Want to make an instant face scrub that exfoliates and hydrates dry skin in two easy steps? Just raid your pantry for chia seeds and coconut oil. Mix the two together and gently wipe your face. The chia seeds naturally exfoliate dead skin cells, and the coconut oil hydrates. Allow the mask to sit on your skin for a few minutes, then rinse it off to reveal baby-soft, hydrated, healthy skin. This beauty treatment uses food-grade ingredients you might already have and has no chemicals.

One of the reasons some people insist on using a plastic straw in their beverages is that it helps prevent drinks from staining their teeth. But dentists have debunked that myth: The liquid still enters the mouth and makes contact with the veneer on your teeth. The only way to avoid staining from liquids is to have the straw literally go to your throat. So, since straws don't help to protect teeth, how about protecting the planet by skipping plastic straws?

Using a full dishwasher is more water- and energy-efficient than cleaning by hand. But be sure to use your dishwasher properly. Using too much detergent doesn't get dishes and glassware cleaner, it actually leaves a film on everything. Hand-wash items that can break, splinter or rust in the dishwasher -- things like wood cutting boards and bowls, cast iron pans, copper pots and antique glassware. And large items like cookie sheets and mixing bowls that barely fit should be washed by hand. They can block internal sprayers, making the entire dishwashing cycle ineffective.