When drips of grease get onto your clothes, getting the stains out can be a real challenge. Since water and grease don’t mix, it’s best to try to “lift” the oils out of the fibers of the clothing. Reach into your kitchen drawer for some regular white chalk. The natural minerals in chalk absorb the excess grease. Rub liberally into the stained area and wait at least 15 minutes for the natural magic to work. Then launder as usual, and the grease stain should be completely lifted from your garment.

An association of athletes called Sports Medal Recycling does just that: They take your old medals gathering dust from road races, endurance events and track and field competitions and recycle them. The organization separates all the recyclable materials -- the metals used to make the medallions, the ribbons that hold them and even the cardboard and plastic packaging -- and keeps it all out of landfills. The proceeds are used to support nonprofit and charity runs to cover the cost of participation (with all of the money going to charitable organizations). To learn more and get the ship-to address, visit sportsmedalrecycling.com.

Here’s another reason to avoid artificial sweeteners and diet drinks: They can pollute our waterways. A study that appeared in the journal Environmental Science and Technology showed that after consumption, the human body flushes artificial sweetener down the toilet and into the water supply. And here is where this chemical sweetener can have a drastic impact on the biodiversity of the planet: Water with fake sugar impacts a plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis. This impacts its ability to produce food and release oxygen. And small aquatic species are affected by this toxic water, which flows up the food chain to the fish and larger species that consume them. The best bet: Avoid fake sugars and stick with ingredients you can pronounce.