A dishwasher can do more than just get your pots, pans and dishes sparkling clean. These energy- and water-efficient machines can also naturally sanitize using hot water and detergent. Use the top rack to clean things like baseball caps, kids' toys, flip-flops and light fixture covers. Even switch plate covers, fan grills and vent covers (all covered in dust, dirt, grease and debris) can go right in. Using the rinse-only cycle is the best way to wash delicate items or to test something for how it does inside a dishwasher.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever use a “magic” eraser to clean around the house? The product seems pretty eco-friendly: All you need to do is wet the eraser and it magically removes dirt, grime and stains from almost anything around the house. But as it breaks down into smaller pieces, that means it’s leaving small traces of itself on the surfaces you touch. These erasers are made from melamine plastic, and when you scrub a tub, sink or any surface with water, tiny particles go down the drain. These plastic particles end up in our water supply and contribute to water pollution. Cleaning with rags and nontoxic cleaning products is better than high-tech erasers.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you pull out mounds of invasive weeds from your backyard garden, what do you do with them? You can compost them, but when you spread the compost, will you also spread weed seeds? The greenest solution is to bag them in black plastic trash bags and THEN compost them. Placing the weeds in a black bag and allowing them to bake in the sun is a simple way to kill the seeds by scorching them, called "solarizing." After a few days, simply empty the bag into the compost, and you’re good to go.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION