The next time the weather calls for a gentle rainstorm, consider bringing your indoor plants outdoors. It’s water-efficient, since you’re taking advantage of a free water source, but there is much more than plant hydration going on here. Rainwater also helps give your plants a “bath” of sorts; dust and debris on the plants’ leaves will be gently rinsed off. And the rainwater helps do one more thing: It dissolves built-up salts and minerals from tap water on the soil of your plant.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

There’s a misconception that washing uncooked rice rinses away all the vitamins and minerals from the grains. This is not true. If anything, rinsing uncooked rice under cool water helps eliminate any excess starch, residue and impurities that may be in the bag. Many chefs of Asian cuisine also note that washing rice helps prevent clumping and leads to fluffier cooked rice. Just note that it’s not necessary to rinse rice until the water turns clear; a quick rinse is sufficient.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A lot of us look for personal-care products and cosmetics that are made with natural ingredients or are cruelty-free. But what about cutting back on unnecessary packaging when your favorite products are used up? If you search the word “refill” on your favorite ecommerce site, many refills for things like plastic compacts and cases come up. Instead of tossing away your old compact, you can just pop in a new cosmetic. It’s less expensive and less wasteful.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION