As cold winter temperatures melt into warmer spring ones, it's a good time to re-examine ceiling fans, air conditioner vents and tabletop fans before you need to turn them on to cool down. During the winter months, dust and other debris can collect on these items, so use a damp microfiber towel to thoroughly wipe them down. This way, when you turn them on, all of the collected dust and other allergens won't recirculate indoors.

Here's a nontoxic way to keep slugs away from freshly planted plants: Reach into your pocket. Grab a few pennies and place the copper coins around the base of new plants. Instead of using chemical insect repellants, when slugs come crawling up toward the seedlings, they'll either get an electrical shock or be repelled by the copper. By adding coffee grinds as well -- which they hate -- you'll have a foolproof barrier to protect your plants for good.

Environmentalists and the scientific community have long said that going on a plant-based or vegetarian diet is one of the best ways to significantly cut your carbon footprint on the planet. But if going all vegetarian is too tough, start by getting rid of just red meat. A recent research study by Bard College shows red meat requires "28 times more land to produce than pork or chicken," and it also needs "11 times more water." Red meat also adds "five times more climate-warming emissions." So instead of a hamburger, try a turkey burger. Then next time go for a veggie burger.