Corroded pipes can contaminate your home pipes. But it can be hard to tell if your pipes are corroded, since they rarely leave a distinctive color when you take a shower or wash the dishes or your hands. One way to tell if your pipes need an inspection is to simply run a load of white laundry, like white towels and T-shirts, in the washing machine. Don't add any laundry detergent or bleach, and run it on the warm cycle so both cold and hot water are used. Then look at the clothes. Are there any new stains? Any discoloration (even the slightest) is a sign your pipes and water should be tested.

Did you forget to water a houseplant, or go away for a long time and come home to what looks like a dead plant? Before you toss it, give it a second look. Many plants will drop their leaves and flowers in an effort to stay alive. The plant does it to protect the root system, which really is the nerve center of a plant. (This is also true for many plants that are accidentally left outside in the frigid cold all winter.) To revive a plant, simply trim off all the dead leaves and flowers. Then give it a good soak of water and place it in a warm, sunny spot. In three weeks, you'll know if the plant is truly dead if it does not sprout any new leaves.

If you have old jackets, apparel and hiking boots you're unable to donate and would like to see recycled, North Face wants to help you. The retailer is allowing customers to bring in any brand of clothing and drop it off in free recycling bins in their stores. North Face then sends the clothes to a recycling center, where master recyclers sort the items into 400 categories. The apparel and footwear is then recycled into products like home insulation, carpet and even fibers to make new clothes.