Do you thoroughly wash your toothbrush after you brush your teeth? You may not actually need to be so diligent about keeping it clean. Toothpaste has some antibacterial properties, so leaving a little toothpaste residue on the bristles can help prevent germs and bacteria from building up. Just give the brush a rinse under water before using, and don't worry about washing it out completely when you've finished.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you wait for a pot of water to boil before you add pasta to cook it perfectly al dente? Turns out, there's no need to wait and waste all of that energy heating up the water. Instead, some chefs say you should add the pasta to the pot of cold water, turn on the heat and place the lid on top. When the water starts to boil, remove the lid and cook away. You'll have perfectly cooked pasta in about half the time, and you'll save lots of energy, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever see a dry cleaner that advertises itself as an "organic" operation? Don't be fooled into thinking it's the same thing as organic farming. Since there are no regulations for using the word "organic" in cleaning, what it basically means is "slightly less toxic" than regular dry cleaning. These cleaners still use chemicals that are neurotoxins, and those products are still petroleum-based. Instead, consider if your clothes really need dry cleaning at all, and if they do, try to limit the number of times you take them in.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION