Don't Buy Bottled Water!

The bottled water craze of the past few years has resulted in a floating "island" of plastic corralled by whirlpool-like currents in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Most of these bottles are said to come from the United States and China, so if you think that those items are being recycled, think again. Additionally, the type of plastic used in these products often contain bisphenyl-A, an estrogen mimic that has been implicated in many health disorders. If you need water on the go and you tap water is treated with chlorine, buy either a faucet or whole-house filtering system and a stainless steel travel bottle. This method is cheaper in the long run, better for the environment and better for your health.

Clean and Green Laundry

When you shop for laundry detergent, look for vegetable-based surfactants as well as a lack of dyes and fragrances. I was surprised when I first learned that laundry detergents used petroleum-based surfactants, but there weren't any alternatives at the time. Well, actually, I used Ivory Snow for years (until they stopped making it). These days, there are a few brands that are using vegetable sources for their laundry product. I read once how many barrels of oil per day we would save if everyone used these veggie-based detergents rather than the oil-based products. I don't remember the number, but it was astronomical. Switch as soon as you can--it's better for your health, too.

Clear Plugged Drains Without Nasty Chemicals

A plugged kitchen or bathroom drain is a real pain. Daily doses of grease and food debris for the kitchen and hair, soap scum and other oddities for the bathroom drains take their toll, and soon you're looking at all that gunk real up close and personal. Here's a recipe I've used for many years, and always works: put a half-cup of baking soda in the drain, followed by 2 cups of white vinegar. Close the drain until the fizzing stops, then follow with a kettleful of just-boiled water. It may take 2 or 3 applications, with plunging in between, but it will work. Obviously, it won't work if there is standing water, so don't wait until the problem is that bad. A kettleful of boiling water dumped down each drain once a month will also help prevent this problem in the first place.

Raccoon-Proof Your Trash

Raccoons, with their dexterous little hands, can easily remove garbage can lids and spread your trash all over the neighborhood. A neighbor had problems with these bandits even though he bungee-tied the can lid on and put a rock on top! I told him to spray the top of the trash bag with ammonia before putting the lid on. He was very pleased when this technique worked. Don't go too crazy with the ammonia, however, or the trash pickup workers won't touch it, either!

Disposing of Poultry Bones

A great cold-weather method of getting rid of bones from chicken and turkey feasts is to burn them in your wood stove. Get the fire roaring, then feed a handful in at a time; don't do too much at once, particularly if they are wet. It may take a couple of days for the bones to be completely consumed, but it really works. My neighbor told me about this trick a while back, since I have lots of these bones left after I make the cat's food. Don't try this in an open fireplace, though!

Yogurt: Food for Your Skin and Hair

If you have dry skin, try using yogurt for your nightly cleansing. Use the full-fat, Greek style--the milk fat and lactic acid will do wonders for your skin. By the way, it also makes a great hair conditioner: Comb through hair, put on a plastic cap for an hour or so, then shampoo. The cost is low, and you're not putting chemicals on your body. Oh, and this yogurt tastes great, too!

Cold-Weather Skin Care

Most of us don't need to scrub ourselves every time we shower during the dry, cold winter months; doing so only exacerbates dry skin, causing itching and other problems. Don't skip the shower, but try using a washcloth or loofah and just water on your arms and legs, saving the soapy scrubbing for the parts that really need it (you know what they are). This will effectively exfoliate your skin without stripping it of natural oils. You'll use less water, less moisturizer and save time, as well!