ArcaMax

Resealing a macadam driveway is a smart way to protect a pricey investment, but be sure to ask that the sealants used are free of coal tar. Coal tar is a common ingredient found in many asphalt sealing products; it's also a suspected carcinogen linked to cancer. DIYers will be glad to know that stores like Home Depot and Lowe's have banned coal ...Read more

When choosing window blinds, aluminum is a smarter, more sustainable option than plastic, PVC or fabric. Aluminum is one of the most recyclable materials available -- it can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality, which means old blinds are far less likely to end up in landfills. In contrast, PVC and many plastics are difficult to recycle...Read more

When it's time to get your backyard vegetable garden going, consider giving young transplants a gentle nutritional boost. One creative option is to save expired multivitamins and use them to enrich the soil. When planting something like a bell pepper, drop a vitamin into the hole before adding the plant; over time, it will break down and release...Read more

When investing in fine jewelry, it's worthwhile to consider the environmental impact behind the sparkle. Mining new gold is a highly destructive and unsustainable process, requiring extensive drilling and blasting to extract even the smallest amounts. In response, a growing number of forward-thinking designers are turning to recycled gold—...Read more

If you have energy-saving solar-powered outdoor lights in your garden that don't illuminate for as long as they used to, it may be time to check the batteries. Solar-powered lights use rechargeable batteries that charge during the day, using the sun's light as an energy source. The lights then switch on their integrated LED bulbs at night, using...Read more

Even though vegetable oil comes from plants, it should never be poured directly into the ground or garden soil. Once used, it breaks down and can coat soil particles, blocking water and air from reaching plant roots. It can also attract pests and create unpleasant odors as it degrades. Over time, it may contaminate surrounding soil and ...Read more

If you receive dry ice with frozen food deliveries, you can reuse it to help pop out small, shallow dents in your car. Wearing thick gloves, gently rub the dry ice over the dent for 30–60 seconds; the rapid cooling can cause the metal to contract and sometimes snap back into place. This trick works best on minor dents where the paint isn't ...Read more

When you upgrade your cellphone, a new model often requires a completely different charger. If your old charger becomes obsolete, here are a few smart ways to handle it. First, keep it on hand in case guests visit and need that type of charger. Second, many retailers, including Best Buy and Staples, accept old chargers for free recycling. Lastly...Read more

While they don't have to be sparkling clean, it's important that the glass containers you put in your recycling bin are reasonably clean. This often means using running water and scouring the last bits of food out of a jar. Here's a win-win: Use the remaining space in your dishwasher to get them clean. Since a dishwasher is the most energy- and ...Read more