11/6/13

If you’re concerned about the toxins in chemical fire retardants found in upholstered furniture and mattresses, there are easy things you can do to lessen their risk and exposure at home. One simple solution is to wipe down surfaces using a microfiber towel to collect dust particles. As foam in treated furniture breaks down over time, it releases chemical fire retardants into the air that collect with dust. By wiping surfaces -- and using an air filtration system -- you help lessen the number of fire retardants floating in the air in your home.

11/5/13

Have boxes of baseball and other sports cards you’ve been collecting for years? Here’s a great way to give them a new life and help kids at the same time: Donate them to Cards2Kids. The nonprofit was founded by a Chicago teenager who was an avid sports card collector who wanted to donate cards to other kids. To date, more than 500,000 cards have been collected and distributed. To donate, sort cards into two categories: “Great” cards are sports stars, hall-of-fame players or just a great-looking card; “average” is everything else. Drop them in the mail to the charity and they do the rest. Learn more at cards2kids.org.

11/4/13

Have a collection of old Halloween pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and husks you’re wondering what to do with? If these items are unpainted and still in their natural state, you may be able to drop them off to be composted in your community. Your local parks and recreation department can refer you to a commercial or municipal compost facility. You may know these facilities already: In the summer months they take grass clippings, and in the fall they take leaves.