With spring around the corner and the harsh winter months behind us, many of us have bags of unused de-icing salt sitting in the garage. Left unattended through the spring, summer and fall months, the salt can clump and become useless by the time winter rolls around again. The simple solution? Toss charcoal briquettes into the bag and tightly seal it. The briquettes will absorb excess moisture and help keep the salt loose and crumbly to use next winter.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you wear disposable contact lenses? Yes, those one-a-day-style contact lenses are problematic for the environment. It's believed as many as 20% of wearers flush their old lenses down the toilet, which means they end up in wastewater treatment centers and eventually break down into microplastics in natural waterways. Instead, dispose of your lenses in the trash, where they have less of a chance of getting into lakes, rivers and oceans. Or take the greenest step: Wear eyeglasses.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Cast iron is an excellent choice to cook with because it is incredibly durable, naturally nonstick and free of any questionable chemicals like PTFE and PFOA, which are found in many nonstick pans today. If you're in the market for a cast-iron skillet, however, avoid the temptation to buy a "pre-seasoned" one. Pre-seasoned means the pan has been pre-sprayed with a layer of fat at the factory. Since the source of fat is not required to be on the label, those with peanut allergies could be affected by pre-seasoned pans. Instead, look for raw-iron pans and season them yourself using your own oils, so you know exactly what's in the pan when you cook with it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION