Did you whip up a bunch of scrambled eggs or frittatas for a crowd this morning? Don't toss the eggshells away. Rinse and allow the eggshells to air-dry first. For tough-to-clean things with a narrow opening -- like a dirty bottle or vase -- crush eggshells and put inside. Then add soapy warm water and shake; the shells will act as an abrasive to help the soapy water get the inside clean. You can also add dry and clean eggshells to your bird feeder; birds benefit from the natural calcium of the shells. And finally, the easiest: Eggshells are fully compostable and a great addition to your compost.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re sitting in your car on a hot day (perhaps waiting for someone), don’t leave your engine running with the air conditioning on. Idling with the AC blowing can damage your car’s system because the internal condenser has a hard time cooling down. Actually driving is less demanding on the compressor because the increased airflow through the grill helps to keep the system cool. Sitting still means there’s no airflow, causing the condenser to be overworked, which will decrease its efficiency over time.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

On incredibly hot days, it’s imperative to do everything possible to keep things cool inside without using energy-guzzling air conditioners. One of the easiest ways to keep things cool is to turn appliances off in the kitchen. Using ovens and ranges in the kitchen can raise the indoor air temperature as much as 10 degrees. The easiest solution? Fire up the backyard grill and cook outdoors. You can also replace heat-generating incandescent lightbulbs with cool LED ones inside; they give a bright light output without creating any heat.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION