Yes, ice can go bad. It is technically a food, and like most foods, over time ice can harbor everything from bacteria to viruses that can cause illness, according to the International Packaged Ice Association. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli can live in ice, because freezing does not kill these contaminants. Ice that's left in the freezer for a long time can harbor odors, too. Keep fresh ice in your freezer, and turn off the ice maker when you don't need it (you'll save water and energy with the flip of a switch). And dispose of old ice outdoors, where it can melt and water plants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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