Green Home

From materials and products to clever, everyday practical information, read on to learn more about green home living.

The 10 Best Solar Generators (2022 Review)

A solar generator gives you backup energy from the sun if you’re out camping or if you’re experiencing a power outage. We’ve reviewed the top solar generators here.

How to Install an Electronic Air Cleaner

Improving indoor air quality with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey

How to Choose a Carbon Monoxide Detector

In this how-to video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey examines various types of carbon-monoxide detectors

Understanding Indoor Air Quality

Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey discuss indoor air quality, what it is, and how to measure it.

9 Clean-Air Plants for Your Home

Learn about everyday houseplants that do double duty clearing out pollutants in your indoor air.

DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Keep your home clean and safe from harsh chemicals with these natural products and DIY cleaner recipes.

10 Uses for Vinegar

This inexpensive kitchen staple—the distilled white kind, that is—can multitask in any room of the house.

Surprising Sources of Radiation in Household Items

Many of us are unknowingly exposed to radioactive things everyday, here are 9 household materials and products that could be emitting low levels of radiation.

How to Dispose of Grease and Cooking Oil

Read this guide to learn how to avoid the inconvenience of a clogged drain by properly disposing of your cooking and frying oils.

Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces, as wood is very good at absorbing water. Add to this moisture warm temperatures and mold spores (which are always in the air), and it’s the perfect storm for a mold infestation. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood.

8 Household Recycling Tips

Not sure if your household waste belongs in a blue bin or trash bag? Here’s how to decide which items to recycle in your household.

8 DIY Humidifier Ideas

Heating systems tend to rob the air of much-needed moisture content, leaving you with itchy skin, stuffed sinuses, and poor air quality. These DIY humidifier ideas will help increase your home’s humidity for a more comfortable environment.

How to Deep Clean Your House

Go beyond the weekly dust swipe-and-sweep and gear up for what pros call a "deep cleaning." Read our tips for deep cleaning your living room, bathroom, kitchen and laundry appliances.

Get Rid of Bad Smells the Safe Way

Try these expert green-cleaning tips for healthier ways to get rid of common odors.

How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Lawn Mower

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook discusses options and features of non-gasoline-powered mowers.

How to Make a DIY Air Filter

Ross Trethewey explains how air filtration systems work and how to build a localized DIY air filter.

4 Types of Whole House Air Filters

Whole house and portable filters trap dust, pollen, and more to clear the air and improve indoor air quality.

What to Do With an Old Christmas Tree

When the holidays are over, take down the tinsel, but don’t bag the tree. Here are 10 ways to dispose or recycle your Christmas tree.

How to Test for Black Mold

Do you keep getting a whiff of something musty in your bathroom or basement? Afraid it might be mold? Learn about three of the most popular kits to test for mold at home.

Pros and Cons of a Whole House Vacuum System

Wondering if installing a central vacuum system is worth it? Here’s one homeowner’s experience.

How to Clean & Polish Copper

Tackle dirt and tarnish to restore the rich, gorgeous gleam to this durable metal—on cookware, plumbing, and other household items.

Household Cleaners That Kill Coronavirus

To protect yourself against coronavirus, pick a household cleaner that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved to kill the virus—and then follow the manufacturer’s rules exactly.

10 Uses for an Egg Carton

After the eggs are all scrambled and eaten, the container is useful for home improvement

How to Prepare Your Home for Coronavirus

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads in the United States, there are several ways to prepare your home during the outbreak.

All About Green Homes

A green home is house that’s both healthy for the environment and for its occupants, with the main criteria being energy efficiency, sustainability, durability, and human health.

How to Remove Air Pollution in the Home

While a tight, well-insulated home is great for saving energy, trapping lots of stale air indoors can undermine your health. Here’s what you need to know to ensure that the quality of the air inside is healthy and free from harmful pollutants.

What to Know About Non-Toxic Kitchen Cabinets

Protect your health by choosing one of these non-toxic materials for your cabinets.

How to Paint a Mold-Resistant Bathroom

Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique paints a bathroom using a mold-resistant paint, in this edition of DIY Smarts.

What to Do with Paint Leftovers

Finished a major project? Here’s how to deal with a little extra paint (or a lot)

33 Ways to Upcycle Old Things

Got any of these items laying around the house? Repurpose them into creative home enhancements

Touring Celebration, Florida

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey visits Celebration, Florida, a planned community south of Orlando that was built using the principles of new urbanism

Jamestown Net-Zero House: Little Green Giant

Traditional architectural details and a more open floor plan combine with the latest energy-saving—and energy-producing—technologies at a new This Old House TV project

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