When getting a cup of hot coffee from your local joint, the greenest way to avoid disposables is to use a stainless steel mug. But do you know how many times you need to reuse it before you see any environmental savings? When you break down the amount of raw materials and energy needed to make a reusable mug versus a disposable cup, a Stanford Magazine story estimated you would need to use it at least 170 times to see any eco-savings. But that's only if you toss the stainless steel mug. When it's time to replace it, recycle it -- your green savings will be much greater.

Remember the Do Just One Thing tip about plastic microbeads in body washes and how they end up being gobbled up by aquatic wildlife? The same can hold true for our soft, cozy fleece sweatshirts. When you wash your fleece jackets and pullovers, small nylon fibers end up shedding and going down the drain. These tiny strands are just like microbeads -- they get caught in the aquatic food chain. If you want to avoid contaminating the food supply, try two things: Hand wash your fleece items in the sink and capture the strands with a fine mesh cover, or look for alternatives like wool, which have fibers that are natural and biodegradable.

The healthiest way to keep your mattress free of germs and bacteria would be to wash it in hot water in your washing machine. But we all know this isn't possible, so do the next best thing: Give it a shot of alcohol. Strip the bed and fill a small spray bottle with cheap vodka or rubbing alcohol. Gently mist the top and sides of the mattress. The booze will kill the bacteria -- along with odors -- and won't saturate your bed, since the alcohol will quickly dissipate. Make this a regular habit for a healthy bed.