Being cautious about lead exposure in your home is even more important when you have small children. Beyond lead paint, there are many common items that may contain high levels of lead. According to the Mayo Clinic, parents should be cautious about giving their children candy from foreign countries; some foil wrappers still have traces of lead. And if you hunt for your own game, be aware that wild meat like venison may contain lead; bullets are often made with lead, and lead particles can end up in the meat. Any glazed pottery, especially terra cotta style, should be avoided; these pieces are often marked “for decorative purpose only” for a reason, since the glaze often contains lead.

Every day, more than 20 million Hershey Kisses are covered in silver and gold foil. Countless other candies are covered in foil, especially sweet treats like chocolate Easter bunnies and Santa Claus treats during the holiday season. What you may not realize is that the foil used to wrap these candies is completely recyclable; it’s aluminum foil, just like the foil you use at home. Wad up your candy wrappers and toss them right into the recycling bin. Paper-and-foil combination wrappers are not recyclable, though -- those should be tossed in the trash.

Installing a motion sensor is a quick investment that will pay for itself and help you save money in the long run. As much as we hope people will remember to turn off the lights when they leave a room, it’s often forgotten. One way to help eliminate this kind of waste is to install a motion sensor in the most frequently used room in the house. A $15 sensor (available at any hardware store) will automatically turn off the lights for you when it doesn’t sense movement in a room. Home offices, family rooms and conference rooms at the workplace are great places to consider installing one.