In previous columns, we've discussed the importance of always filling all the way up when going to the gas station. The reason? The fewer trips you make, the more fuel you save, plain and simple. But you also do not want your gas tank to get to the brink of absolute emptiness, either. According to the insurance company Esurance, you "risk burning out your fuel pump and collecting sediment in your gas tank." Over time, the sludge clogs the fuel injector and can damage the engine. It recommends filling up on gas when you're "not running on fumes." I recommend any time you fall beneath a quarter of a tank of gas.

With cooler fall weather around the corner, use the last remaining days of bright, sunny weather to disinfect hard-to-wash items around the house. The ultraviolet rays from the sun are natural disinfectants. Find a spot that's sunny all day long, and lay down a clean tarp. Lay rugs, throw pillows, even a mattress onto the sunny spot, and let it sit there for several hours. The sun will radiate bacteria away and deodorize it, too. While laying in the sun yourself isn't good for your skin, it is good to keep these things fresh so they last during the cooler fall and winter months. 

Ever wonder how to recycle an old bicycle? The metal frame of the bike is pretty easy to recycle. Most bikes have aluminum or steel frames, which are commonly accepted scrap metal materials at any recycling yard. But what about the wheels? One company, Bike Furniture Design, would gladly take all of the wheels, handlebars and other unusual, hard-to-recycle components off your hands. They take the materials and upcycle them into cool, stylish pieces of furniture. Learn more at bikefurniture.com.