It's important to clean the inside of your reusable water bottle to remove grime, mildew and bacteria. But it can be very difficult to get a brush through the narrow opening and scrub the bottle clean. Instead, fill half the bottle with a mixture of white vinegar and water, then add several ice cubes and screw on the cap. Shake vigorously. The vinegar will disinfect, and the ice will agitate inside, loosening any grimy mess. Dump, rinse with water and voila! A perfectly clean water bottle.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

For some, offering treats at Halloween means leaving a big bowl of candy in a bowl by the door. But if you live in a community where there's wildlife that might wander into your yard, you might want to avoid this. A bowl of candy is too tempting for animals, and both the candy AND the wrappers can pose a hazard for them. If you must leave out a bowl, put it higher on a table and close to the door, with a light to deter animals as much as possible. Don't forget to bring it in before tucking in for the night!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's fun to decorate your home for Halloween, but wildlife experts ask everyone to avoid one decoration in particular: fake spiderwebs. The meshy webs that mimic the look and feel of real spiderwebs can be a hazard for birds, who end up tangled in the artificial meshy mess and can die as a result. Even loose faux spiderwebs with open holes can pose a choking hazard. So this Halloween, go with natural decor like gourds, pumpkins and straw, and skip anything fake or artificial.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION