Ever open a bottle of vitamins or medicine and wonder why there’s a giant glob of cotton stuffed in there? It’s there for a specific reason: to protect the pills from breaking so you can get pristine pills in their intended form. But that sterile cotton isn’t actually cotton at all; it’s finely spun rayon or polyester. That’s because natural cotton can attract pathogens, and synthetic fiber cannot. So even though it feels like cotton, it should not be put in the compost bin. Instead, use the fill to wipe down your computer keyboard and then toss it into the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Those super-durable, waterproof envelopes that come to you via UPS or FedEx are often made from Tyvek. While it feels like a plastic paper, it’s actually 100 percent polyester that’s spun together to make the heavy-duty material. Since Tyvek is hard to recycle, one thing you can do is save large envelopes for when you travel. Place ironed shirts in individual Tyvek envelopes (this will keep them from wrinkling), or put wet bathing suits in one when returning from your fun in the sun.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re looking for a highly effective and nontoxic way to control an ant infestation in your home, look no further than all-natural diatomaceous earth. First, what is it? It’s a powder that acts like silica, but it is made entirely from fossilized marine phytoplankton. It’s perfectly harmless to humans and animals, but it’s deadly to insects with an exoskeleton (like ants, bed bugs and fleas). All you do is sprinkle it where you see insects, and it’ll kill and repel. Just be sure to buy the “food grade” type at the store to get the truly safe variety.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION