If you hate food waste (billions of pounds are tossed away every year around the world), you'll be glad to know your freezer can be one of the best tools to help save and preserve food. For example, if you picked up a bulk-size block of cheese, the leftover portion can be frozen. In fact, frozen cheese is easier to shred –- you don't even have to defrost it when you need it. Baked goods like cookies, muffins and bread can be frozen for up to six months, and they also defrost quickly. You should always store nuts in the freezer, too. Their high oil content can make them go rancid quickly, but the chilled environment keeps them fresh.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Road salt in winter is used to de-ice roads, but it can also create rust on the undercarriage of your car. After a serious storm, be sure to take your car to a car wash -- which is the most water- and energy-efficient way to wash a car -- to have the salt residue washed off, then opt for additional undercarriage cleaning. A wax seal now and then will also help create a protective barrier, which prevents the de-icing mixture from deteriorating your car.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're purging and getting rid of obsolete things in your house, one thing you might have a huge collection of is compact discs. Believe it or not, CDs can and should be recycled. They are made from a mixture of polycarbonate and aluminum, and stores like Best Buy have free recycling bins to collect them. The discs are shredded and the recyclable materials are sorted out and made into new products.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION