Have you ever seen an Instagram post about a dog or cat up for adoption, a charity doing good work, or a tip to help reduce someone’s carbon footprint? Don’t just watch it -- like it. The more likes a post receives, the more likely Instagram is to show it to a wider audience. Higher engagement signals that the post is valuable and popular, helping these “good works” posts go viral and gain the influence they deserve.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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