Before you pack up your winter accessories, give them a good wash or have them professionally cleaned. These items rarely get washed but are often worn the most during the cold, harsh months. Dirt, body oils, germs and bacteria accumulate on the items. Storing them unwashed can lead to deterioration and odors that you’ll discover when the winter months come around again. Most items can be washed in the washing machine and then hung to air-dry.

Say you forgot to send a gift to a faraway relative, and you need to get one there ASAP. While the option of overnight shipping may seem like a solution, it’s an environmental disaster. Overnight shipping involves myriad problems, including significant CO2 emissions from gas-guzzling planes, layers of protective packaging and the trucks needed to get that package to the recipient. Instead, consider sending digital gift cards or contacting local businesses near your relative to hand-deliver a gift. It may take a little more work, but it’s more personal and less environmentally destructive.

If your wardrobe is made up of mostly dark colors like navy blue and black, turn your clothes inside out before they go in the washer. Deeply dyed clothing has an outer-surface dye that can fade and wear quickly when it rubs against other clothing in the wash. By turning clothing like jeans and shirts inside out, they won’t rub, and they’ll still get clean. Using energy-efficient cold water also helps prevent bleeding and fading of colors -- especially important for newer clothes, as dyes are more likely to bleed in the first few washes.