Do you love ice cream? One of the fastest ways ice cream can turn from tasty to tasteless is through the formation of ice crystals on the surface, also known as freezer burn. To prevent this, do this one thing: Simply store your ice cream lid-side-down. This blocks the airflow that freezes the ice cream (or sorbet) at the top of the container and will prevent your delicious frozen treat from turning bad. You can also use scissors to cut off the excess packaging at the top of the paper carton to decrease the air space within the container before replacing the lid.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

As temperatures dip, one pricey outdoor investment that should be brought indoors is your backyard grill. Snow and ice can cause significant damage and make your grill unusable in the coming months. The best place to store a grill in the winter months is the garage or basement. Any gas grill should have the tank valve closed and the propane tank removed. And whether you bring your grill indoors or not, be sure to scrub the insides clean. Any residual food waste -- even if it’s charred-on -- can be tempting for wild critters and pests.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’ll be spending an extended period in a destination far from home, consider becoming a temporary member of the public library in the city where you're staying. Instead of buying new books and bringing them with you, visiting the local library at the start of your trip to check out books and returning them before you leave is both an eco-friendly and free way to catch up on the latest reads and lighten your load when you travel.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION