Reclaimed wood is all the rage right now in everything from flooring to furniture. It’s eco-friendly because it’s reusing wood that comes from places like barns and railroads, and it looks good, too. But reclaimed can also harbor dangerous insects. To make sure your new reclaimed wood table is safe to bring inside, ask if it’s been heat-treated. This is an alternative to chemically treating the wood; it uses high heat to kill off bugs. You can also look for a small “HT” mark on the product, which indicates that the wood has been heat-treated.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you want to prevent squirrels and other small wild animals from getting into your home, take advantage of warmer weather to inspect the trees around your house. Small animals use trees as a highway of sorts to get around. And when tree limbs or branches are less than 6 to 8 feet away from the roofline of your house, they’re close enough for animals to make that jump. So if you see branches that close, trim them back to make your roofline less easy and appealing for them to jump onto.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Liquid castile soaps are the preferred choice of environmentalists because they’re made entirely from vegetable oil and are totally biodegradable, too. While castile soap is a great option for bathing and using around the house, it can be a bit trickier when it comes to washing pets. Most castile soaps use essential oils to give them a scent and often those oils are tea tree, lavender or peppermint. All three are toxic to small animals, especially cats. If you want to use castile soap to wash pets, use unscented. And remember: A little goes a long way.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION