Flimsy metal hangers you get from the dry cleaner can easily be returned to be reused, and they can be placed in your curbside recycling bin to be recycled. But you can also upcycle the hangers into stronger, no-slip hangers by wrapping pipe cleaners around the wire hanger. The wire inside the pipe cleaner will grip tightly on the hanger, and the fuzzy side of the pipe cleaner will help hold on to whatever you’re hanging.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have a memory foam pillow, yes, you can wash it. First, resist the urge to place your memory foam in the washing machine. It will tear into small pieces and the pillow will be ruined. Instead, rinse the pillow under cool water and gently squeeze the saturated water out of the memory foam. Never wring or twist the pillow; this can cause tears and ruin the shape of the pillow. When the pillow is still damp, allow it to completely dry out in a ventilated area, like on top of a rack or on a towel near a sunny spot. Do not place it in the dryer.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Are your veggies, herbs and other garden plants attracting more than bees? If your plants are attracting the appetites of insects and small animals, don’t resort to chemical sprays or fencing. Instead, reach for two ingredients out of your kitchen pantry: flour and black pepper. Make a spicy mixture of the two, sprinkle it around the base of the plant and dust it where animals may nibble. The peppery mixture is unappetizing to critters, and the flour helps the pepper “stick.”

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION