Can you recycle old printed photographs with your scrap paper recycling? Yes and no. It all depends on how the photo was printed. If it was done in the old chemical processing fashion, then no. If it was printed using modern digital technology, then yes. How do you find out? Simply tear it: If the photograph rips with a very clean tear, it can be recycled; but if it's hard to tear and it rips in layers and not so cleanly, you likely have a nonrecyclable photo that needs to be thrown in the trash rather than the recycling bin.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Got a dead houseplant? It can be so easy to simply pick up the whole thing and toss it into the trash, but its final destination shouldn't be a landfill, where it can't properly decompose. Instead, spread the dead plant and soil onto your lawn and simply run your lawnmower over it. You'll break up the organic matter into smaller pieces, which will decompose and help contribute to healthier soil and a better lawn. Such a simple way for a dead plant to give life to your backyard!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A fully loaded automatic dishwasher is the best way to be as water- and energy-efficient as possible. But if you have a partially loaded washer, gather these things around the house to give them a good clean and fill up your machine! Add hairbrushes and combs, which can get dirty from products and oil over time. Unscrew a showerhead and wash it in the top rack to remove mineral buildup and help it run like new when you reinstall it. And collect sponges and dish brushes to not only clean them, but disinfect them from all the grime and bacteria that builds up over time.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION