Ever buy an item online and it arrives surrounded by plastic "pillows" to protect it during shipping? There are two ways you can dispose of them. One, you can reuse them when you need to ship something. Or you can simply pop the pillows to remove the air and recycle them. The bins at the grocery store where shoppers can drop off plastic shopping bags for recycling will take deflated plastic air pillows, too. It's the same type of resin, and it'll get recycled into new plastic products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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