When it's time to replace your mattress, you might wonder what you should do with your old one. If it's in decent shape, you should try to find a friend or family member who needs the bed (or is just willing to take it) since most nonprofits do not accept old beds. But if it's in bad shape and ready to be disposed of, the good news is that it is recyclable. Approximately 90% of the materials used to make a conventional mattress can be recycled. To find a recycler near you, visit byebyemattress.com and enter your ZIP code. They've helped recycle nearly 12 million beds to date.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here's another reason to take shorter, less-hot showers (other than to save water and energy): They are better for your skin. When you take a long, scalding-hot shower, it actually can lead to the natural oils on your skin being stripped off. This can cause your skin to become dry and itchy instead of feeling clean and fresh. The ideal temperature is a lukewarm setting and with a showering time of about five minutes.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Yes, those pre-measured plastic pods you place in your dishwasher are convenient and prevent you from putting too much detergent into the machine, but they are an environmental disaster. While they "dissolve" on contact with water, those microplastics end up in our waterways and natural aquatic habits. It's estimated that nearly 8,000 tons of plastic ends up in our environment (that equals 600 million plastic water bottles) every year. Instead, go for powdered detergents packaged in paperboard boxes. No plastic, and they work.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION