Many DIY projects to feed wild birds during the winter months involve coating a piece of bread -- like a stale bagel -- in peanut butter and birdseed to hang from a tree. Top bird experts agree this practice should be avoided, because the bread offers the birds very few nutrients; birds need fat to survive, not carbohydrates. If you want to help, you can use natural peanut butter to coat a pinecone with seed, which provides vital nourishment to our feathered friends during the cold winter months.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here's another reason to opt for 100% organic cotton sheets for your bed: They can help you stay healthier during cold and flu season. When someone is sick, it's important to regularly wash the bedding they are sleeping on, since the sheets can harbor illness-causing germs. All-cotton sheets are the only kind that can withstand being washed in hot water with special disinfecting detergents. Synthetic blends can shrink and wear out quickly, and should be avoided.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A tea kettle is one of those items you never really think about cleaning until your fresh cup of hot tea tastes a little strange. Cleaning your kettle could not be any simpler: Fill it halfway with water from the tap, then fill the rest of the way with white vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then set aside (away from the heat) overnight to soak. Pour out the vinegar mixture and refill with water from the tap; bring to a boil to remove any trace of the vinegar smell and taste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION