Many homeowners use outdoor lighting as a deterrent to keep wild animals like raccoons, skunks and possums away from their home. And, for a short period of time, the lighting does work. But as wild animals get acclimated to their surroundings, they quickly get used to the lighting. To prevent wildlife from rummaging around our homes, the best approach is to keep food sources away. Clamp down trash can lids, and place recycling bins out in the morning. And if you do use lighting, go with the motion-sensing kind. The sudden flood of light can still be enough to warn wild animals to stay away.

When you’re repotting plants, save one thing from your morning routine to help: used coffee filters. Simply place the filter (complete with coffee grounds inside) at the bottom of the flowerpot. Then fill it with soil and add the plant. The coffee filter will help cover the drainage hole (without completely blocking it), and the coffee grounds will slowly break down into beneficial ingredients for your potted plant.

The next time you get a bouquet of flowers, reach for the mouthwash in your medicine cabinet to help extend the life of the fresh stems. Adding just 1 tablespoon of mouthwash to a vase of filtered water will naturally act as a fungicide to keep water fresh, and the filtered water will help your flowers stay hydrated. The mouthwash stalls bacteria growth, which should add a few extra days to your arrangement.