When cooking at home, be sure to match the size of the burner to the size of the pot you're cooking with. According to Recyclebank, a 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner actually wastes 40% of the burner's heat; simply moving the smaller pot to a smaller burner can help save energy and still get the job done. And when reheating foods, skip the large oven and opt for smaller users of energy like a countertop toaster oven or microwave. They have less space to heat up and work just as well in a jiffy.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A little leftover white wine that's gone bad shouldn't be tossed down the drain. A study by Oregon State University found that white wine is an effective disinfectant in the kitchen, killing foodborne pathogens like salmonella and E. coli. You can use old white wine to douse produce to clean it, wipe cutting boards to disinfect them and even use it on nonporous countertops as a cleaning spray. Grease stains on fabric can be removed by dousing them in white wine, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know sunscreen can go bad? Yes, the bottles have an expiration date, but poor storage can also expedite the degradation process. To see if your sunscreen is still good, start by squeezing some out and examining it. Is it runny or separated? If so, it's likely gone bad and needs to be replaced. Store your new sunscreen the right way: Away from the sun and heat. Keep it in a cooler with ice or even under a towel when you're at the pool or the beach. And store it in a cool, dark place at home when it's not being used.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION