Many people collect recyclable plastic containers and bundle them in thin plastic bags sold to hold co-mingled recyclables. When it comes time to recycle these containers, you just knot the top and toss the whole bag full of recyclables right into the bin. But here’s the problem: Even if the thin plastic bag is recyclable, your recycling center would prefer you not use them. When the plastic bags are ripped open to let the plastic containers free, the thin plastic can get loose and jam recycling equipment. They can also blow away and contaminate other recyclables like paper, cardboard and metal.

When the summer nights are too hot to get a comfortable sleep, there are ways to cool your bedroom without resorting to an air-conditioning unit. If you have an old-fashioned hot water bottle, fill it with ice-cold water. You can also place your flat sheet and pillowcases in the freezer for a few hours before bedtime; they’ll feel cool against the skin until you fall asleep. And a regular tabletop fan can help blow cool air across your body, all while providing white noise to mask any other sounds that may prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Many of us add liquid fabric softener to the washing machine to help make clothing not only feel soft, but smell good, too. But the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World says it’s best to skip fabric softener; in addition to the artificial fragrance used in most softener, it also leaves a film behind on fabric fibers. All of this can cause skin irritation and trigger allergies. Softeners can also build up in the washing machine, staining future loads of laundry. Avoid it altogether, and stick with good old white vinegar to soften your clothing naturally.