Weird but true: Your kid’s favorite beverage can actually clean your toilet. The citric acid in orange-flavored beverage mixes is strong enough to break down stains inside a toilet bowl. Just sprinkle the contents of the powdered beverage packet (the sugar-free kind) inside the bowl. Swirl it with a toilet brush so the powder dissolves, and keep the family dog from drinking it. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight, and voila! You’ll have a sparkling clean toilet!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are those gift boxes that have the thin plastic “window” on the front recyclable, or not? The good news is yes, they are. But you have to do just one thing to prepare them for recycling: Peel off the plastic sheet (it’s usually barely adhered), then flatten the box for recycling. The paperboard boxes are recyclable in most curbside programs. Leaving the plastic on can be a problem for recyclers, since it can muck up the recyclables during the pulping process.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here’s one more all-natural thing to keep by your kitchen or bathroom sink: a small bottle of essential oils. If you want to avoid the chemicals in antibacterial gels or liquid hand soaps, natural oils can help disinfect, and they smell great! Oils like tea tree, peppermint and rosemary have natural antimicrobial properties that can help you stay germ-free and healthy. Just wash your hands and add a drop or two to the palms of your hands, then rub and smell the healthy goodness.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION