Aluminum is a very common metal that is easily recyclable. You should recycle it when you can. If you get a pie from the store, it’s usually packaged in an aluminum pie plate. That plate is recyclable if it’s totally free of any food residue. When the delicious apple pie is all gobbled up, place the dish in the sink and let residual water fill it up. Let it soak so all the baked-on mess rinses right off, then toss it into the recycling bin.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Aerosol spray cans are technically recyclable by most municipalities, but the cans must be absolutely, positively empty in order to recycle them. Because the pressurized contents in the cans make them dangerous, even cans with very little in them need to be disposed of with household hazardous waste. What makes a spray can totally empty? When you press the nozzle and hear absolutely nothing at all. If you don’t even hear a hissing sound, it’s good to go for recycling. If you have any doubt, don’t toss it in the recycling bin.

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If you have a yoga mat that you use all the time, consider giving it a good cleaning so your healthy routine keeps you healthy. First, yoga mats are machine washable. Wash them alone with very little soap in cold water and tumble dry on medium or high heat until dry. You can also spritz mats with a mixture of water and white vinegar, and wipe them down with a terry towel between uses to clean and disinfect. But one thing to never do: Don’t let them dry out in the sun. It may sound like a good idea to let the UV rays disinfect, but it can dry out the mat and make the material crumble.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION