We live in a high-tech digital world, so it’s important to stay healthy by keeping your tech products germ-free. Traditional spray cleaners do not work on these products, since they can cause damage to them. Instead, dab a microfiber towel into some rubbing alcohol and use that to wipe down the screens on phones, keyboards for computers, and anything else that you’re constantly touching. This will do two things: kill germs and illness-causing bacteria, and clean off grime or smudges on the products. This is also a smart thing to do after you’ve overcome a cold, to avoid re-infecting yourself.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Two bulk-bin staples that can help you cut back on packaging and save money are dried beans and lentils. But using them means soaking them overnight before you can enjoy them. One way to speed up the process is to soak dried beans or lentils in water and zap them in the microwave. Just fill a bowl with beans and cover with water and a tiny bit of baking soda. Microwave for 10 minutes and let them soak in the hot water for 40 minutes in the microwave. Just like that, the beans will be ready to use for whatever you want to whip up for dinner.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It seems so antiquated in a day of smartphones and search engines, but millions of printed phone books are still being produced every single year. If you are receiving phone books and automatically tossing them into the trash or recycling bin, you can put an end to the delivery with just one simple step. Visit yellowpagesoptout.com and enter your zip code. The site will show you all of the directories that are or could be sent to you; it then allows you to choose one or all and opt out. It just takes a few minutes to stop delivery of something you may think is absolutely obsolete.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION