If you have area rugs that have absorbed odor from food, pets or cigarette smoke, baking soda offers an easy (and cheap) way to deodorize them. Baking soda particles penetrate deeply into the fibers of the carpet and absorb like mini sponges. Simply sprinkle baking soda liberally on the carpet and let it sit for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum away the next morning. You can use this trick on wall-to-wall carpet, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Every year, billions of cigarette butts end up littered on roadways, beaches, in parks and just about everywhere else you can imagine. They are toxic and full of chemicals, plastic components and ash that can pollute waterways and harm wildlife. Believe it or not, they are recyclable! The company TerraCycle has collection boxes that will take old cigarettes through a recycling program. They sort the butts by material to create recycled hard plastics for new products. To start a collection, visit terracycle.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know 25% of American households own a single-cup brewing machine like those produced by Keurig? If you’re one of them, one way to ditch single-use plastic pods is to invest in a reusable pod that you can refill yourself. Not only does this cut back on waste, but it can also save you money. When shopping for a reusable pod, try to avoid those made from plastic, which can chip and fall apart quickly over time. Instead, invest in stainless steel; these pods have no plastic, are very durable and don’t absorb odor from whatever you fill them with.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION