Are you grossed out when your dog drinks out of the toilet bowl? The reason your pooch may love that water is simple: It's cold, it's constantly aerated (on average, a toilet is flushed five times a day) and there's an ample supply. If you can't stop your dog from drinking from the toilet, be sure to use nontoxic cleaning supplies to keep it clean. But to change your dog's habits, consider switching to a stainless steel or ceramic water dish. These will keep the water cool and make it more appealing to him to drink from his own dish.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It’s estimated that about 28,000 tons of single-use plastic is deposited into the ocean every single day. There are lots of ways all of us can reduce our use of plastic, ranging from saying no to bottled water to cutting back on plastic usage in things we use every day. One product growing in popularity is shampoo bars. They look like bars of soap, but are formulated to lather and clean your scalp and hair just like shampoo does. The only difference is there is no plastic bottle, and they are practically waste-free. To find shampoo bars, search online or look for them at your local health food store.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Does your refrigerator stink? Cut a potato in half and poke a few dried cloves into it. The potato acts like a sponge and will absorb smells, and the cloves have a natural scent that can mask overpowering and lingering odors. If your microwave is also smelly, skip chemical cleaner and do one thing: Fill a bowl with dried cloves and leave it inside the microwave overnight. No heating and no other steps are necessary; the powerful and pleasant-smelling cloves will leave a nice, spicy, herbal fragrance inside the microwave.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION