Is it better to send a printed greeting card or an e-card, which uses energy to power servers and devices? It turns out digital is the winner. Printed cards require significantly more resources, energy and transportation to produce and deliver. In fact, a digital card has roughly one-third the carbon footprint of a printed one. If you enjoy sending printed cards, choose ones made from recycled paper and reserve them for the occasions that matter most to you.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us add liquid fabric softener to the washing machine to help make clothing not only feel soft, but smell good, too. But the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World says it’s best to skip fabric softener; in addition to the artificial fragrance used in most softeners, it also leaves a film behind on fabric fibers. All of this can cause skin irritation and trigger allergies. Softeners can also build up in the washing machine, staining future loads of laundry. Avoid it altogether and stick with good old white vinegar to soften your clothing naturally.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Real leather bags, shoes and furniture can crack or deteriorate over time from weather and heat. Store-bought leather conditioners can work, but they can also be expensive. So make your own: Just combine 1 part beeswax, 1 part cocoa butter and 2 parts sweet almond oil in a saucepan over low heat. Let the mixture melt and pour it into a heatproof container until cool. Then use a soft towel to rub your DIY mixture directly onto leather; as you massage, it’ll penetrate, buff and recondition old leather. This is a great trick to bring life back to vintage leather goods, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION