ArcaMax

When storing your recyclables outdoors, be sure to keep them in a shaded area and not in direct sunlight. In the warmer months (and in climates that are drier than others), keeping metal cans and glass bottles outside with bright, shining light on them can create a fire hazard. Keeping them in shaded areas ensures the recyclables won't get ...Read more

Among the most annoying things when painting a room are all of the drips along the edges of the can. It can become extremely messy and make it difficult to reseal the can when you’re finished. To prevent drips, do this: Stretch a rubber band over the paint and across the center of the opening. Each time you dip the brush, run it across the ...Read more

Drones look cool, but to animals, they can feel like predators or noisy intruders. Low, fast or unpredictable flights can cause birds to abandon nests, prompt mammals to stop feeding or hide (wasting energy), and even increase stress levels that harm reproduction and survival. If you are using a drone, keep your distance and stay high, avoid ...Read more

If your wedding gown is destined to stay in storage, why not let it do some good instead? Brides for a Cause accepts once-worn gowns and sells them to raise money for charity. With nearly 40,000 dresses sold and close to $3 million raised, more than 55 nonprofits have benefited from their efforts. They accept gowns up to five years old, in any ...Read more

Using a full dishwasher is more water- and energy-efficient than cleaning by hand. But be sure to use your dishwasher properly. Using too much detergent doesn't get dishes and glassware cleaner; it actually leaves a film on everything. Hand-wash items that can break, splinter or rust in the dishwasher -- things like wood cutting boards and bowls...Read more

In the cold fall and winter months, your car's average miles per gallon can decrease by as much as 22%. The reason? Colder air is denser, which adds drag. But there's a bigger culprit: heat. All the energy used to warm the car with the defrosters, heaters and seat warmers gobbles up gas. To be more fuel-efficient, try to park your car where it's...Read more

Do you have a backyard compost pile? In the spring, summer and fall months, composting kitchen scraps and yard waste is an ecological way to use naturally occurring microbes to break down organic matter into beneficial mulch. But in the winter months, these microbes either slow down or stop completely. In the cold months, you should protect your...Read more

The little stickers you see on produce at the store contain a code called a PLU, or a price lookup code, to help supermarkets accurately check out fruits and vegetables. The codes do have significance and can be helpful in determining if the item you're buying is organic. If the PLU code starts with a 9, that means it's organically grown. If you...Read more

When squirrels start overtaking your attic or get stuck in your house, one of the easiest ways to remedy the problem is to use a humane trap. The trap (usually baited with peanut butter) lures the squirrel inside, and a trigger shuts a door behind it. When it's time to release the squirrel outside, don't relocate it far away from your house. The...Read more