If you wash your clothing too frequently, you'll wear it down more quickly, but if you don't wash it enough, then it will just be dirty. The folks at Whirlpool have a suggested number of "wears" for items in your closet. Obviously, if something is dirty, it should be washed. For jeans, it's four or five wearings. For sweaters, it's six wearings with a shirt, one or two if worn without. Workout clothes are to be washed after every use. And dress pants can be worn two or three times before they need to be washed.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Terra cotta pots are great for container gardening and are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots (plus they look better in your garden or patio). But terra cotta pots can break, so instead of tossing those shards in the trash, use them to improve your garden. In rainier climates, mix the shards in the soil under the eaves of the house where rain water can build up on stormy days. It will help with drainage, since terra cotta absorbs water, and you won't see the shards, since they are mixed in the soil.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us enjoy the convenience of online shopping, especially the time-saving benefit of not having to drive from store to store looking for exactly what you need. When choosing shipping options, opt for the United States Postal Service (USPS) whenever possible. By sending items through USPS, you're using an existing fleet of delivery trucks that go through your neighborhood on a daily basis anyway. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions with one easy step. Plus, the USPS option is often the cheapest, so you save money, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION