If a tree falls in your yard, should you have it removed? If it isn't a safety hazard and your community doesn't require you to remove it, leaving a tree to rot can actually be a good thing for the environment. According to the National Wildlife Federation, dead trees are habitat for over 1,000 species of wildlife. These decaying masses are food sources (insects and mosses are food sources for birds, for example), and the decomposing matter also helps feed the soil.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You might wonder if boiling water results in perfectly clean H2O. When communities post a boil water notice, it's simply to make sure any harmful bacteria in the water are eradicated. Boiling water gets those bacteria levels close to zero, but other contaminants, like trace pharmaceutical drugs, pesticide residue and heavy metals, are not removed through boiling and can still linger in your water. If you want truly clean water, you need serious water filtration systems ranging from reverse osmosis to commercial grade filtration that can reliably remove all contaminants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you eat a lot of bananas, here's one reason to save your peels: They make a fantastic fertilizer for houseplants. Simply toss your banana peels into a large jar full of water; let the peels saturate the water with nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium. After a few days of marinating, use the banana peel-infused water to feed your houseplants. They'll drink it up, and the nutrient-rich water will lead to improved plant health. The leftover banana peels can then be tossed into your garden or compost.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION