Spring weather means winter supplies soon will need to be stashed away for the rest of the year. If you have leftover de-icing salt, be sure to store it in a place where humidity and moisture won’t get to it. De-icing salt absorbs moisture, and if it gets too wet, it’ll turn into a giant, useless block of salt. You can store it in airtight containers or put the bag inside a plastic trash bag and put it somewhere dry, like the garage. Any salt you want to throw out should be disposed of as if it’s household hazardous waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Some of the hardest animals to adopt out of shelters are cats who are shy or are in need of socialization with humans. To help cats come out of their shell, you can donate time at your local animal shelter to spend an hour or more petting cats. Just playing with them and showing them that humans can be fun and trusted companions can help shy cats adjust and become more desirable candidates (cat-idates?) for adoption.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you want to help shelter dogs, but don’t have the time or room in your life to adopt one yet? Here’s the next best thing you can do: Become a dog’s Uber driver! Local animal shelters are often in need of someone to transport dogs to other shelters or rescue facilities, or for a veterinarian appointment. You’ll help the shelter by being a driver, and you’ll get to spend some quality time with an adoptable pooch. Just reach out to your local shelter and offer your driving skills to help them out.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION