Whether you're mowing the lawn or using a trimmer to cut down overgrown grass or weeds, there's really no reason to bag up the trimmings -- they're perfect staying right on your lawn. Whether it's grass or weeds, the trimmed organic matter is what makes a healthy lawn thrive. When the clippings decompose, they put nutrients like nitrogen back into your lawn. And decomposed organic matter becomes unnoticeable in very little time, as it breaks down and goes underneath the lush green lawn and feeds the soil.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Overripe fruits and vegetables can make you feel wasteful if you don't get around to eating them in time. But just because something is a little too mushy doesn't mean it's no longer edible. Overripe berries can be frozen and saved to be used in smoothies or pureed into a berry sauce for dessert toppings. Vegetables like carrots, celery, mushrooms and corn (on the cob) can be simmered into delicious broth. And squishy tomatoes are the perfect candidate to be made into homemade sauces that can be canned or frozen. You can even freeze overripe tomatoes and grate them on a box grater to cook when you want to add "fresh" tomatoes to a dish.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When mineral deposits and stains build up in the toilet, it can be tempting to reach for caustic household bleach or chemical toilet bowl cleaners. But many cleaners are full of chemicals that not only create an unhealthy air environment in the bathroom, but can also pollute our waterways. Instead, before going to sleep, generously sprinkle baking soda all over the inside of the toilet. Throughout the night, the baking soda will eat away at the deposits and stains. In the morning, scrub and flush twice to reveal a sparkling-clean toilet.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION