Danny Seo

Do Just One Thing

Did you know that human hair can be composted?

It’s actually a great organic material to add to gardens, compost bins or soil, thanks to its high nitrogen content. The key is to use hair that hasn’t been chemically treated or styled with products, as those can introduce unwanted chemicals into your soil.

Composting it is simple: Just mix the hair into your compost pile or directly into your garden soil.

The next time you visit the salon, consider sweeping up your trimmings and bringing them home!

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Have you heard of the Swedish term “plogging”? It’s a combination of jogging and picking up litter.

The movement began in 2016 as a way to clean up walkways and prevent trash and other debris from ending up in waterways.

It also happens to be a great workout, incorporating jogging or walking, bending, squatting and carrying extra weight as you “plog” your way along a trail.

And yes, if biking is more your style, you can join in by “pliking” — picking up litter while cycling.

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Have you ever accidentally put a wool sweater into the washing machine and worried you’d shrunk it?

First, don’t toss it in the dryer — that will set the fibers and make it impossible to save.

Instead, soak the sweater for 30 minutes in the sink with a few tablespoons of gentle soap (like shampoo).

Place it on a large bath towel. Then gently stretch the sweater back to the original shape.

Let it sit for a few hours, then roll it up in the towel. Once it’s completely dry, your sweater should be as good as new.

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Here’s an easy way to reuse plastic Bubble Wrap to help save energy at home: Use it in your freezer.

Since Bubble Wrap has pockets of air that help insulate, wrapping items that need to stay frozen helps them stay ice-cold, especially if you open the freezer door regularly.

Consider wrapping containers of ice cream and frozen meats in Bubble Wrap and even laying sheets of it on the freezer shelves.

Every time you open the freezer door, the Bubble Wrap helps keep the food frozen longer, so your freezer doesn’t have to work as hard to keep temperatures low.

You can also use it in the refrigerator to line shelves that hold beverages to help them keep their chill.

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Thinking about giving the outside of your house a fresh paint job? The color of paint you choose can have a big impact on how energy-efficient your home can be.

Lighter-colored homes in warmer climates have a higher light reflective value (LRV). Pure black measures 0% LRV, and pure white measures 100% LRV. By choosing a lighter tint, you reflect light away, and your home uses less energy to stay cool.

For homes that are in predominantly colder climates, a darker color can help absorb heat and reduce heating costs.

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Do you wash your jeans regularly? It’s no surprise that overwashing denim can cause jeans to lose their shape, color and overall lifespan, as frequent laundering weakens the fibers.

According to Real Simple, you should wash your jeans only every four to six wears or when they’re visibly dirty.

Bath towels are another item that doesn’t need to be washed after every use. In fact, they can be used several times before laundering.

To prevent that dreaded mildew smell, simply pop them in the dryer or hang them in a sunny, well-ventilated area to dry thoroughly between uses.

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If you want total assurance that the vintage blanket, T-shirt or fabric you bought is sanitary, skip washing it and put it straight into the dryer.

Mist your thrift store finds with a little water, then run everything on high heat for 30 minutes.

This will destroy any bedbugs and bacteria, and it will help deodorize the items, too.

If they are machine washable, wash them in warm water with detergent and dry with high heat. If the items came boxed or bagged, be sure to toss those packaging materials into the trash right away.