Yes, even tools designed to keep your home clean need to be, well, cleaned. Take a few cotton balls and isopropyl alcohol and disinfect the bottom of your vacuum cleaner. Over time, your vac can accumulate dirt, germs and bacteria, and a simple cleaning can fix this. If you have a housekeeper, ask them to use your own vacuum at home instead of one they may bring. Their vacuum is used in a variety of different homes and can drag in things like pet dander and other allergens.

Even with warmer temperatures outside, there can still be some nights when freezing temperatures could affect potted plants and seedlings in your vegetable garden. To protect your plants at night, upcycle old bubble wrap into mini greenhouses. Since the air bubbles in the wrap help retain heat and allow sunlight in, you can insulate your plants by simply running sheets of bubble wrap on top or around the base of the plant. When you’re done with the wrap, pop the bubbles and toss the sheet into the same bin that accepts plastic shopping bags for recycling.

There are an estimated three dead cellphones in the junk drawers of every American home today. It’s believed that over 500,000 phones are replaced every day in the United States, which means one thing: This technology should be recycled. The company EcoPhones wants to help solve this issue and help charities, schools and churches raise money, too. The company pays for every old phone it receives, no matter if the phone works. It also accepts inkjet cartridges and tablet devices for recycling. To learn how to end e-waste and raise money, visit recyclingfundraiser.com.