Backyard bird and nectar feeders need to be properly filled to avoid getting birds sick. When it comes to birdseed, be sure to store it in a dry place inside an airtight container. If there's any moisture, mold and bacteria can grow. To make sure your birdseed is fresh, give it a good smell; if it smells off, bury it deep inside your compost pile. When it comes to nectar feeders for hummingbirds, take a look at the feeder. If it's cloudy, discolored or has floating particles, it needs to be scrubbed clean and refilled with new nectar. Old nectar can be fatal to birds.

Buying soda and beer in aluminum cans is a greener option than buying plastic bottles, but care must be taken when recycling the cans. Residual liquid inside aluminum cans can intensify when they dry out; the strong smell of sugar or beer is tempting for wildlife, and the razor-sharp edges of the can's opening can harm animals. Before recycling, simply rinse out the can and crush it. And consider using a recycling bin with a tight-fitting lid instead of a plastic bucket to keep curious critters out for good.

When it comes time to wash your car, a professional car wash is the greenest choice. The Environmental Protection Agency says the automated car wash is not only the most water- and energy-efficient method, but it also disposes of wastewater properly and recycles water. But if you want to wash your car at home, do it on gravel or grass; runoff water on pavement is unfiltered, and it can pollute waterways. Allowing wastewater to filter through dirt and gravel minimizes pollution.