Scrub the tub Mix baking soda with water for an abrasive scrubbing paste, or substitute castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s in place of water for extra power. To disinfect the bathroom, spray with hydrogen peroxide and rinse with water.

Claim the drain Pour baking soda in the drain, add 1 cup white vinegar, and watch the volcano, just like in grade school. Flush with hot water and repeat if necessary.

All hands on the pans Mix white vinegar with enough salt to form a paste, and watch the grease slip away. Add 1 tsp lemon juice for scent and extra power. More...

If you have a political sign in your yard, you're probably wondering what to do with it right about now. Depending on whether your signs are are plastic, metal, wood, or corrugated plastic commonly called coroplast, there may be a special collection pickup or drop off location near you. Visit Metro's recycling site or call the hotline at 503-234-3000. Far West Fibers in Hillsboro, SE and NE Portland takes most items. We received a tip from the Swag Connection that Obama supporters can put materials up for free at ObamaCycle to be claimed by another user.

With coroplast signs, you can make bike panniers, fenders, or handlebar bags with these guides from Kent Peterson, formerly of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington in EcoMetro city Seattle. Novice DIYers can start with the handlebar bag, while the more adventurous ecomaniacs can tackle fenders. The step-by-step instructions for panniers (pictured at right via Peterson's blog) are especially easy to follow. Recyling election signs into bike gear lets you prepare for winter weather and continue to show your political opinions. More...

After the trick or treaters have retired and brushed their teeth, your neighborhood continues to be home to little vampires. Chargers, TVs, computers and other electronics on standby suck energy without a purpose, but at a cost. Good Magazine estimates that a plasma TV in active standby costs an average $160 per year. Use Halloween as a reminder to unplug electronics on this list and give copies to neighbors.

Next, we look forward to carving this CFL shaped pumpkin from Ready Made Magazine, an especially important reminder as upcoming Daylight Savings Time means earlier nightfall. Go ecomaniac and light your pumpkin with an LED. (Image: Flickr/oskay) More...

Think your car can’t run on vegetable oil?  Browse the gallery of converted  cars and see the minimal adjustments at Love Craft Biodiesel, a great resource and shop for vegetable oil or biodiesel. More...

Create a locally-sourced organic lunch program to bring farm fresh organic foods into your school lunchroom. The Ecotrust Farm to School Program has basic information to get you started. If you use bag lunches from home make them waste free — a typical disposable lunch, with items like single-serve yogurt, Ziploc bags, and juice boxes, can create roughly one to two pounds of trash per week. See wastefreelunches.org for tips and lunch box options. More...

Your airline miles may be your largest climate impact, so until biodiesel planes take flight, offset your miles at carboncounter.org. For example, a trip from PDX-JFK generates 1,900 lbs of CO2, while a flight to London generates a whopping 3,821 lbs of CO2. Write your yearly miles in the renewable energy section of our book or on a piece of reused scrap paper, then work to offset them. More...

Maybe you’ve got an alternative fuel car, but what about a biodiesel home heating system? More...

Get an online home energy audit from the Energy Trust of Oregon. This step-by-step calculator will show renters and homeowners where to check, what to fix, and how to keep energy — and money — from going out the window. You may even qualify for incentives like free CFLs or a free professional home audit. More...

Whether you’re new to biking or want to expand your pedaling horizons, set goals for three riding trips for yourself: one easy, one medium and one difficult or across town. (You can use the notes section in the bikes section of our book.) A good ride deserves a reward, so grab dining coupons from our book and treat yourself to dinner somewhere new at your destinations. More...

Most of us make weekly trips all over town for necessary errands. Find an easy public transportation route, match your trips with a friend, or add extra time to bike or walk. Combine car trips into one route to save money, gas, and time — plus you’ll feel organized. List your weekly trips (you can do this in the notes on the transit page of our book), then rank them from 1 for closest to your home or office to 5 for furthest away. Reorder the list by number in the second column for an efficient trip. More...