Many of us try to avoid traditional dry cleaning because the chemical PERC (perchloroethylene) is used in the process. PERC has been attributed to a number of adverse health problems. One way to avoid chemical dry cleaning and still get professional results is to look for something called "professional wet cleaning." Unlike washing machines at home, wet cleaning uses no toxic chemicals and a computerized system to wash clothes precisely and mimic careful hand washing without any damage to the clothes. Everything from delicate sweaters to suits and jackets can be done using wet cleaning machines. To find a cleaner near you, visit nodryclean.com.

If you have a collection of old books -- paperback or hardcover -- there are two ways you can dispose of them properly. The first way is to donate them to a charity. But if your local charities won't take outdated or water-damaged books, you can recycle them. Most paper recycling bins can take books -- so long as you remove the hard spines and covers first. The interior pages are easily recyclable and can be tossed wherever you recycle magazines and used office paper. The old jackets and spines should be tossed into the trash.

Another reason to plant a tree to help the planet: They act as mini air-conditioners for your home environment. In the hot summer months, trees pool water from the ground to keep them healthy and alive. As the water pumps up through the trunk, it evaporates through the leaves. The water acts as a cooling mechanism for the tree and it also cools down the area around it. The more trees around your home, the more cooling effect it has for you. Now how cool is that?