Perhaps you've seen a product like this in the kitchen housewares aisle of your store: "eco-friendly" plastic wrap. It's packaged in a recycled paperboard box and lists attributes like "natural value" and "PVC-free." At the end of the day, it's still single-use plastic. When it comes to shopping for eco-friendly products, be diligent about avoiding products that are marketed as eco-friendly but are far from it. Instead of a slightly greener plastic wrap, how about forgoing this unrecyclable, nonbiodegradable item altogether?

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Bees aren't the only insects who help pollinate fruits, flowers and veggies. Butterflies are also an important part of the ecosystem. To help attract butterflies to your garden, avoid insecticides, which are obviously lethal to them. Fun fact: Butterflies aren't attracted to flowers, but to flowering plants and bushes that are rich in nectar. Look for plants like milkweed, mint, zinnias, buddleia and heliotrope, which are all varieties butterflies love to drink from. Finally, filling a shallow dish with fresh water every day is a simple way to give them a place to drink, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you live in an older home that was painted with lead-based paints, don't reach for the vacuum when paint begins to chip and peel off. While it may seem like a logical idea to use a vacuum to avoid touching the chips, contamination can occur when you open the vacuum to empty out the canister. Powerful vacuums can turn paint chips into dust, and when the canister is opened, those dust particles can contaminate the air in your home. Instead, clean up the lead-based chips using a dustpan and broom, then throw them away in the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION