One of the easiest ways to combat pesky mosquitoes this summer is to be vigilant about standing water around your home. Mosquitoes only need a small spoonful of still water to leave their eggs behind. While it's obvious things like buckets, kiddie pools and inactive birdbaths are prime locations, consider less obvious spaces like uneven gutters or the small trays under planters. If you find an area that is difficult to keep dry, you can add a little vegetable oil to the standing water, which will coat the surface and effectively kill the larva that may be inside.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Some chefs and home cooks believe you should have two coffee grinders in your kitchen: one for grinding coffee beans and a second one for seeds and whole spices. But if you think less is more and having two is excessive, try this trick to get double-duty from just one machine: Use rice. Throw dry rice (any kind) into the coffee grinder, then turn it on. The rice will be pulverized into a powder that will absorb all of the oils left behind by the coffee beans. With no lingering scent of java, you can use the coffee grinder for spices, seeds and herbs, and compost the rice dust when finished.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Not all glass can be recycled in the curbside recycling bin. A broken mirror, for instance, is not recyclable, because mirrors aren't 100% glass. They're actually two materials: a pane of glass and a chemically treated coating that provides the mirror effect. To make a mirror recyclable and avoid contaminating a load of recyclables, the reflective coating would have to be completely removed from the glass. That's a difficult process for an intact mirror; it's nearly impossible for a broken one. Instead, broken mirrors should be disposed of properly in the trash; used mirrors that are in good shape can be donated to charity.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION