Don't confuse the word "hypoallergenic" with "eco-friendly" when buying things like skin care products and bedding. "Hypoallergenic" only means it won't trigger allergic reactions. It's not a classification that means the product is natural, eco-friendly or organic at all. And even worse: There is no regulation from the U.S. government on what "hypoallergenic" actually means, so anyone can slap the word on any product. Read labels and learn if the actual ingredients and materials used live up to your green expectations.

While it would be ideal to buy only organic groceries all the time, the reality is that it can be cost prohibitive for most of us. The simple compromise is to focus on the items you consume a lot of and to go with conventionally made products you use sporadically. So, if it takes more than a month to go through a package of butter, it's OK to buy the much less expensive conventional butter than organic. But if your kids eat PBJs morning, noon and night, spend a little more on organic spreads. Prioritizing your eco-friendly grocery list will help you save money and be greener at home.

If you have a bunch of apples that are getting a bit mushy, use them to naturally deodorize your home before you toss them in the compost. Just cut the apples in half and place them wherever you have smells you want to neutralize: next to a litter box, inside a closet that stores shoes or even overnight inside a car overnight that unfortunately smells like cigarette smoke. The apples have the consistency of a natural sponge and they hold onto odor, so the longer they have their cut side open, the more neutralizing can occur. After 24 hours, just toss the cut fruit in the compost.