Use DIY, Natural Room Scents
(image via: the yummy life)
You can tell at a glance that these DIY natural room scent candles are going to make your house smell heavenly. The Yummy Life has step-by-step directions for creating mason jar room scents in orange, cinnamon and spice, lemon with rosemary and vanilla, lime with thyme, mint and vanilla, orange with ginger and almond and pine with bay leaves and nutmeg. They even offer printable labels.
Try Reusable, Green Alternatives for Dryer Sheets
(image via: simply real moms)
Stop buying dryer sheets! A few balls of wool will help your clothes dry faster and eliminate static cling. They also act as a fabric softener without chemicals, will last for years and are hypo-allergenic. Learn how to make them at Simply Real Moms. Want an even easier, quicker solution? Balls of aluminum foil won’t give you all the same benefits, but they will cut static.
Two Tricks for Unfreezing Your Car Windows & Locks
(image via: comedy_nose)
Scraping layers of ice off your car windows in freezing cold weather is no fun at all, but the sprays that instantly melt ice are not typically environmentally friendly. Make your own with three parts white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. You can use this as a pre-treater as well, pouring the mixture into a bucket and applying it with a paint roller. To melt ice in car locks, keep a lighter handy so you can heat up your key before inserting it.
Install a Water Filter
(image via: brita)
There are few excuses left to use bottled water at home, unless the water in your area is known to be unsafe. Install a sink-mounted water filter like the ones offered by Brita and Pur, or an under-sink variety that won’t clutter up your work space. Brita even takes back used filters, so you don’t have to toss them in the trash.
Consider Hand-Crank Kitchen Tools
(image via: sweet marias)
It may sound like a lot of work, but hand-crank gadgets can help eliminate a lot of the small electrical appliances in your kitchen, saving energy and helping you burn a few calories while you’re at it. The hand-crank coffee grinder above grinds coffee beans in minutes. Other kitchen appliances available in human-powered versions include rotary beaters, blenders and food processors.

