forests and recycled paper bath tissue that may have traces of BPA from contaminated recyclable paper. Either way, you couldn't win. A new alternative fiber tissue is coming to market that is made from sustainably grown bamboo and sugarcane husk. It has the feel and texture of regular paper, but it isn't made from trees and is 100 percent BPA-free. One brand sold at drugstores, Ology, is competitively priced and is even endorsed by the independent environmental organization Healthy Child, Healthy World as one of their eco-picks.