A green and money-saving way to furnish your home is to look for secondhand furniture at thrift stores, flea markets and through online sites like Craigslist. But since you don’t know where or how the furniture was stored, you should consider giving it a thorough cleaning before bringing it into your home. For wood furniture, pour 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 cup ammonia and a gallon of warm water into a bucket. This mixture will remove grime and dirt and completely disinfect the piece of furniture. Just use a damp towel with the mixture and wipe thoroughly. It’ll clean and disinfect, and it won’t damage the finish of the wood.

When you find vintage plates and other tableware at thrift stores or flea markets, there’s a simple step you can take to disinfect them and remove tough stains. The secret ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. But rather than drugstore peroxide that’s 3 percent strength, ask the pharmacist for -- 20 percent hydrogen peroxide for your plates. The stronger solution will remove stubborn stains and act like a bleaching agent, all without harsh chemicals. Just pour the hydrogen peroxide onto your plates, bowls or cups and wait a few minutes, then rinse and dry.

Modern-day game consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation 4 can do more than just play games. In fact, many of them can stream movies, TV shows and internet video through the console to your TV. While convenient, it is also a disaster when it comes to energy efficiency. Streaming this way makes the console eat up 30 times more energy in comparison to watching programming on your TV. Instead, opt for on demand shows and internet-ready devices for the convenience without the waste of electricity.