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1. Buy plain white toilet paper, tissues 17. Reuse aluminum foil and plastic 35.

35. Insulate your water heater. Turn it


and paper towels. Dyed paper pollutes. wrap, or avoid them completely by using down to 121 degrees F.
plastic containers.
2. Instead of ammonia-based cleaners, 36. Limit or eliminate your use of
use vinegar and water or baking soda 18. Plant trees. Strategically located, “disposable” items.
and water. trees can reduce hearing and cooling
bills, help prevent soil erosion and reduce 37. Close off unused areas of your
3. Walk or ride a bike instead of using air pollution. home. Shut off or block heat vents.
the car for short trips.
19. Water lawns at night to limit 38. Compare Energy Guide labels
4. Reuse your grocery bags , or buy a evaporation. when buying appliances.
string bag you can carry your groceries
in. 20. Compost your leaves and yard waste. 39. Keep the fireplace damper closed
You’ll improve your garden’s soil. to prevent heat escape. Keep glass
5 . Buy eggs and milk in cardboard fireplace doors closed when a fire is
cartons instead of plastic. Or recycle 21. Minimize the use of garden chemi- burning.
your plastic milk jugs. cals by weeding.
40. Use an automatic setback thermo-
6. Take showers instead of baths to 22. Be sure to return your recyclable stat to turn down heat when you’re not
save water and energy. cans and bottles for your deposit. home and at night.

7. Keep your car tires inflated to the 23. Don’t pour oil and gasoline into the 41. Capture free solar heat in the
proper pressure to improve fuel sewer system or on the g r o u n d . Take to winter by opening curtains on south
economy and extend the life of the your local collection site. windows during sunny days.
tires.
24. Buy rechargeable batteries. 42. Clean lamps and lighting fixtures
8. Don’t use electric tools and appli- regularly.
ances when hand-operated ones will do 25. Use cold water rather than hot water
the job. whenever possible for kitchen tasks and 43. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigera-
laundry. tor to reduce cooking times and to
9. Choose a light-colored car with ensure food safety.
tinted glass to lessen the need for air 26. Share rides to work or use public
conditioning. transportation. 44. Tune up your car regularly for,
maximum gas mileage.
10. Use mulch and natural ground 27. Buy a fuel-efficient car. Aim for 35
covers in gardens to contain moisture miles per gallon. 45. Remove unnecessary items from
and conserve water use. your car. Each 100 pounds of weight
28. Read labels and research the prod- decreases fuel efficiency by 1 %.
1 1. Instead of ironing, hang c1othes in ucts you buy.
the bathroom while you shower. 46. Don’t speed; accelerate and slow
29. Don’t use excessive amounts of down gradually.
12. Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t detergent. Presoak dirty laundry.
using. 47. Use latex and other water-based
30. Insulate your basement to save 1/3 paints instead of toxic enamel or oil-
13. Replace incandescent bulbs with on your heat bill. based paints.
more efficient screw-in compact
fluorescent bulbs or fluorescent 3 1. Buy products packaged in recycled 48. Repair leaks and drips as soon as
fixtures. paper or cardboard. they occur. A moderate drip wastes
two gallons of water or more per hour.
14. Use high-quality multigrade oil in 32. Caulk and weather-strip doors and
your car to increase fuel efficiency. windows. 49. Rent or borrow items you don’t
often use. Efficient use of products
15. Air-dry laundry when possible. 33. Ask your utility company for an conserves resources.
energy audit to assess energy waste in
16. Avoid keeping refrigerator or your home. 50. Use small electric pans and ovens
freezer too cold. Government recom- to reduce energy use.
mended temperature for fresh food is 34. Install water-conserving
38 degrees F. For freezers it’s 5 showerheads and sink-faucet aerators. 51. Run your dishwasher only when
degrees F. full, and use the energy saver cycle.
52. Avoid products made from tropical 68. Buy recycled paper, stationery and 84. Use equal parts white vinegar and
rainforest woods. greeting cards. warm water to wash windows or glass.
Dry with a soft cloth.
53. Request a Household Hazardous 69. Shop at your local farmers market.
Waste Wheel, showing alternatives to Products are fresh, packaging is minimal 85. Install storm windows.
hazardous products, from the Depart- and foods are less likely to be made with
ment of Natural Resources, 1-5 15-28 1 - preservatives. 86. When using hazardous products,
4367. use only what is needed. Twice as
70. Start an organic garden. much does not mean twice the results.
54. Tick/fly spray: Combine 2 C white
vinegar, 1 C water, 1 C Avon “Skin-So- 7 1 . Buy in bulk to avoid over-packaging. 87. Arrange for a waste management
Soft” bath oil and 1 T eucalyptus oil. presentation for your club or business.
72. Avoid optional equipment on cars
55. For a toilet bowl cleaner, use that decreases fuel economy. 88. Read publications that educate
baking soda and a brush. about long-term sustainability.
73. Reduce unwanted advertising mail.
56. As a household disinfectant, use Contact 515-281-4367 for a free list of 89. Educate your children about the
2 C hot water with 2 tsp. borax. tips. environment.

5’7. Instead of chemical air fresheners, 74. Keep lint screen in dryer clean 90. Write a letter to the editor about
set a cotton ball soaked in vanilla your environmental concerns.
extract on a saucer. (Keep away from 75. Use a trash bag in your car instead of
children and pets.) throwing trash out the window. 91. Get involved in a local tree-
planting effort.
58. Instead of toxic mothballs, use 76. Consider using cloth diapers instead
cedar chips. of disposal ones. Check for a local 92. Learn about global climate change.
diaper service.
59. Roach killer: mix baking soda and 93. Join an environmental organiza-
powdered sugar. (Keep away from 77. Urge your local community to start a tion.
children and pets.) curbside recycling program.
94. Research environmental legislation
60. Ant killer: Use chili powder to 78. Start a recycling program where you and write to your representatives in the
hinder entry. work. Contact the Department of Natural state legislature and in Congress.
Resources about the Waste Reduction
6 I . Do not toss toxic chemicals-into Assistance Program (WRAP) at 5 15-28 1 - 95. Think about the kind of Earth you
your garbage. Call 1-515-28 1-4367 to 4367. would like to see for your
learn how to dispose, or keep them for a grandchildren’s grandchildren.
Toxic Cleanup Day. 79. Insulate your waterbed by adding an
inch of polyethylene foam around the 96. Plan an environmental activity for
62. Use pump sprays instead of edges and the bottom. your club or troop, such as a recycling
aerosols. program.
80. To remove rust, rub rust spots
63. Use a holding tank on your boat briskly with a piece of crumpled alumi- 97. Investigate the environmental
and don’t empty toilet tanks into the num foil, shiny side up. record of companies you invest in.
water. Write a letter as a shareholder to the
8 1. Give leftover paint to theater groups, company president or sell your stock.
64. Don’t litter. Pick up any you see, schools or church groups.
especially plastic rings that can trap 98. Talk to friends, relatives and co-
birds and fish. 82. Call your local humane society to see workers about the environment.
if they can use your old newspapers for
65. Take your own coffee cup to work animal bedding. 99. Copy this list and send it to your
instead of using disposable. friends.
83. Check your smoke detector. Put a
66. Pour a kettle of boiling water down new battery in if it needs one. Some 100. Contact the Department of
the drain weekly to melt fat that may be detectors contain small amounts of low- Natural Resources, Wallace Building,
building up. level radioactive waste. Return used or Des Moines, IA 50319-0034: 1-515-
broken detectors to the manufacturer. 28 1-4367 for more information.
67. Take old tires to a landfill or
processing center for proper disposal.

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