ArcaMax

Particleboard is a common material made of compressed wood chips, resin and adhesives, and it's used in furniture and to build walls, floors and cabinets inside our houses. The problem? Most particleboard can off-gas chemicals like formaldehyde, which can create an unhealthy home environment. Since ripping out everything made of particleboard ...Read more

If you dread ironing clothes, here's a simple tip to speed up the process and help you save energy: Remove the fabric cover from your ironing board and cover it with a few sheets of aluminum foil. Then place the fabric cover on top of the foil. When you iron, the heat will be transferred to the aluminum foil and reflect to the surface, creating ...Read more

Having a mouse in the house is more than a nuisance; it can be hazardous, since they can chew through wires and start a fire. Prevention is the best thing, so install door sweeps on exterior doors to prevent easy access into the home. Look for holes on the outside where they can slip in; anything larger than a nickel is big enough for them. Plug...Read more

Buying vintage blankets, T-shirts and fabric is a great way to reuse and keep textiles out of the landfill, but you might wonder: Are they really clean? Instead of washing these items when you bring them home, toss them straight into the dryer. Just mist everything with water and run it on high for 30 minutes. This will destroy bedbugs and ...Read more

That delicious chocolate bar is obviously a no-go treat for dogs, but have you thought about the plastic wrapper that encased it? The residual smears of chocolate could be irresistible for a dog to eat, and when they do, that wrapper can attach itself to the lining of your pet’s stomach, which could lead to a pricey visit to the veterinarian. ...Read more

There are a billion reasons why you should choose a more eco-friendly toothbrush; that’s the number of brushes that are thrown into landfills every year in the United States. Instead of plastic, look for environmentally friendly alternatives that use renewable and biodegradable materials like bamboo for the handles. And save your old brushes ...Read more

If you want to keep your home warm without using more energy to heat it up, remember this fact: A naturally warm home is also a humid one, because humid air retains heat better than dry air. One easy way to add some humidity to your home is to open the door to your bathroom after a shower, which naturally allows humid air to make its way into ...Read more

Invited to a potluck dinner party, and cooking or baking isn’t your strong suit? Offer to be the “green” participant who brings reusable plates, napkins and utensils to the party. At the end of the event, load them all back up in a box and wash everything at your own home. This cuts back on waste and doesn’t mess up the kitchen of your ...Read more

Do you want the freshest eggs? Get them from a farm or farmer’s market. Conventional eggs at the supermarket are often up to eight weeks old before they reach consumers. When you buy direct, they are usually just a day or two old. To keep them fresh longer, Mother Earth News recommends that you never wash your eggs before you are about to use ...Read more