As manufacturers strive to create sustainable and earth-friendly products, they are beefing up their take-back and recycling programs. To incentivize us as consumers to take advantage of these programs, many companies now offer cash back or other rewards when you participate. Ahead, steps for how to keep more items out of landfills—while earning rewards for your good deeds through these programs. Clothing The United States is awash in used clothes....

But what if this year you were to say goodbye to all those expectations and traditions, and instead, let yourself off the hook a little? “If difficulties surrounding the holidays feel insurmountable, remember that you are in charge of what you choose to do,” says Nisha Zenoff, PhD, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of The Unspeakable Loss. Though the idea may seem sacrosanct, it just might be the key to getting through the holidays, no matter the situation you’re going through....

Well, now’s the time to try your hand at a new cocktail—a deliciously refreshing Amaretto sour. The “sour” element comes from two types of citrus: freshly-squeezed lemon juice and a slice of orange. Garnish with a cherry for a pretty presentation. Want to take the classic Amaretto sour up a notch? We turned the beverage into a boozy slushy.

On the flip side, to make sure you don’t overcook them, remove your potatoes from the boiling water when they’re al dente, meaning just fork tender. For a vinegar-based dressing, mix potato chunks with the vinaigrette while they’re still warm to fully infuse the flavors.

How to accomplish that goal exactly? Setting aside the possibility of a lottery windfall, it takes focus, dedication, and some financially savvy moves to attack your mortgage principal more quickly. Here’s a closer look at how you can be mortgage-free on your own timeline. “This strategy involves refinancing your mortgage for a lower interest rate but continuing to pay the same amount as you did before [the refinance],” explains Johannes Larsson, CEO of Financer....

Test Your Smoke Detectors Almost three out of five home fire deaths occurred in buildings without smoke alarms, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association. How many smoke alarms you need will depend on the size of your home, but at minimum, you want an alarm on every floor of your home, one in each bedroom, and one outside of each sleeping area. Special alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers can be installed for those who are deaf or hard of hearing....

Impulsive buying is a difficult habit to break, especially at grocery stores. It’s easy to start filling your cart with buy-one-get-one snacks, bottles of wine on sale, and some new salad dressings that sound tasty. Next thing you know, you’ve spent an extra $100 on groceries you never intended to spend. It adds up fast-especially when you’re grocery shopping on a weekly basis. Breaking the cycle Spending ridiculous amounts of money on groceries (some averaging out to $250 or more per haul) is pretty easy to do....

“Some people will go into debt to give money to someone else, and that’s a huge financial mistake,” says personal finance advisor Lynette Khalfani-Cox. “You have to set firm boundaries and determine the type of help you will give and under what circumstances.” Yes, this includes siblings, children, and aging parents—all people with whom it may be especially hard (but all the more important) to set those boundaries. So, how do you stop family members from asking for money?...

How to Store Red Wine Red wine and white wine can be stored together, no wine fridge required. “Still wine in general benefits from being stored in a consistently cool, dark place that isn’t too dry,” says Amy Racine, sommelier and beverage director at JF Restaurants. “If there isn’t enough humidity, sometimes the cork can shrivel up and dry out, but most homes and basements already are just fine for this....

To find out the best ways to finish off a bottle of barbecue sauce—or, more accurately, incorporate it into every meal—we spoke with Chef and Pitmaster Charlie McKenna from Lillie’s Q. RELATED: The Guide to Pairing Barbecue Sauce With Beer

How Often Should You Wash Towels? Before we dive into the right technique for washing your towels, let’s cover how often you should be washing them. Towel washing frequency is one of those things that divide even the closest of families—some believe they should be switched out after every use, while others swear they can survive for weeks without a soak. You only use your towel after getting clean, so it can’t get too dirty, right?...

With a bag of chocolate chips, you’re a handful of ingredients away from chocolate chip cookies at any time of the day (or night) and any day of the week. The other cookie ingredients—sugar, flour, butter, salt—are always in my pantry, too. You’re also one microwave melt away from turning those baked goods into presentation-worthy drizzled cookies for a pot luck or welcoming gift for your new neighbor. Chocolate chip-zucchini bread for my friend who just brought her baby home from the hospital?...

I spent the second half of last year testing various products designed to make your life easier, and these are my favorites. Favorite Tested Products Favorite cordless vacuum: Shark WandvacWhile this vacuum didn’t win the “best” in our guide, it was my personal favorite due to its small size, powerful suction, and trending color options. Smartest Vacuum: Tineco PureOne S11I won’t recommend a robot vacuum here because there are better innovative options like this Tineco vacuum with a color-changing dirt-detecting smart screen....

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an eviction moratorium order preventing the eviction of any tenants who could not make payments. This eviction order ended on August 26, 2021, and the Eviction Lab website, which tracks evictions in six states and 31 cities, found sharp increases in eviction rates. In September, 2021, over 510,000 households received emergency rental assistance from state and local governments, according to data from the Department of the Treasury....

In an effort to right all these wrongs, we spoke with David Rosenthal, white winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. He debunks the top five myths and misconceptions about Riesling for us—and sheds light on why you should start sipping some right now. Myth: Riesling is for novice drinkers. Truth: Riesling is a very approachable wine for new wine drinkers because of its fresh, crisp profile. However, Riesling is also a darling of the sommelier and wine collector community because of its versatility, friendliness with food, and its ability to age....

A major problem with light colors is that they have a tendency to scuff. If you have children, pets, or a lot of people coming in and out of your home, the wall paint can end up being difficult to maintain. To clean them, without resorting to a fresh coat of paint, follow our guide to cleaning every type of wall. Kicking off a shoe, moving a piece of furniture, or even trying to install a floating shelf or art can also lead to an easily damaged or dirty-looking wall....

To boil down the nutrition facts on sushi—and whether or not it should be our go-to healthy date night dinner dish—we spoke with Rebekah Blakely, RDN, nutrition expert for The Vitamin Shoppe. Unsurprisingly, the answer isn’t quite black and white. Is Sushi Healthy? In short: Sushi can be good for you in moderation. Studies have shown that those who adhere to Japanese food guidelines have a 15% lower mortality rate....

Jen is a regular contributor to Dwell and contributing editor at 7x7 Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications including Architectural Digest, Dwell, GRAY Magazine, and Lonny For brand work, her portfolio includes Yale Home, August Home, Exploratorium, Google, Studio Heimat, TravelBank, and more