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Use a broom, rather than a hose or leaf blower, to clean sidewalks, driveways, patios, and other impermeable surfaces

Running a standard hose for just 10 minutes uses 100 gallons of water. Make sure to pick up any swept-up waste and put it in a trash can or compost pile, not the gutter or storm drain. Sweeping the waste into the gutter only adds to the pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember, “Only rain down the drain!”

Use "grey" water for watering plants

“Grey water” is a term for used water from your shower, bath, washing machine, sinks, cookware, and fish bowls that you can use to water your gardens and reduce your water bills. Grey water does not include water from toilets, which is considered black water. Be creative in the ways that you collect your grey water: save water used to boil vegetables, pasta, and eggs. Collect dripping water from your window air conditioning unit. Collect water used to rinse fruits and vegetables.

For more tips on using grey water, check out this guide on rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse.

Use starter fluid alternatives

Using a metal cylinder charcoal chimney starter or an electric charcoal lighter is better for air quality than using starter fluid. Starter fluid is a mixture of highly flammable, volatile chemicals including butane, propane, and diethyl ether. When combustion occurs, the fumes are released into the atmosphere and breathed in by people around the grill. Health effects can include loss of vision, severe throat and esophagus pain, vomiting, dizziness, and breathing difficulties.

Reduce light waste and pollution emitted by outdoor lighting

The best way to reduce outdoor light waste and pollution is to turn off lights when not in use, reduce your number of outdoor lights, or install motion sensors. For the lighting that you need, you can reduce glare by positioning adjustable lights downward, reduce spillover by installing fully shielded lights, and reduce sky glow by installing fixtures that have the light bulb tucked into the luminary housing.

Ineffective lighting creates nuisances and safety hazards for the community, drivers, and aviators. In addition, wildlife can experience disorientation from excess illumination and are attracted to or repulsed by glare, which affects foraging, reproduction, communication, and other critical behaviors. To learn more, check out this article on light pollution or watch this light pollution video.

Use a carwash instead of washing your car at home

Washing your car at home rather than taking it to a car wash can actually be much more harmful to the environment. Washing a car at home tends to use 80 to 140 gallons of water, as compared to a commercial car wash which uses about 45 gallons. Many car washes even have water recycling systems which significantly reduce their water usage. If you do wash your car at home, minimize harmful effects by using phosphate-free soap and washing your car on the grass rather than the driveway. Phosphate is a nutrient that can run directly into drainage inlets connecting to the Chesapeake Bay, resulting in algal blooms and low dissolved oxygen. Washing your car in the grass helps to minimize run-off of gasoline, oil, and exhaust fumes from your car.

To learn more, check out this article on eco-friendly car washing.

Pick up litter in your neighborhood

Not only is litter unpleasant to the eye, it also degrades water quality and endangers wildlife. Recycle the materials you pick up when possible, and ask your family, friends, and neighbors not to litter.