More than $32 billion worth of flower arrangements from over 15,000 local florists are sold every year in the form of congratulatory, thank you or holiday bouquets. With those sales come millions of glass and ceramic vases that end up stashed under the kitchen sink and thrown into Goodwill donation bins or the trash can once the flowers have wilted. To find a home for your unwanted vessels, think about contacting the local florist who brought you the arrangement. Often they'll take back the vases and reuse them to create new arrangements. It's an easy way to reduce waste and support a local business.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us love our family dog so much, we don't see it as a problem when they jump in the backyard pool to go for a swim. But the reality is your dog's ears, nose and eyes are more sensitive than yours, and the chlorine in the pool may actually harm them in the long run. To be on the safe side, look for non-chlorine chemicals like bromine to keep your pool clean and safe. And if your dog does go for a swim, rinse them off with fresh water from the garden hose to prevent pool chemicals from drying on their skin and fur.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The old-school thought on disposing of old prescription medication was to flush it down the toilet. But that method has been proven unsafe, as studies have shown that flushed drugs can pollute our waterways and even contaminate drinking water. Instead, many communities now have drop-off points where you can properly dispose of old medication. But did you know you should take care in disposing of over-the-counter products like cough syrup, pain relievers, cold medicines and leftover vitamins, nutritional supplements and unused pet medications as well? All of these can be toxic if poured down the drain; they should be properly disposed of whenever possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION