It might be pretty and sparkly, but it’s best to avoid decorating your Christmas tree with tinsel. Tinsel is made from plastic that’s impossible to recycle and extremely difficult to remove once the holidays are over. Just take a look at trees set out for collection -- tinsel is often still clinging everywhere. These tinsel-covered trees can’t be recycled or mulched, and wildlife can accidentally ingest the plastic. Even worse, rain can wash loose tinsel into storm drains and waterways.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Houseplants must have enough sunlight to thrive. But how can you tell if they are getting too much or too little light? The answer is simple: Let the plants tell you. If the plant is leaning toward sunlight, stops producing flowers or has leaves that curl upward, it is in need of more light. If you see brown spots, yellowing leaves or the leaves look scorched, it’s time to move the plant away from the direct light source.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

An average household of four people uses about 12,000 gallons of water every year doing laundry. Cutting down on your washing machine’s water usage can help with water conservation and save you money. One of the easiest switches to make is to avoid the permanent-press cycle, which uses about 5 gallons of water during the extra rinse. And if you can’t wait to run a full load of laundry, simply adjust the water levels to match the size of the load.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION