According to The Sierra Club, front-loading washing machines are far more energy- and water-efficient than top-loading models. In fact, front-loading machines use up to half the water and energy of older models, making them truly a greener alternative. But the environmental organization makes a point that if your current washing machine works, use it. Just use cool or cold water versus warm or hot whenever possible, and choose the shortest cycle to make the machine a leaner, greener model.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You've heard of secondhand smoking, but did you know there is also thirdhand smoking? The children's health advocacy group Healthy Child Healthy World says thirdhand smoke is when a smoker leaves toxic residues on things like clothes, fabric, furnishings, walls, bedding and other porous surfaces in a room. While the simplest step to protect children is to avoid smokers altogether, that isn't always possible. If you go into a room that has traces of smoke, open a window and use fans to circulate air. Ask smokers to change clothes and wash their hands before interacting with infants and children. The charity says to think of smoking as insecticide: Cigarette smoke has over 2,500 hazardous chemicals in it that no child should be exposed to.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Sure, you can donate lightly used clothes, kitchenware, books and other household items to Goodwill, but did you know you can also donate gift cards? Billions of dollars go unused every year on gift cards, so gather any cards with remaining balances (no matter how small the amount left) and donate them. The charity can look up the remaining balance on the cards and either resell them in stores or consolidate them through a third-party vendor who gives a percentage of the total balances to the charity.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION