The next time you make a big batch of pasta, consider saving the pasta water. The water you used to cook up a box of linguini is full of protein and natural starches that can be used to thicken sauces, gravy, stews and soups. To save your pasta water, simply ladle portions into ice cube trays. Freeze them and store them in freezer bags. To use, simply toss a few cubes into whatever you’re cooking.

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.