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Simple Swaps for a More Sustainable Home

3 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Creating a sustainable home doesn’t require a total overhaul—just a few small changes can reduce waste, save energy, and lower your environmental impact.

Here’s how to make your home greener with practical, everyday swaps.

Swap Out Light Bulbs

If you’re still using incandescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade. LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours and use a fraction of the energy, saving both money and resources. Unlike traditional bulbs, they don’t waste energy generating heat, making them the smartest lighting choice for an eco-friendly home.

Use Curtains or Cellular Shades

Curtains aren’t just for décor—they help regulate temperature and reduce reliance on energy-hungry air conditioners and heaters. Insulated or room-darkening curtains block excess heat in summer and retain warmth in winter, making your home naturally comfortable.

Install a Water-Saving Shower Head

Switching to a low-flow shower head can reduce water use by 40% or more, cutting down both water waste and your energy bill. Pair this with shorter showers for an even greater impact.

Ditch Paper Towels & Single-Use Products

Paper towels, napkins, and disposable plates create mountains of waste. Swap them for washable cloths and reusable kitchenware to cut down on paper consumption. If you’re feeling bold, reusable toilet paper is even an option!

Switch to Natural Cleaning Products

Conventional cleaners release harmful chemicals into the water supply. Instead, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice work wonders for cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing—without the toxic side effects.

Line Dry Your Clothes

Clothes dryers consume massive amounts of energy—opt for air drying instead. Whether it’s a drying rack or an outdoor line, your clothes (and the planet) will thank you.

Use Wool Dryer Balls Instead of Dryer Sheets

Skip wasteful dryer sheets and switch to wool dryer balls. They naturally soften clothes, reduce static, and speed up drying time, helping you save both energy and money.

More Ways to Green Up Your Home

Looking for additional ways to make your home more sustainable? Try these eco-friendly solutions:

Fill Your Home with Plants

Houseplants do more than add beauty—they improve indoor air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. If you have space, consider growing a vegetable garden to produce fresh, pesticide-free food and reduce your grocery trips.

Invest in Solar Panels

While solar panels require an upfront investment, they drastically reduce long-term energy consumption and lower utility bills. Plus, many regions offer incentives and rebates for switching to solar energy.

Keep Your Fridge Coils Clean

A simple but often overlooked tip: clean the back of your refrigerator regularly. Dust buildup forces your fridge to work harder, using more energy. Keeping the coils clean helps it run more efficiently and extends its lifespan.

Harvest Rainwater

Installing a rain barrel to collect water runoff from your roof can help reduce water waste. Use the collected water to water plants, wash outdoor furniture, or even flush toilets.

Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances

When it’s time to replace appliances, look for Energy Star- certified models. These appliances use significantly less energy and water, saving money and reducing your home’s environmental footprint.

Compost Your Food Scraps

Instead of tossing food scraps into the trash, start a compost bin. It’s a great way to reduce landfill waste while creating nutrient-rich soil for your garden.

How Long Do Hard-Boiled Eggs Last—And How to Tell If They’ve Gone Bad

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Hard-boiled eggs are a convenient, protein-packed snack, but they don’t last forever. Unlike raw eggs, which can stay fresh for weeks, hard-boiled eggs have a much shorter shelf life. Storing them improperly can turn your quick snack into a stomachache waiting to happen. Here’s how to keep them fresh and safe to eat.

The Dirty Truth About Your Kitchen Towels—And How to Clean Them Properly

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Think your kitchen towels are harmless? Think again. These seemingly innocent cloths are breeding grounds for nasty bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus, lurking in every wipe and spill. If you’re not washing them correctly, you might spread germs all over your kitchen, contaminating your hands, counters, and food.

How Kitchen Towels Become a Bacterial Nightmare

Picture this: You just sliced raw chicken, wiped your hands on a towel, then used the same towel to dry dishes. Congratulations, you may have just spread harmful bacteria all over your kitchen. Kitchen towels absorb everything from food residue to moisture, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply.

How to Properly Wash Kitchen Towels Properly

Use Hot Water & Sanitizing Cycles: Hot water kills microbes effectively. If your towel touched raw meat, eggs, or dairy spills, use the sanitize cycle to eliminate dangerous bacteria.
Bleach Wisely: Chlorine bleach is a powerhouse against germs but can be harsh on fabrics. Oxygen bleach is a gentler alternative that still keeps towels fresh and free from odors.
Wash Towels Separately: Never mix kitchen towels with clothing! Wash them with bathroom towels, which also harbor microbes, but keep them away from everyday laundry.
Wash Often Hand-drying towels: Every few days Cooking and cleaning towels: Immediately after use.

Want a safer kitchen? Keep your towels clean—and use disinfectant wipes for high-risk spills instead of your towels.

Why Fish Heads are the Secret to Massive Tomatoes (and a few other tested tips)

4 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

There is nothing more delicious than a juicy tomato picked from a homegrown tomato vine. I can remember plucking and eating fresh tomatoes, warm from the summer sun, from my grandparents garden. My grandparents ran a little country market in Iowa and grew some of the biggest and tastiest tomatoes ever. How did they do it? Here are a few of their time-tested tips that they happily shared with anyone who visited their market.

Why You Should Eat More Broccoli: A Powerhouse for Blood Sugar and Overall Health

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat, and new research suggests it may help lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. A study from the University of Gothenburg found that sulforaphane, a powerful compound in broccoli sprouts, significantly improved fasting blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. Participants who consumed sulforaphane experienced more significant blood sugar reductions than those on a placebo.

Boost Your Muscle Health with Grapes: New Research Reveals Powerful Benefits

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Grapes offer a surprising range of health benefits, particularly for muscle function. A recent study from Western New England University found that eating grapes daily can modify gene expression in muscles, improving muscle strength and function. The effects are especially pronounced in females, but both men and women may experience benefits, making grapes an excellent addition to a balanced diet.

The Best Tea to Drink for Energy – Ditch the Dangerous Energy Drinks and Try This

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

If you’re reaching for energy drinks to get through the day, it’s time to reconsider. Many of these beverages are loaded with excess sugar, artificial ingredients, and dangerously high caffeine levels, which can lead to jitters, crashes, and long-term health risks. Instead, switch to tea—a natural and effective way to boost energy without the side effects.

The Ultimate Sweet Survival Food That Lasts Forever

1 min read | Author - Backyard Vitality

Meet honey—the ultimate pantry staple and survival food that can last forever.

But how?

Honey’s longevity comes down to its chemistry. Thanks to hardworking bees, nectar transforms into honey with only 17% water content. Low moisture and high sugar concentrations prevent bacteria and mold from growing. Additionally, bees introduce an enzyme that converts glucose into gluconic acid, making honey naturally acidic and antimicrobial.

These 3 Odor-Absorbing Plants Knock Out Stink Fast (without chemicals)

4 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

We put them in our cars, offices, homes, garages, and everywhere that odors may linger. We mist, spray, plug in, and sprinkle toxic “smell good” chemicals without knowing the health risks. Products that we think are making our air fresher are actually making it toxic.

Supercharge Your Water With Delicious Homegrown Produce

7 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

Water, we can’t live without it, and consuming it on its own has a myriad of health benefits such as keeping us hydrated, aiding in weight loss, and keeping our skin, hair, and nails looking great. Plus, it can aid in digestion, maintain the balance of body fluids, energize muscles, help kidneys and bowels with regular function, and so much more. But…do you sometimes get tired of water and wish that it actually tasted like something other than, well, water? You are in luck. There are a number of easy-to-grow, delicious and nutritious herbs and fruits that you can add to your water.

Belly Button Bathing with Essential Oils: Does This Ancient Healing Practice Work?

6 min read | Author - Susan Patterson

Your belly button, which seems to do little more than collect fluff, was once the spot of a vital connection between you and your mother, the place where your umbilical cord once was. This tube-like structure connected to the placenta carries nutrients and oxygen from the placenta to the baby while exporting waste materials out. Once you entered the world, this cord was cut, leaving behind a scar – AKA, your belly button.