ArcaMax

When traveling abroad, you may encounter stray dogs who could use a little help. While it’s natural to think they need food, one of the easiest and most important things you can offer is water. Simply find a sturdy bowl and fill it with fresh, clean water. Place it in the shade, refresh the water daily and rinse the bowl when you can. Reliable...Read more

Sugar can do more than make your coffee sweet. For grass-stained clothes, try making a sugar paste to lift the grass stains out of the fabric. Simply make a thick paste with white sugar and warm water, then apply the mixture to the stain and rub gently. Leave the paste on top of the stain for at least an hour. The sticky mixture will absorb the ...Read more

Did you know it’s illegal to throw old tires in the trash? The reason might surprise you: The steel belts inside of tires actually can puncture the liners at landfills, leading to ground contamination. In some states, getting caught throwing tires away can lead to fines and even jail time. There are recycling programs everywhere that recycle ...Read more

Did you know you can unshrink a wool sweater? If you’ve ever accidentally washed a sweater and it shrank, don’t panic -- you often can restore it close to its original size. Soak the sweater in a large bowl of warm water mixed with about 1/3 cup of hair conditioner. Let it sit for 15 minutes to relax the fibers. Gently press out excess water...Read more

If you sprinkle Epsom salts into the bathtub to help relieve sore muscles, save a few tablespoons to help give your plants a boost, too. Epsom salt is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is a mixture of magnesium and sulfur. Plants love these minerals, and giving them Epsom salt helps boost the color of their leaves and creates stronger...Read more

If you’re looking for another reason to quit smoking (beyond your health and wallet), here’s one: It’s a detriment to wildlife. It’s estimated that nearly 25% of all roadside trash is cigarette butts. Many of these butts end up in aquatic habitats, where they leach chemicals into the water. When fish get the chemicals into their ...Read more

Plants need light for photosynthesis, and to thrive and be healthy over time. You might think placing a plant near a lamp is just as good as placing it near a sunny window, but traditional light bulbs lack the red and blue spectra light plants need most to grow. While “full spectrum” light bulbs are available, they are expensive and use ...Read more

One of the easiest ways to cut back on food waste in the kitchen is by using vegetable trimmings to make homemade vegetable stock. Carrot tops, hearty greens and onion peels are obvious choices to simmer in water, but don’t forget items like bell pepper membranes and seeds, corn cobs and broccoli stems. Simmer everything low and slow, then ...Read more

Soft, rotten whole onions should never be eaten, but they don’t have to be thrown away. Use them to clean dirty grill grates instead. Simply cut the onion in half and use it like a scrubber to loosen burnt-on residue. Rinse the grates with water, then rub them again with the onion. The natural sulfur compounds in onions react with the metal, ...Read more