With backyard summer barbecues and picnics in full swing during the hot summer months, be sure that even the smallest food scraps from your meal are packed and taken with you. Even the tiniest bites of bread can become a tasty meal for birds. That bread can go stale and become moldy and harm animals surprisingly quickly after your festivities. Also, anything with chocolate -- brownies, candy bars and dessert toppings -- can be harmful to birds because chocolate contains the chemical theobromine, which is toxic to many animals.

With millions of Americans hitting the road this summer for vacations and family outings, it's important to take one simple step to make your car work as efficiently as possible: Be sure your tires are inflated properly. According to the tire manufacturer Goodyear, Americans waste about $2 billion every year because of improperly inflated tires. To find your recommended tire pressure, look for the sticker near the driver's seat when you open the car door. The air pumps at some gas stations will tell you your current pressure, and you can inflate your tires until you reach the optimal inflation rate for your vehicle.

Choosing an automatic commercial car wash instead of washing your car at home can save as much as 70 percent of the water used. Car washes do more than keep your car looking clean, they also help protect it in the long run. All of the dirt, grime and other debris that ends up on the exterior of your car can slowly create microscopic chips that eat away at your vehicle's paint. The more chips, the more tears, and the more chances the raw metal underneath has to become exposed. Rust can form and eat away at your car at a rapid pace. So make washing your car a regular habit.