Do you take the free samples of toiletries from hotel rooms when you travel? You might have plastic shower caps stashed away in a drawer. If you have no intention of actually wearing one in the shower, there are other ways you can upcycle it and use it around the house. One idea is to cover a cut watermelon; wrapping foil or plastic wrap around a large, round watermelon can be a hassle. But a shower cap is the right size, plus it has elastic inside to create a snug fit around the melon. You can also cover a starter tray of seeds with a shower cap; its transparency creates a greenhouse effect, so light can still get through to help your seedlings grow.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If your home-away-from-home is an office, you can take steps to make sure your time spent there is as healthy as possible. One of the easiest things to do is to add a houseplant to your desk environment. The golden pothos plant is beautiful, easy to maintain and is a superstar when it comes to air purification. This plant can provide air purification for about 100 square feet of space, so you’re helping to clean your air and perhaps some of the air for your colleagues who are closest to you.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Incense sticks seem like a healthy choice to burn in your home; after all, these fragrant sticks are often used in places like yoga studios and spas. But the reality is, anything that burns is releasing toxins into the air, and as sweet-smelling as incense sticks are, they contribute to an unhealthy indoor air environment. If you want to bring scents into your home, it’s best to consider using a diffuser, which warms up natural essential oils. Choose a diffuser that does not use a candle (since the candle can emit pollutants) and can be plugged in to warm up the oils.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION