If your yard is covered with fallen leaves, and raking them up is too much work to add to your to-do list, why not just leave them be? As dead leaves break down, they help return nutrients to the soil and support healthy microbial activity. If you must rake them up, be sure to use some as mulch around flower beds, gardens and at the bases of trees. They'll help insulate the soil during the cold winter months, and they'll break down into beneficial mulch in spring.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When it comes to buying eggs at the supermarket, you're often faced with three packaging choices: paperboard, plastic or foam. The greenest choice is always going to be the paperboard/cardboard-style boxes. Here's why: These containers are made with what is known as "low-grade recycled paper." Essentially, it's a material made from low-quality, end-of-the-line recycled paper that has already been recycled five times or more. And the best part? These egg cartons are biodegradable and can be composted.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

To keep things clean and disinfected at home, there's no need to buy wipes when you can make your own. Just cut old cotton T-shirts into squares and toss them into an old plastic container with a lid. Then add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup of distilled water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and just a few drops of liquid dish soap. Seal the lid and shake. When you need to clean up a spill or disinfect a spot, just ring out a towel and wipe away. The wipes are machine washable, so you can use them over and over again.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION