During the holiday season, many of us get gifts that are wrapped in tissue paper. And while tissue paper is technically recyclable, it can be hard to find a recycler that accepts it. When it comes to unbleached and white tissue paper, you can actually compost it. The fibers are short, it’s usually made from recycled materials and it degrades easily into beneficial mulch. If you can’t reuse it, compost it and you’ll keep some holiday waste out of the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Believe it or not, one of the most dangerous things your pet can eat isn’t a food at all: it’s the bag your favorite chips or snack foods come packaged in. When you’re done eating your BBQ potato chips, a few remnants of the snack remain in the bag. If you leave the bag where your dog can find it, they’ll naturally stick their head in. A Facebook page called “Prevent a Pet Suffocation” says many animals actually suffocate when they trap themselves in the bag and are unable to breathe. To prevent this, simply cut the bottom of the bag open before throwing it away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When sealing up cracks around the house, resist the urge to use only rubber or silicone caulk. While these materials do seal up holes, they also can be easily chewed through by wild animals like mice. Instead, plug the cracks with a bit of wire mesh from things like pot scrubbers. Then fill the openings with something called “expanding foam insulation.” The combination of the two will both insulate your home and make it completely unappealing to wild animals.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION