It happens -- if you do enough laundry, you end up with orphan socks. When you’re stuck with just one lonely sock, why not upcycle it into something soothing to help sore muscles and aches and pains? Just fill the sock with dried beans or dry rice and tie a knot at the end. The choice of ingredient will depend on how tightly woven your sock is. You can also add dried lavender inside for extra aromatherapy. Then toss the sock into the microwave for about 30 seconds. Voila! Instant heat pad that molds around the neck, or anywhere you need a little TLC.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here’s an astonishing environmental fact worth repeating: Americans throw away over 138 billion straws and stirrers every single year. Ordering beverages with the phrase “with no straw” is a simple way to cut down on plastic straw waste. But what do you do about your morning cup of joe? You can pre-fill your reusable cup with whatever you need (sugar, creamer) and then pour the coffee on top so it automatically mixes it. While it sounds simplistic, if everyone did this, we’d seriously cut back on billions upon billions of straw and stirrer waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Can you compost what’s in your vacuum dirt canister? It depends. If you use your vacuum on hardwood or solid floors and on natural-fiber carpets, it’s likely fine to dump the canister full of dust, debris and fibers right into the compost. But if you used it to clean wall-to-wall carpet (like nylon), it’s not safe for composting; adding those synthetic fibers to your compost can contaminate it. As always, when in doubt, toss it out.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION