Have leftover red or white wine? Why not pour the extra in ice cube trays so you have small cubes of wine to add to stock, sauces or even to blender drinks in the future? Or use white wine as a kitchen countertop disinfectant (but not on granite). The natural disinfecting properties of wine and the residual alcohol do a great job in cleaning, and it doesn’t stain, either. You can also use it to clean up grease stains on the floor, kitchen cabinets or appliances. The combination of alcohol and acidity is a powerful way to break up grease stains so they’re a cinch to wipe up.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Coffee bags are nearly impossible to recycle, so it’s a good idea to find a new way to upcycle them around the house. One great attribute of waxy or foil-lined coffee bags is that they are the perfect container to start seedlings in for your garden. All you have to do is trim them down to the desired size and fill with organic matter (including old coffee grinds!). Then grow whatever seeds you want inside. If you need a lot of bags to get your garden growing, this is a great thing to ask local coffee shops or your friends to save for you, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

More than 80% of the calls received by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) Humane Wildlife Services involve wild critters trapped in someone's home. One common animal -- the squirrel -- often finds its way inside through small cracks and crevices near the roof. Their preferred method of getting to the roof is to jump through trees, so the HSUS recommends trimming tree branches so they are at least 6 feet away from the house. This practice not only keeps squirrels away, but it also protects your roof from storm damage in the future.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION