During the cold winter months, it's best to avoid painting the walls inside your home. Since most paints have some levels of volatile organic compounds, cold weather makes it difficult to ventilate the house by opening windows. Instead, wait until the weather warms up to take on your makeover project. But if you must paint, you can look for household latex paints that are labeled "zero" VOC, not "low." Zero means it has no volatile organic compounds and won't let off gas in your house.

We know what the dentist says: Floss your teeth every day. But did you know typical dental floss is not natural? It's a mixture of nylon string covered with a petroleum-based coating. It's not only non-recyclable, it's also non-biodegradable. Never flush dental floss down the toilet; it can clog pipes and cause problems at water treatment plants. But don't skip flossing because you think it's a greener thing to do. Instead, look for biodegradable dental floss made from materials like silk coated with rice bran and natural waxes. It'll do the job and can be safely disposed of.

When you get fresh flowers as a gift, you can compost them after the petals have faded. Organic or conventionally grown stems can be added right to the compost heap; throw the whole bouquet right in, and it will break down into beneficial mulch. But do not pour the water in the vase on top of the compost heap. Most florists use a powdery biocide in the water to help keep it fresh by killing bacteria. This same chemical agent can be harmful to a healthy heap and can kill microbes in your compost.