Did you know your old mascara wands can be recycled and used to help wildlife in need? The nonprofit Appalachian Wildlife Rescue uses the wands to remove fly eggs and larvae from the fur of wild animals they rescue. The tightly knit bristles on the mascara wands are perfect to get the job done. Just send washed and cleaned wands to Appalachian Wildlife Rescue and they’ll use them! The charity insists on not buying new wands because they also want to encourage recycling. Learn more at appalachianwild.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you do just one thing today, replace the dirty or clogged furnace filter in your HVAC system. A dirty filter makes your whole system work harder. When your HVAC system works harder to move conditioned air throughout your home, it can gobble up energy and expedite the breakdown of the system. Replacing the filter on a regular basis (every three to six months) can reduce energy consumption by as much as 15 percent, which makes it both an economical and ecological thing to do.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Instead of tossing a wad of parsley stems into the compost bin, harness their natural deodorizing properties to create a soothing spa treatment instead. Parsley is loaded with chlorophyll, which is a powerful natural deodorizer with antibacterial properties. While it’s known as a natural breath freshener, it can also be an amazing astringent for your feet. Just fill a shallow bowl with hot water and add the parsley stems to the water. Let it steep and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. They’ll come out refreshed, relaxed and clean.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION