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Do Just One Thing
Danny Seo
Have some rusty tools that could use a good cleaning?
When your workshop or gardening tools have oxidized and turned rusty, you can easily wipe away the rust by using a kitchen staple: a potato.
Potatoes are high in ferric oxalate, which turns the rust into a sludgelike substance that is easily wiped away.
Cut a potato in half (perhaps use spuds past their prime) and wipe away.
Or grate a potato, cover the whole rusty tool and let it sit for a few minutes.
You'll see the rust soften and be ready for a quick cleanup.
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Whether you're frying an egg or sauteing vegetables, it matters what size pan you use on your cooktop.
If you're using a small pan on a large burner, you're wasting heat and throwing money away.
Here's an example: Cooking with a small pan on a large electric burner cooktop can cause up to a 40% decrease in energy efficiency.
By choosing the right-size burner for the pan, you can save around $36 a year. And don't forget: Putting a lid on your pan can help speed up your cooking, too.
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Does your home have a septic tank? If so, it's important to check it periodically to make sure that it's working efficiently.
Have the tank pumped and inspected every two to three years. Checking regularly to make sure it's in good working order will ensure that it isn't leaking pollutants into the ground and waterways.
And every septic tank owner should know: Never flush dental floss, diapers, cigarette butts, paper towels, paint or harsh cleaning products down the drain.
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If your home uses a tank water heater, it's important to flush it out at least once a year. Small particles, dirt and other sediment collect at the bottom of your water heater throughout the year, and these things can have a dramatic effect on your unit's overall efficiency.
And this task is easy enough to perform that you can do it yourself! Check your manual for specific instructions, but the process is as simple as flushing water through the drain valve to clean everything out.
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Bees are critical pollinators, so anything you can do at home to support our bee population is helpful.
One of the easiest things is to plant prolific plants that produce a nice amount of pollen and nectar.
Flowers are obviously a good choice, since they produce pollen more frequently, but so are trees and shrubs, because they produce high quantities of both pollen and nectar. And remember: Avoid using chemical insecticides outside, where they can harm bees.
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Are you using ChatGPT to crank out silly photos, ask random questions or just kill time?
You might be wasting more than hours -- you're wasting water.
Massive data centers that power AI need huge amounts of water for cooling, and researchers estimate that every 20 to 50 questions require the equivalent of a 500 mL bottle.
That may not sound like much until you realize billions of queries are made every day. Use AI for important matters and skip the rest to save water.
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If you use a dehumidifier at home, you might wonder what you can do with the tank of water it collects.
First, don't use it to water plants: When humid air runs through the metal elements in a dehumidifier, it can leave trace metals.
You and your pets also should never consume the water. Instead, fill a toilet tank with the water, and use it to flush toilets.
Through his best-selling books, television programs, products and syndicated column, environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo shares the creative ideas that have made him America's leading authority on modern, eco-friendly living.