One way to extend the life of your toothbrush and keep it sanitized is to use simple table salt. The ubiquitous mineral has hundreds of uses beyond flavoring food. All you need to do is fill a glass with hot tap water and add about 2 tablespoons of table salt. Swirl the glass so the salt dissolves, and insert the head of the toothbrush into the cup. Let it soak for an hour, then rinse. You can also sanitize other hygiene items, including tongue scrapers, dental picks and even hair combs.

It’s always a great idea to utilize reusable water bottles, and there are many choices when you’re shopping for one. Bottles with an integrated carbon filter are popular in the marketplace. The concept is simple: When you pour tap water into the bottle, the carbon filter cleans the water as you squeeze and drink. But carbon filters are excellent places for harmful bacteria to grow. So over time, as you reuse this bottle, you risk making yourself sick. It’s best to stick with traditional reusable bottles in glass or metal and to fill them with filtered water instead.

An old wives' tale suggests pouring a capful of ammonia into the trash bag before putting it on the curb. The theory is that if an animal rips the bag open, he'll get a strong whiff of ammonia and run away. But here’s the problem: Ammonia is a strong irritant and can cause lightheadedness and burning of the throat, nose and respiratory tract. If you want to prevent animals from getting into your trash, utilize wildlife-resistant trash cans with tight-fitting lids. And if you do put your bagged trash out on the curb, do it the morning of trash pickup -- not the night before.