Do Just One Thing

By Danny Seo

It may be sold in some health food stores, but be cautious about burning incense sticks in your home. Recent studies suggest that burning incense can be as harmful to your health as smoking cigarettes. Of the 64 toxins identified in incense smoke, two have been classified as “highly toxic,” according to the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters. Because incense sticks are largely unregulated, there’s often no clear way of knowing exactly what’s in the package you’re buying. If you want to scent your home, consider natural alternatives like essential oil-based sprays or simply opening a window.

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If your yard has a diseased tree or bush that you need to prune or remove completely, be sure to properly disinfect your gardening tools after you’ve done the task. Dirty blades on pruners can transfer the disease to perfectly healthy plants in your yard. But the good news is that cleaning your gardening tools is pretty simple: Just use warm water and a teaspoon of bleach. Or at the very least, hot, soapy water will do the job. Just rinse and wipe off with a towel to kill the germs on the blades.

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If you have a wood-burning fireplace with an uncapped chimney, there’s a possibility that wildlife have made themselves at home inside. The first clue is often sound — listen for scratching, rustling or even the high-pitched cries of baby animals. Raccoons, squirrels, bats and birds are all known to nest in chimneys. If you think an animal has moved in, resist the urge to light a fire. Opening the damper — where animals frequently perch — can cause them to fall down the flue and into your living space. Instead, call a professional wildlife removal service to handle the situation safely. Once the chimney is clear, install a chimney cap to help prevent future visitors.

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Many households have perfectly usable life jackets tucked away in garages or packed in attic storage. Since 1997, the BoatUS Foundation has been collecting gently used life jackets and redistributing them through a nationwide loaner program available at more than 575 marinas and fuel docks. The initiative is designed to remind boaters — especially those new to the water — that wearing a life jacket should always be part of a safe boating routine. It also offers a practical solution for families who may not have enough life jackets on hand or who simply forgot to bring them along. To learn more about the program and how to donate or borrow a life jacket, visit boatus.org.

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A microwave oven is an energy-efficient way to quickly heat and cook foods at home. But did you know that, on average, a microwave is used only about 70 hours a year? That’s about 1% of the year, but when the microwave is not being used to heat food, it’s still sucking power from the grid to illuminate the display and keep it ready to go at the touch of button. It’s like having a lamp on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you’re not using the microwave, simply unplug it. You’ll recoup savings and help extend the life of the appliance.

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Don’t throw away Bubble Wrap after opening a package. Reuse it for shipping, donate it to local businesses or “Buy Nothing” groups, or repurpose it around the house to cushion tools, protect plants from frost or insulate drafty windows. If you’re done with it, pop the bubbles and take it to a store drop-off for plastic film recycling (it usually can’t go in curbside bins). A quick trick: Flip used Bubble Wrap inside out to hide old labels and make it look new again.

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.