If your yard has a diseased tree or bush that you need to prune or remove completely, be sure to properly disinfect your gardening tools after you've done the task. Dirty blades on pruners can transfer the disease to perfectly healthy plants in your yard. But the good news is that cleaning your gardening tools is pretty simple: Just use warm water and a teaspoon of bleach. Or at the very least, hot, soapy water will do the job. Just rinse and wipe off with a towel to kill the germs on the blades.

A reusable water bottle is a green investment that can pay off both ecologically and economically. But like any food service item, it needs to be cleaned and maintained to keep it free from harmful bacteria. Once in a while, add some white vinegar and a cup of hot water to your reusable water bottle. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes (or longer if you can) -- the acid in the white vinegar will kill bacteria and odor. Use a scrubbing brush to clean the inside of the bottle. Rinse with more water and allow it to dry thoroughly. When not in use, store clean bottles in the refrigerator; the cool temperature prevents the growth of bacteria inside the water bottle.

If you're an avid shopper on Amazon.com, there's an easy way to do your shopping and support a nonprofit organization or charity at the same time. It's called Smile (smile.amazon.com), and Amazon donates 0.5 percent of your purchase price to the charitable organizations of your choice. The only difference between regular Amazon and Smile.Amazon.com is that you need to start your shopping on the Smile site. Choose from their list of spotlight charities like the ASPCA, Doctors Without Borders and the World Wildlife Fund. It's a great way to do your shopping from the convenience of home and support a good cause, too.