Do you take vitamins and supplements? One tip that’s often shared is to store these health products somewhere cool, like a refrigerator, to maintain their freshness. But while cool and dark are ideal conditions, a refrigerator has too much moisture and can quickly deteriorate these items, which need to be protected from excess moisture, heat and light. Rather than kitchens and bathrooms, spaces like bedrooms and inside pantry closets are ideal locations for storing vitamins and supplements.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of the oil refinery industry and has myriad uses. And while the jury is still out on the safety of the product for personal care, if you have a jar, there are other uses for it, too. One helpful tip is to dab the jelly at the edges of glue bottles before you put the cap back on. It’ll create a lubricated surface that will prevent the cap from sticking, so you can open it easily the next time you need glue. This tip works great on nail polish bottles, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have you noticed a change to your curbside recycling program? Many communities are no longer accepting recyclables like glass and plastics in their program. The reason is pretty simple: These recyclables are too contaminated and are worthless to recyclers. And items such as glass shatter and contaminate valuable recyclables like cardboard. The lesson here is pretty simple: Only put what is recyclable in the bin, make sure it’s clean, and when in doubt about something, toss it away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION