It's important to clean fruits and vegetables -- organic or conventionally grown -- before you eat them. Just a quick rinse under running water helps clean away microorganisms that can make you sick, plus remove any residual chemicals or pesticides that may be on conventionally grown produce. But here's an important tip: Even if you plan on peeling fruits and vegetables, rinse them first. When you peel the skin away, you can spread bacteria and chemicals from the outside of the produce to the inside. A quick rinse prevents this type of cross-contamination from happening.

With backyard summer barbecues and picnics in full swing during the hot summer months, be sure that even the smallest food scraps from your meal are packed and taken with you. Even the tiniest bites of bread can become a tasty meal for birds. That bread can go stale and become moldy and harm animals surprisingly quickly after your festivities. Also, anything with chocolate -- brownies, candy bars and dessert toppings -- can be harmful to birds because chocolate contains the chemical theobromine, which is toxic to many animals.

With millions of Americans hitting the road this summer for vacations and family outings, it's important to take one simple step to make your car work as efficiently as possible: Be sure your tires are inflated properly. According to the tire manufacturer Goodyear, Americans waste about $2 billion every year because of improperly inflated tires. To find your recommended tire pressure, look for the sticker near the driver's seat when you open the car door. The air pumps at some gas stations will tell you your current pressure, and you can inflate your tires until you reach the optimal inflation rate for your vehicle.