When it comes to workout clothes, one caveat of getting a good sweat on is that the fabric can hold onto both moisture and odor. Chlorine bleach is one way to freshen clothes, but many fabrics aren’t designed for bleach, and it’s not the greenest option either. After you wash your workout clothes, consider hanging them out to dry on a very hot, bright day. A dry, hot day can do wonders to deodorize clothing; the sun’s natural UV rays and ozone can kill odor-causing bacteria. If the day is even slightly humid, the technique won’t work; in fact, it can just encourage additional bacterial growth on the clothing instead.

Many people freeze bottled water and sports drinks so they have cold beverages on hot summer days. As it melts, you have a cold drink that can last for hours. But experts recommend against this for one reason: The plastic bottles are not designed to be frozen. The chemicals in disposable plastic bottles can leach into the beverage if you subject the plastic to extreme temperatures like freezing or boiling. It’s best to use a chemical-free reusable bottle to freeze your drink, or you can wrap an ice pack around a bottled drink to keep it cold.

During hot summer months, many utility companies promote the idea of using major appliances at night. These are things like your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher. The reasoning? The electrical grid is running at peak mode during the day due to the demands of air conditioning units. When you add the electricity usage of major appliances on top of that, it can lead to electrical blackouts. But doing household chores like washing clothes and dishes at night also comes with a savings. In addition to utility companies charging less for power at night, your home won’t be as impacted by the heat your appliances give off when in use. At night, the air is cooler and your home is, too, so you won’t feel the heat as much.