Did you know over 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are used every year in the United States, and almost all of them end up in landfills? One way to help avoid this waste is to look for more environmentally friendly alternatives, like brushes with renewable bamboo in lieu of plastic for the handles, which are biodegradable and a much greener choice than conventional brushes. If you do have plastic brushes, consider using them around the house when they are too worn for your teeth. Save them for scrubbing hard-to-clean areas on tile grout and keyboards; you can even use them to give your jewelry and shoes a good cleaning.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You may not realize it, but a wrapper that once held a chocolate bar or a piece of candy can be all too tempting to your family pet. And while a small wrapper may get eaten and easily pass through the digestive system, there is still the chance a wrapper could attach itself to the lining of your pet's stomach. If this happens, call your veterinarian; the situation is even more emergent if the candy was chocolate or made with the sugar substitute xylitol (which can be fatal). Generally, treat wrappers as if they are dangerous items: Discard them so your pet can never, ever find them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Beauty products can be of service in new and different ways well after they've been used up or expired. A clean mascara brush, for example, can be used to scrub away dirt and debris between stones in jewelry or watch links. Unwanted nail polish (a color not to your liking, say) can be used to "paint" the stems of wineglasses to give them personality and color. And lipstick that broke can be melted in a microwave-safe dish for 20 seconds then poured into a clean tin (like a small mint tin) and applied to the lips with a brush or fingertips.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION