Have you heard that you should leave dryer lint outdoors for birds to pick up and use to feather their nest? The reality is that dryer lint contains chemical detergents from your clothes, which can irritate birds and cause harm. If you want to help birds, you can leave piles of dried grass (untreated with chemical fertilizers or pesticides), hair clumps (human, horse and dog fur, also untreated), and the good old basics -- twigs, moss and pine needles. Just leave them close to wherever you think birds may find them, and they'll weave them into their nests.

If taking care of a grassy lawn means lots of water, fertilizers and mowing, consider converting to a greener and softer alternative: moss. Not only will you have a green lawn year-round, it's self-maintaining and needs little to zero help to thrive. A moss lawn works best where you already have trouble growing grass, in shady and damp areas. Use clumps of sheet moss (available online) and "plant" it in sections where you want it to grow. Over time, it will spread by releasing spores; it will also encourage native mosses to cultivate on their own. And even if you have grass, moss doesn't prevent grass from growing; it spreads only where grass doesn't grow, which can help give you a fuller, greener lawn.

What should you do with leftover, old or unwanted toothpaste? Use it to fix and clean things around the house. Toothpaste on carpet helps gently lift stains; just squeeze it out and use a damp toothbrush to rub the stain away. Use a damp cloth to remove the paste. Crayon drawings on the wall can be removed without removing the paint; use toothpaste as a gentle abrasive to lift the crayon marks and wipe away. And if you have water rings on a wood table, you guessed it: toothpaste. It will buff those rings out right out.