It’s common knowledge that houseplants can help clean your indoor air. But did you know they can also “signal” for help? Aloe is an easy-care plant that can help purify the air inside your home. And it’s a powerhouse: It absorbs formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. But when the toxicity of the air in your home is excessive, the aloe plant actually becomes spotted. It’s a natural way the plant reacts to help signal that something may be awry inside.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

One of the best things you can do to help someone in need in your community is to donate a new winter coat. The retail chain Burlington Coat Factory makes it easy to make a difference: Donate a new or gently worn coat to the store in the fall and they’ll work with local nonprofit organizations to make sure those who need it get it. For your good deed, you’ll get 10 percent off your next purchase in the store. To learn more about this program, visit Burlington.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

We’ve often heard about ditching body wash in plastic bottles for more eco-friendly (and often gentler) bar soaps that can do the job without the waste. But have you thought about ridding your shower of plastic shampoo bottles in favor of shampoo bar soap? Liquid shampoos are up to 95 percent water, which means one bottle doesn’t go a long way in keeping your scalp clean. Shampoo bars are super-concentrated and will outlast liquid shampoo 3-to-1. You save money and do your part to reduce the demand for plastic packaging. And one more nice benefit? It’s TSA-friendly to bring a shampoo bar onto a plane.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION