In the spring and summer months, you may keep lighter fluid or oil for tiki torches outdoors to make last-minute backyard soirees a breeze to put together. But these items are considered hazardous chemicals and should not be stored outside. According to the EPA, hazardous chemicals should be stored in covered areas to avoid rainfall. When rainwater mixes with flammable or toxic chemicals, it can carry the chemical mixture into the ground or make it nearly impossible to clean up.

A common barrier to recycling in the bathroom is the fact that most homeowners have a recycling bin only in their kitchen or garage. Luckily, there are many easy fixes to make recycling that shampoo bottle a routine habit. One way is to conceal plastic bins inside stylish baskets. Look for inexpensive recycling bins and find baskets that the bins fit snugly inside. If your bathroom has the space, designate one bin for extra storage (rolls of toilet paper or extra towels) and the other for recyclables. My go-to website, CareToRecycle.com, has tons more tips on how to be a more efficient recycler.

Many of us know not to flush old prescription pills and medications down the toilet, since pharmaceutical drugs can contaminate our water supply. But according to the Food and Drug Administration, you should also avoid disposing of old vitamins and herbal supplements this way. They, too, can contaminate our water supply and cause what they call "safety risks." Instead, mix old vitamins with coffee grinds and use a nonrecyclable container to dispose of them. You can also give a few multi-vitamins to household plants; they'll thrive from the nutritional boost.